Nines Premier League 2025 guide: Ex-NRL stars involved, how to watch, 9PL draw

Speaking for the first time since being released from prison, Jarryd Hayne has vowed to return to rugby league after a false start to his comeback. See the latest Nines Premier League news.

A host of ex-NRL stars are set to pull on the boots once again for this weekend’s Nines Premier League competition, held on Saturday, January 25 and Sunday, January 26 at Tugun RLFC on the Gold Coast.

The action kicks off at 8am on Saturday, and all games can be seen live on Kayo Sports. FOLLOW OUR DAY TWO COVERAGE HERE.

Watch the Nines Premier League Sat Jan 25 & Sun Jan 26 on Kayo Sports. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited time offer.

HAYNE BREAKS SILENCE ON LEGAL FIGHT, RUGBY LEAGUE RETURN

Jarryd Hayne has credited his faith for inspiring him through a six-year fight to clear his name and revealed he will make a return to rugby league in Sydney.

Hayne spoke publicly on Saturday for the first time since being released from prison last year after having a sexual assault conviction quashed on appeal.

Hayne endured three trials since the alleged incident in November 2018 which effectively ended his NRL career at the age of 30.

He spent more than a year behind bars after being convicted in the third trial before eventually winning an appeal. Prosecutors opted not to pursue a fourth trial.

Now 36, the two-time Dally M Medal winner’s NRL career is effectively over and Hayne has kept a relatively low profile since his release in June last year.

Jarryd Hayne at Nines Premier Rugby League event, Tugun, Saturday, January 25, 2025 – Picture: Richard Walker

Nursing a hamstring injury, Hayne sat on the sidelines as his United team played in the Nines Premier League tournament on the Gold Coast.

Hayne spoke to this masthead at the event, crediting his faith for helping him through the most turbulent period in his life.

“God, mate, my faith,” he said when asked how he’d stayed strong during the saga.

“It’s been a pleasure.”

Hayne has been linked with numerous playing returns, but is yet to make an appearance on a competitive field.

He was part of the Fiji Bati’s support team in last year’s Pacific Championships rugby league tournament, which ignited Hayne’s love for the game.

“The camaraderie is awesome,” Hayne said.

“Fiji was such a turning point for me, to go around there.

“You don’t realise how much you miss it until you’re around that environment again.

“That kind of tipped me up to get back into it and run around with the boys and have fun.”

Hayne was once the NRL’s No. 1 player, with his 2009 heroics at Parramatta regarded as one of the greatest individual seasons the game has seen.

‘The Hayne Plane’ dominated State of Origin for NSW and played 21 Tests for Fiji and Australia.

Jarryd Hayne at Fiji training.

Hayne clinched a second Dally M Medal in 2014 and then stunned the NRL when he quit weeks later to pursue an NFL career in the United States.

He made eight appearances for the San Francisco 49ers before returning to the NRL with the Gold Coast Titans and Parramatta, where a brief one-season cameo ended as his legal fight began.

Hayne said he felt “lost” after leaving the NRL and he planned to play in Parramatta’s local competition this year.

“You do get lost when you retire from the game,” he said.

“Everybody enjoys it. What Ant’s (Anthony Mitchell, Nines founder) done the last three years, it’s getting bigger and bigger.

“It’s not just about the footy. It’s about the boys catching up, having a laugh and reminiscing about the old days.

“I want to get my body right and play in the local league around Parra somewhere and enjoy the footy.”

Hayne said he hoped to make a playing appearance at the Nines on Sunday.

“I’m feeling all right but the hammy’s giving me a bit of grief at the moment,” he said.

“It’s a bit crook at the moment. I’ve only got a day in me before it gets a bit sore again.

“We’ll see how we go.”

See the updates from day one below.

‘IT’S BROKEN I THINK’: ANKLE INJURY DELAYS PLAY

A serious injury caused a delay at the Nines Premier League carnival after a player suffered a suspected broken ankle.

Southern Sharks fullback James Coyne injured himself flying for the footy in the dying seconds of his side’s clash with the North Coast Marlins.

“When he went up for the ball he’s landed and he’s just twisted his ankle, it’s broken I think,” said Sharks coach Jimmy Grehan.

Coyne was writhing around on the ground in clear pain immediately after the incident, and paramedics spent about 10 minutes tending to Coyne and placing him the back of the ambulance that had been on standby at the ground.

There are only a few minutes between games and the following match between Tweed Seagulls and United SC was delayed by 10 minutes as Coyne was treated on the ground, kicking off at 12.45pm local time.

Sharks are back-to-back premiers and have added two-time NRL premiership winner James Maloney to their side, who had been due to feature last year but was unable to fly down from Townsville due to the landfall of the devastating tropical cyclone Kirrily.

“He’s been going really well, he’s smart,” Grehan said of Maloney’s influence.

“He even picked out in that game that the wind had changed so we changed our positioning a little bit, he’s a great asset.”

After a strong start this morning, Sharks coughed up a 10-0 lead against the North Coast Marlins to slump to a 1-1 record heading into their final clash with the stacked United SC.

“Once that momentum swings, you do feel like you’re back’s against the wall,” Grehan said.

“Not great to be honest, if we win that one (against North Coast) we go through to the major finals, so now we’re relying on a win against United, who are stacked.

“It’s our grand final really so we need to pull our fingers out and get a win.”

A healthy crowd has built at Tugun with a steady flow of patrons continuing throughout the day eagerly watching their heroes of yesteryear.

Ominous clouds had loomed large and threatened to unleash a downpour of rain on the event, but have now dispersed and made way for clear conditions.

BARBA, FIFITA BRO’S LEAD STUNNING UNITED SC COMEBACK

A star-studded United SC team were the ones left starstruck when Ben Barba, Andrew and David Fifita and co. trailed 20-0 at halftime against the North Coast Marlins at the Nines Premier League.

Jarryd Hayne had been expected to join the bevy of former NRL players in his first appearance on a rugby league field since 2018, however a tight hamstring kept him sidelined in the opening clash of the carnival.

United coach Blake McLean said he hoped Hayne would later this afternoon.

United found their feet in the second half, capitalising on the wind blowing in their favour to put on 26 unanswered points and snatch victory.

Barba took the kick offs, converted well and provided a cool head out in the middle, while the Fifita brothers delivered some bruising hits.

Andrew was a particularly hulking prospect for his opponents, and had to leave the field in the first half with blood drawn from his nose.

“They did their job in the middle, nines footy is tough for middles because you’re on and off so quick, you do a set of attack, set of D, you’re on and off so quick so it’s hard for them to get into the game but when they’re big bodies they’re hard to defend,” McLean said.

He was stunned by Barba’s ability, 13 years after his Dally M season.

“He keeps them calm and he’s pretty much one of the coaches of this team, he’s a wealth of experience and he’s a known winner, everything he’s involved in wins,” McLean said.

McLean’s younger brothers Kyle and TJ were both in action and performed strongly. The pair have a history of dazzling together at Indigenous carnivals and TJ came up with a pair of crucial tries as well some damaging runs through the middle.

At the peak of his powers Barba had been one of rugby league’s best players, but his career unravelled following a string of off-field incidents.

Ben Barba helped lead his team to an impressive comeback win. Picture: Richard Walker

Barba said he was involved in the carnival to catch up with former NRL rivals and teammates.

“There’s probably about 80 or 90 ex-players here, just to see some of the lads and especially some of my ex-teammates I haven’t seen for a while that are here today and catching up. It should be a good weekend,” Barba said.

“It was pretty hot, nines football is pretty tiring, I think I made more tackles than I’ve ever made in my life, it’s a good concept and I’m really happy to be here and participate in it.

“The wind played a big part today and with all the experience we’ve got in the team we knew not to panic.”

Locally, Barba returned to his hometown of Mackay in 2024 after a year playing in Cairns, and won an A-grade premiership with Sarina alongside former Cowboys premiership winner Kane Linnett.

He has since crossed to Souths Sharks to play with his brother Marmin.

“It would be good to win another one,” Barba said.

HAYNE COMEBACK ON ICE

Jarryd Hayne has withdrawn from his first chance at a rugby league comeback, pulling out of United Sporting Club’ first game of the Nines Premier League carnival on the Gold Coast.

Hayne instead assumed a post on the side’s coaching staff on Saturday.

Despite being named as a starter, Hayne didn’t take part in the United warm up, instead watching on from the sidelines and passing on instructions.

United named a team littered with big-name former NRL stars, and Ben Barba started before taking himself off five minutes into the first half.

United Sporting Club is scheduled for another two games on Saturday.

Originally published as Nines Premier League 2025 guide: Ex-NRL stars involved, how to watch, 9PL draw