Organisers of the Dick Smith NRL Auckland Nines are confident next year's tournament will feature the biggest line-up of NRL stars yet.
Melbourne Storm, Queensland and Kangaroos fullback Billy Slater and Penrith No1 Matt Moylan have earmarked the tournament for their return from injury to big-time football, along with Warriorshalfback Shaun Johnson.
The event also presents the chance for 2016 recruits Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and Issac Luke to make their Warriors debuts.
General public tickets were released today for the tournament, to be held at Eden Park over Waitangi weekend February 6 and 7, with Duco Events director David Higgins making it clear he expects the game's biggest names to be turning out.
"We've already had players like Bly Slater and Shaun Johnson put their hands up," said Higgins.
"Issac Like and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck will be a part of the Warriors so I'd be expecting they would play if they are fit.
"The feedback we are getting from coaches and clubs is that they are coming to win so I'd expect a very good turnout of stars and I expect it to be the best edition yet from that perspective."
The ticket release was marked by a function at Rugby League Central in Sydney, where Moylan said he was excited about the prospect of being part of the Nines concept.
"Nines is a great way to start the Rugby League year and I certainly hope to be a part of it in 2016," said Moylan.
"The players certainly enjoy playing that type of football and it's obviously great for the fans, who get to see every team in the NRL in the same ground on the same weekend." Sales were launched at the same time in Auckland at a Manukau launch attended by Shaun Johnson, former Kangaroos and Queensland playmaker Darren Lockyer, Auckland Mayor Len Brown, NRL General Manager of Football Operations Nathan McGuirk. Johnson confirmed his intention to return to action at the tournament once he has recovered from his season ending broken ankle suffered against Manly last month. "I'm definitely targeting the Nines," Johnson said. "I'm hoping that is going to be my first game time for 2016. If everything goes smoothly there is no reason why I won't be there." Mayor Brown said the tournament had already established itself as the sporting centrepiece of Auckland's major events calendar and that success was set to continue in 2016 and beyond. "This home-grown event continues to attract the big name players and achieve big results for Auckland, generating more than $16 million for the Auckland regional economy in its first two years, and bringing tens of thousands of people to Eden Park for a huge weekend of action and atmosphere," he said.
