League: Nines perfect way to grow league, says Johns

Andrew Johns believes the NRL Auckland Nines has the potential to grow the game here and in the Pacific Islands. Photo / Richard Robinson

League immortal Andrew Johns believes the NRL Auckland Nines has the potential to grow the game here and in the Pacific Islands.

The former Newcastle Knights, New South Wales and Australian halfback and captain insists the game's shortened format is the perfect way to introduce and encourage new players and says it should be played in schools to lure in new talent.

"We can grow the game there and also through New Zealand through the Nines," Johns explained. "They can play Nines in the schools because it's so enjoyable. It's open, it's fast and it's skilful but it's still got that element of contact which suits ... Islanders."

And the two-time Golden Boot winner and three-time Daly M medallist says New Zealand should have a second team competing in the NRL apart from the Warriors.

"I'm a big believer in the Warriors and I'd love to see another team here out of Wellington. There's a really big league community down there and if you look at the Holden Cup and the NRL there's so many Auckland-based players at other clubs and so many Pacific Islanders at other clubs. We have to grow the game and that's an area we could."

Johns says the NRL should be doing more to embrace and harness the growing numbers of Kiwi and Pasifika players involved in the Australian-centric competitions, both at the junior and elite levels. The huge numbers of New Zealand rugby union players are another source that has not been fully exploited and he says the Nines could appeal more to some of the 15-man code's bigger men.

"I think it's 50 per cent of players in the Holden Cup are from Pacific Island background. In 20 years' time it's going to be up around 60 per cent in the NRL. If we can get to the islands and get it through New Zealand and build the game, it's built for the bigger bodies. There's more space to move and it's more open than rugby union and I can imagine it would be more enjoyable for those guys to play."

Johns, who is travelling around New Zealand promoting the 2015 NRL Auckland Nines, believes the event can build on the success of this year's inaugural tournament and capture the imagination of the wider public.

"It's definitely the best weekend of rugby league I've ever seen, enjoyment wise, and the best weekend of sport I've been involved in.

"Obviously I love league but even if you're not a league fan there's so much entertainment."

Having helped his beloved Knights to two premiership wins, in 1997 and 2003, Johns is well qualified to comment on this year's halfbacks.

"I love the way Mitchell Pearce is playing for the Roosters." But he says South Sydney's Adam Reynolds has taken his game to a new level this year, running the ball more. "I think South Sydney [are] the team to beat."