Million dollar bonus offered for Nines

The organisers of the NRL Nines want to put up a $1 million bonus for any side that can win the pre-season tournament and premiership in the same year.

The NRL is considering an offer from the organisers of the Auckland Nines to award a $1 million bonus to any side that can win the pre-season tournament and premiership in the same year.

Duco Events has put forward a proposal to the NRL for a massive bonus to be paid should any team be able to complete the double in the same year.

The company have offered to put the money up in a move designed to encourage clubs to name their strongest possible squads for the Nines.

While some clubs have sent over their superstars, others such as Canterbury have been criticised for sending over a weak contingent and accused of not taking the tournament seriously.

The event already offers a $2.25 million prize pool but organisers want a bigger inducement to make it one of the showpiece events of the rugby league calendar.

An NRL spokesperson said while the concept could not be introduced for the 2016 season, it's something they were willing to consider for future years.

Over the last two seasons, the winners of the Nines have also won a premiership, only not in the same year.

North Queensland won the inaugural Nines in 2014 before beating Brisbane in last year's grand final, while South Sydney broke their 42-year premiership drought in 2014 and went on to take out the Nines in the following pre-season.


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Source: AAP



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