Penrith recruit Jamie Soward is set to make his debut in Panthers colours at the NRL Auckland Nines next month and could spearhead the club to victory in the inaugural tournament.
The always controversial playmaker is keen to play at the Eden Park event and with his blinding speed and astute kicking game shapes as one of the key players of the Nines.
Fellow Panthers off season acquisitions Tyrone Peachey, Elijah Taylor and even Brent Kite shape as exciting NRL short-form possibilities. That coupled with the likes of James Segeyaro, Dean Whare, 2013's leading tryscorer David Simmons, Josh Mansour, Matt Moylan James Roberts and Tim Grant, if selected, could make the Panthers one of the teams to beat.
Soward said he would like to begin his Panthers career at the Nines.
"I'm excited about playing Nines and it looks like I will be heading over there," Soward said.
"It is an exciting time for the NRL to be trying something different and getting a lot more exposure world wide."
One player who is unlikely to join Soward in Auckland for the February 15 and 16 event is his new halves partner Peter Wallace.
Soward joked that Wallace was "probably not quick enough" to play Nines football.
But Wallace himself said that Panthers coach Ivan Cleary was unlikely to take him on the trip across the Tasman Sea in a month's time.
"I don't think I'll play," Wallace said.
"I'm not sure but it is looking like I won't be there."
Under tournament rules squads for the Nines must be submitted to the NRL by 5pm on February 10.
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