Big League Weekly Edition – August 01, 2019

ThefootyseasonwillliveonafterGrand

Finalday,witha newinternational

tournamentsettocapturethe

imagination of league fans worldwide.

E

VERYONEloveswatchingShaunJohnson,

RogerTuivasa-SheckandBenjiMarshall

dotheirthing– andthisyear,you’llgetto

seetheirattackingfeatsinsuper-speed.

TheDownerRugbyLeagueWorld9swill

beheldatBankwestStadiuminParramatta

onOctober18-19,bringingtheworld’s

fastestandmostskilfulplayerstogether

ina festival-likeatmosphere.

Despitetheonusonattack,Bulldogs

fullbackDallinWatene–Zelezniaksaysit’s

defensiveabilitythatwillseparatethebest

countriesfromtherestofthepack.

“ThehardestthingaboutNinesis

defencebecauseyou’reoutonyourfeet,”

Watene-Zelezniaksays.

“You’vegottomakeone-on-onetacklesor

you’llbeintrouble.Youcouldbethefastest

playerbutyou’vealsogottobeabletotackle.

“It’sgoingtobeverytiring,especially

withthefivetackles.It’sgoingtobetough,

especiallyforthebacks– theboysatthe

backaregoingtohavetogetbackfor

kick-chasesandthattypeofthing.”

Inadditiontothedramaofthepool

gamesleadingintothefinals,thereare

a coupleofrulechangesthatwillbetested

duringthetournament.

Thetraditional40/20rulewillbeinplay,

buta new20/40rulewillalsobeinaction, with

Nine lives

PHOTO:

Grant Trouville/NRLPhotos.com

teamsabletogaintheballbackfroma scrumif

theykickfrominsidetheir 20 metresoutbeyond

theiropposition’s40-metrezone.NRLCEOTodd

Greenbergsaysif therewasenoughsupport,the

rulecouldbeintroducedtothe13-mangame.

“Ifthe20-40ruleissomethingthatreally

takeshold– playersenjoyit,fansenjoyit and

it’seasytoofficiatethenwe’dlookatit for

sure,”Greenbergsays.

“It’ssomethingI’msurethecompetition

committeecouldlookat.I thinkit’sgot

a particularvaluehereforNinesfooty.

Theconceptisif you’repinnedinyour

own 20 andyoutakea risk,youcanget

a significantreward.It willbeinteresting

toseehowit isutilisedandthepreparedness

ofplayerstotakethoserisks.”

Teamswillalsobeawardedfivepointsif

theyscoreinsidethe‘bonuszone’underthe

postsanda goldentrywillbethewinnerif

matchesaredrawninregulationtime.

Thefirstandsecond-placedteamsin

GroupA willplaythewinnersofGroupB and

GroupC inthemen’sdrawtodeterminewho

willgothroughtothefinalonSaturdaynight.

Thewomen’sfinalwillbeplayedbetweenthe

twohighest-rankedcountriesinthegroup.

Two-daypassesareavailableforpurchase

nowandone-day passes will be on sale from

August 5th.

GroupA:Australia,NewZealand,

PapuaNewGuinea,USA

GroupB:England,France,

Lebanon,Wales

GroupC:Tonga,CookIslands,

Fiji,Samoa

Women’s:Australia,NewZealand,

England, Papua New Guinea

EventSchedule

Friday,October 18

5.15pm:Gatesopen

5.30pm: Universityteamskick-off

6pm:Openingceremony

6.20pm: First pool match kicks-off

SaturdayOctober 19

10.30am:Gatesopen

10.45am:Universityteamskick-off

11.30am: First pool match kicks-off

24 BIG LEAGUE 2019 Round 20