HIS rare combination of size and speed would have made Paul McGregor close to unstoppable in Nines rugby league but the Dragons coach says the format has little correlation with the 13-a-side game.
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The tournament at Eden Park attracts sell-out crowds and plenty of attention from fans but the potential for injury to star players has led people to question its place on the NRL calendar.
McGregor will take a predominantly young side across the Tasman for the tournament and said it will provide little insight into any team’s potential fortunes come the season-proper.
‘‘I’d have liked to play in the Nines when I was coming through,’’ McGregor said.
‘‘It’s an enjoyable weekend but you take it for what it is.
‘‘It’s an open brand of footy but doesn’t relate too much to the 13-man game.
‘‘It’s a great concept and all the players and community in New Zealand get involved in it which is important for our game. It’s a good induction into the season.
‘‘If I get out of it without any injuries and we win a few games I’ll be happy.”
McGregor has named his biggest player Mose Masoe in his squad and said the game does have room for big men.
“I think that [2015 champions] Souths showed last year that you need big men,” McGregor said.
“They had [George] Burgess playing and I think there’s definitely a space for them.
“If you’ve got a guy like [Masoe] 10 metres out good luck stopping him one-on-one. He’s mobile and he gets good speed up over a short distance and that’s what you need in Nines.”