NRL Nines squads confirmed for tournament

A host of representative stars, exciting young guns and some greats from yesteryear will compete at this weekend's Perth Nines tournament.

Strong teams have been named across the league featuring the likes of Shaun Johnson, Anthony Milford, Cameron Munster, Jason Taumalolo, Mitch Moses, Viliame Kikau and Ben Hunt.

More than 60 international players and around 40 Origin guns across the men's and women's tournaments will showcase their ability at HBF Park from February 14-15, starting on Friday.

Retired legends Pat Richards (Wests Tigers), Andrew Ryan (Bulldogs), Jason Nightingale (Dragons), Kurt Gidley (Knights), Michael Gordon (Titans) and Corey Parker (Broncos) will all return for their beloved clubs during the festival of footy.

There'll be a code switch, too, with former Sydney Swans AFL player Nick Davis to have a crack with defending Nines champions the Roosters.

Speed and skill looks certain to define the tournament with several sides boasting electric wheels.

Confirmed squads for the men's and women's 2020 NRL Nines tournaments in Perth, running on February 14 and 15.

NRL squads: Broncos Raiders Bulldogs Sharks Titans Sea Eagles Storm Knights Cowboys Eels Panthers Rabbitohs Dragons Roosters Warriors Wests Tigers

NRLW squads: Roosters Warriors Dragons Roosters

NRL squads

Broncos 

Brisbane made two late changes to their squad with captain Alex Glenn and winger Xavier Coates left out as precautions after both experienced leg muscle tightness on Tuesday. Centre Kotoni Staggs and teenager Brendan Piakura are the new inclusions. Former club great Corey Parker will come out of retirement to play in Perth. 

1. Jamayne Isaako
2. Tesi Niu
3. Herbie Farnworth
4. Izaia Perese
5. Kotoni Staggs
6. Anthony Milford
7. Brodie Croft
8. Tom Dearden
9. David Fifita
10.  
11. Payne Haas
12. Ethan Bullemor
13. Jake Turpin
14. Cory Paix
15. Brendan Piakura
16. Jesse Arthars
17. Ilikena Vudogo
18. Corey Parker

Raiders

Elliott Whitehead will captain the Raiders and assistant coach Andrew McFadden will take charge of the squad.

Matt Frawley will get his first action in Raiders colours after signing from Huddersfield in the off-season.

1. Harley Smith-Shields
2. Semi Valemei
3. Matthew Timoko
4. Michael Oldfield
5. Daine Spencer
6. Matthew Frawley
7. Sam Williams
8. Dunamis Lui
9. Siliva Havili
10. Sia Soliola
11. Jack Murchie
12. Elliott Whitehead (c)
13. Ryan Sutton
14. Tom Starling
15. Duwanye Mariner
16. Dan Keir
17. Kai O'Donnell
18. Darby Medlyn

Bulldogs 

Former premiership-winning forward Andrew Ryan will dust off his boots to make a comeback for the Dogs, while Corey Harawira-Naera has been appointed captain of the club's 2020 NRL Nines side.

1. Nick Meaney
2. Jayden Okunbor
3. Kerrod Holland
4. Morgan Harper
5. Jack Cogger
6. Jake Averillo
7. Brandon Wakeham
8. Dean Britt
9. Ben Marschke
10. Ofahiki Ogden
11. Corey Harawira-Naera (c)
12. Chris Smith
13. Joe Stimson
14. Andrew Ryan
15. Kayne Kalache
16. Toa Mata'afa
17. Isaiah Tass
    19. Bailey Bioindi-Odo

Sharks 

Captained by Wade Graham and boasting the silky skills of Shaun Johnson, the Cronulla squad is a potent mix of pace and power.

1. Wade Graham (c)
2. Briton Nikora
3. Jack Williams
4. Aaron Woods
5. Blayke Brailey
6. Josh Morris
7. Jesse Ramien
8. Chad Townsend
9. Shaun Johnson
10. Ronaldo Mulitalo
11. William Kennedy
12. Sione Katoa
13. Billy Magoulias
14. Connor Tracey
15. Toby Rudolf
16. Scott Sorensen
17. Teig Wilton
18. Braydon Trindall

Titans

Veteran fullback Michael Gordon, who only retired at the end of last season, should still be in pretty good nick to help the Titans at the Nines while playmaker Ash Taylor will be the on-field general.

Coach Justin Holbrook has named young guns Treymain Spry and Darius Farmer to play alongside seasoned campaigners like Jai Arrow, Anthony Don, Tyrone Peachey and Gordon.

1. AJ Brimson
2. Anthony Don
3. Tyrone Peachey
4. Jonus Pearson
5. Phil Sami
6. Tanah Boyd
7. Ash Taylor
8. Jai Whitbread
9. Mitch Rein
10. Sam Stone
11. Bryce Cartwright
12. Jaimin Joliffe
13. Jai Arrow
14. Greg Leleisiuao
15. Treymain Spry
16. Erin Clark
17. Darius Farmer
18. Michael Gordon

Sea Eagles

The Manly team boasts 11 players with NRL experience and will be captained by prop Martin Taupau.

Reuben Garrick said wearing the green and gold at the World Cup 9s in October "the biggest achievement in my football career" and said he would take lessons back to Manly for the Perth tournament.

1. Luke Metcalf
2. Edwin Ipape
3. Zach Dockar-Clay
4. Brendan Elliot
5. Reuben Garrick
6. Lachlan Croker
7. Cade Cust
8. Tevita Funa
9. Toafofoa Sipley
10. Abbas Miski
11. Corey Waddell
12. Martin Taupau (c)
13. Haumole Olakau’atu
14. Sean Keppie
15. Taniela Paseka
16. Zac Saddler
17. Reed Izzard
18. Dane Aukafolau

Storm 

Cameron Munster is one of the best all-round players in the NRL so he should be the key to Melbourne's chances in Perth. Jason Ryles will coach the squad and Sandor Earl and Tui Kamikamica have been named as co-captains for the weekend.

1. Nicho Hynes
2. Dean Ieremia
3. Brenko Lee
4. Marion Seve
5. Sandor Earl (c)
6. Cameron Munster
7. Cooper Johns
8. Tui Kamikamica (c)
9. Harry Grant
10. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui
11. Max King
12. Chris Lewis
13. Tom Eisenhuth
14. Trent Loiero
15. Justin Olam
16. Darryn Schonig
17. Siti Moceidreke
18. Judda Turahui

Knights 

Kurt Mann and Aidan Guerra have been named as co-captains for Newcastle while former club and NSW captain Kurt Gidley is a confirmed starter and will make a comeback from retirement at 37.

Gidley will make his return for the competition alongside the likes of exciting emerging talents Starford To'a, Tex Hoy and Nathaniel Sasagi.

1. Kurt Gidley
2. Jirah Momoisea
3. Hymel Hunt
4. Brodie Jones
5. Gehamat Shibasaki
6. Aidan Guerra
7. Starford To'a
8. Jacob Saifiti
9. Pasami Saulo
10. Kurt Mann
11. Tyronne Roberts-Davis
12. Mason Lino
13. Sione Mata'utia
14. Mitch Barnett
15. Bayden Searle
16. Tex Hoy
17. Nathaniel Sasagi
18. Matt Soper-Lawler

Warriors

Isaiah Papali’i will become the youngest captain of a Warriors senior team when he takes the team onto the field in Perth.

Papali’i, who turned 21 last September, goes into the tournament with a career total of 48 NRL games after making his debut as an 18-year-old in 2017.

The previous youngest captain was club great Simon Mannering, who was 23 when he took on the role in 2010.

1. Adam Keighran
2. Ken Maumalo
3. Hayze Perham
4. Edward Kosi
5. Paul Turner
6. Taane Milne
7. Isaiah Papali'i (c)
8. Sam Lisone
9. Rocco Berry
10. Jackson Frei
11. Selesitino Ravutaumada
12. Blake Green
13. Temple Kalepo
14. Agnatius Paasi
15. Leeson Ah Mau
16. Jamayne Taunoa-Brown
17. Leivaha Pulu
18. Chanel Harris-Tevita

Cowboys 

Jason Taumalolo will captain a strong Cowboys squad which contains fellow internationals Josh McGuire and Esan Marsters as well as Australian Nines star Kyle Feldt.

Coach Paul Green also opted to deploy a host of young outside backs including Scott Drinkwater, Connelly Lemuelu, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Michael Bell, Murray Taulagi and Dan Russell.

1. Scott Drinkwater
2. Connelly Lemuelu
3. Tom Opacic
4. Esan Marsters
5. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow
6. Reece Robson
7. Jake Clifford
8. Kyle Feldt
9. Jake Granville
10. Josh McGuire
11. Coen Hess
12. Shane Wright
13. Jason Taumalolo (c)
14. Ben Hampton
15. Peter Hola
16. Murray Taulagi
17. Michael Bell
18. Daniel Russell

Eels 

Clint Gutherson will captain a powerful Eels squad which boasts pace to burn with Maika Sivo, Mitch Moses, Blake Ferguson and Jaeman Salmon.

The Eels open their campaign against arch-rivals the Bulldogs in the first Pool 2 match on Friday.

1. Clint Gutherson (c)
2. Maika Sivo
3. Will Smith
4. Brad Takairangi
5. Blake Ferguson
6. Jaeman Salmon
7. Mitch Moses
8. Oregon Kaufusi
9. Rhys Davies
10. Junior Paulo
11. Shaun Lane
12. Ryan Matterson
13. Marata Niukore
14. Ray Stone
15. George Jennings
16. David Gower

18. Stefano Utoikamanu
22. Haze Dunster

Panthers

Viliame Kikau causes havoc when there are 13 defenders trying to shut him down so he should have a field day against a nine-man defensive line. Nathan Cleary, Dylan Edwards, Josh Mansour and new signing Apisai Koroisau also feature in a strong Nines squad.

1. Dylan Edwards
2. Josh Mansour
3. Dean Whare (c)
4. Brent Naden
5. Stephen Crichton
6. Jarome Luai
7. Nathan Cleary
8. Moses Leota
9. Apisai Koroisau
10. Jack Hetherington
11. Viliame Kikau
12. Billy Burns
13. Liam Martin
14. Kaide Ellis
15. Daine Laurie
16. Matt Burton
17. Caleb Aekins
18. Tyson Smoothy

Rabbitohs

Coach Jason Demetriou has named Damien Cook as captain of a squad which features 10 internationals, including Kangaroos Cameron Murray and Dane Gagai, Tonga's Junior Tatola and Samoa's Jaydn Su’A.

1. Damien Cook (c)
2. Dane Gagai
3. Cameron Murray
4. Jaydn Su'A
5. Junior Tatola
6. Ethan Lowe
7. Campbell Graham
8. Braidon Burns
9. Bryson Goodwin
10. Troy Dargan
11. Joshua Cook
12. Lachlan Ilias
13. Keaon Koloamatangi
14. Blake Taaffe
15. Jaxson Paulo
16. Edene Gebbie
17. Jack Johns
18. Patrick Mago

Dragons

Fresh off their World 9s success with Australia, Ben Hunt and Tyson Frizell will spearhead the Dragons' charge alongside new skipper Cameron McInnes, who has recovered from a broken leg suffered in the penultimate round of 2019. Blake Lawrie was a late withdrawal for the Dragons, with Korbin Sims taking his place.

Favourite son Jason Nightingale, who retired at the end of 2018, will pull on the boots again. 

1. Matt Dufty
2. Jason Saab
3. Mikaele Ravalawa
4. Tim Lafai
5. Jason Nightingale
6. Adam Clune
7. Ben Hunt
8. Josh Kerr
9. Cameron McInnes
10. Korbin Sims
11. Tyson Frizell
12. Jackson Ford
13. Euan Aitken
14. Tyrell Fuimaono
15. Tristan Sailor
16. Brayden Wiliame
17. Cody Ramsey
18. Jayden Sullivan

Roosters

Retired Sydney Swans star Nick Davis will make a cross-code switch for the Nines. 

1. Asu 'AJ' Kepaoa
2. Nick Davis
3. Christian Tuipulotu
4. Egan Butcher
5. Matthew Ikuvalu
6. Lachlan Lam
7. Drew Hutchison (c)
8. Poasa Faamausili
9. Sam Verrills
10. Lindsay Collins
11. Tom Freebairn
12. Lupe Tivalu
13. Daniel Suluka-Fifita
14. Freddy Lussick
15. James Tuitahi
16. Max Bailey
17. Luca Moretti
18. McKenzie Baker

Wests Tigers 

Club great and 2005 premiership-winning hero Pat Richards will return to the field with the Tigers at the Nines. Moses Mbye leads a squad also featuring experienced NRL backs Corey Thompson, David Nofoaluma and Robert Jennings.

1. Corey Thompson
2. David Nofoaluma
3. Robert Jennings
4. Moses Mbye (c)
5. Michael Chee Kam
6. Billy Walters
7. Jock Madden
8. Thomas Mikaele
9. Tommy Talau
10. Joseph Ratuvakacereivalu
11. Luciano Leilua
12. Luke Garner
13. Chris McQueen
14. Sam McIntyre
15. Paul Momirovski
16. Alex Seyfarth
17. Pat Richards
18. Matheson Johns