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Message: [QUOTE="GCBRONCO, post: 2556275, member: 1808"] [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Helvetica Neue][B][B][url=http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/nrl/brisbane-halfback-ben-hunt-using-auckland-nines-to-impress-coach-anthony-griffin/story-fniabm4i-1226807886258]No Cookies | The Courier-Mail[/url] THE opportunity to impress the coach, show up a rugby league legend and win some prizemoney has the Brisbane Broncos poised for a red-hot assault on the inaugural NRL Auckland Nines next month.[/B][/B][/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Helvetica Neue]Broncos halfback Ben Hunt has revealed the club will fully attack the $2.6m Nines with the battle for positions and the chance to tackle returning Sydney Roosters great Brad Fittler motivating them to showcase their best in the preseason.[/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Helvetica Neue]New recruit Marty Kennedy won't figure in the Nines after the front rower rolled his ankle at the Emerging Origin camp last weekend with his focus now on being fit for round one.[/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Helvetica Neue]The Broncos were listed sixth in the betting for the inaugural tournament at equal $13 with North Queensland, behind the fourth ranked Gold Coast Titans ($11) with hosts New Zealand Warriors the early favourites at $6.[/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Helvetica Neue]Drawn to play Canterbury, Parramatta and Roosters in the pool rounds, Hunt is keen to get a crack against Fittler and potentially lead Brisbane to the tournament win to build early season confidence at Red Hill. [/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Helvetica Neue]Yeah a chance to play against Freddy, I never thought that would ever happen," Hunt said.[/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Helvetica Neue]"If he is not injured by the time we play them or broken down we will get a shot.[/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Helvetica Neue]"I'm really excited about the Nines. It's something new to the game and I know all the boys at the club are excited about it and ready to go over and have a crack at it.[/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Helvetica Neue]"It would be a really good start to the season if you could get in and win something like that. It's going to be massive and there is definitely some good prize money up for grabs.[/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Helvetica Neue]"To win the comp would be pretty massive to win the first one." Australia's 15 NRL clubs all released new jerseys for the tournament in Sydney yesterday as excitement builds towards the new preseason event.[/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Helvetica Neue]While debate remains split on how seriously NRL coaches will take the tournament, with many big name superstars likely to be rested from the event, players who have committed to the Nines are adamant they are in it to win it.[/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Helvetica Neue]"It's not really a front rowers game but I will be happy to get out there and play with some of the faster blokes in our team," Titans prop Ryan James said.[/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Helvetica Neue]"I'm pretty sure we're taking some high profile players over there and a lot of our fast backs so I think we will have a really good side over there and we really want to go for the prize." For the Broncos the stakes will be more than just bragging rights, with coach Anthony Griffin reshaping his team and performances during the preseason certain to impact round one selections.[/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Helvetica Neue]Hunt said it was still too soon to tell who would be his five-eighth partner in 2014, but was impressed by the application of all the contenders during preseason training as Brisbane worked towards more flair in their attack.[/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Helvetica Neue]"There is a few boys training there at the moment and it's definitely going to come down to those trials," Hunt said.[/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Helvetica Neue]"If one of the boys stands out in that I think they will get the nod. "I think there will be a bit more flair in attack. I guess Benny Barba is going to bring a lot of that to our team, he is a great attacking weapon that we will have there.[/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Helvetica Neue]"I think we will play some good football and you know if we can keep a healthy and fit team on the paddock we will go pretty well this season."[/FONT][/COLOR] [/QUOTE]

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