Last year’s Auckland Nines tournament gave us an early glimpse at a number of talented youngsters who would go onto to make their NRL debut in 2014, including Valentine Holmes, Cameron Munster and Tuimoala Lolohea. Let’s a closer look at the NYC-eligible players who have been selected for the 2015 tournament.
Jack Bird (Cronulla Sharks)
Born: 20/3/1995 (Wollongong, NSW)
Position: Centre/Second Row
Junior Club: Berkeley Eagles
Rep Honours: Junior Kangaroos (2014), NSW U20s (2014), NSW U18s (2013), NSW U16s (2011)
An off-season recruit from the Dragons, Bird is coming off a successful 2014, in which he represented Australia and NSW. After playing most off his career so far in the forwards, Bird has favoured a move into the backline in 2015.
Valentine Holmes (Cronulla Sharks)
Born: 24/7/1995 (Townsville, Qld)
Position: Fullback/Wing
Junior Club: Western Lions
Rep Honours: Junior Kangaroos (2014), Qld U20s (2014), Qld U18s (2013)
In 2014, the Townsville junior scored 14 tries in 15 games in the NYC before moving up to the NSW Cup, and eventually, the NRL. The elusive fullback started the year at the Nines and ended it by scoring a double for the Junior Kangaroos in October.
Tom Trbojevic (Manly Sea Eagles)
Born: 2/10/1996 (Sydney, NSW)
Position: Fullback/Centre
Junior Club: Mona Vale Raiders
Rep Honours: NSW U18s (2014)
Trbojevic turned plenty of heads in 2014 and will look to impress once more at the Auckland Nines. He scored 20 tries in 18 games in the NYC and represented New South Wales under 18's. He is the younger brother of Manly prop Jake Trbojevic.
Nelson Asofa-Solomona (Melbourne Storm)
Born: 29/2/1996 (Wellington, NZ)
Position: Lock/Second Row
Junior Club: Upper Hutt Tigers
Rep Honours: Junior Kiwis (2014)
The Wellington junior was Melbourne's equal-leading NYC tryscorer in 2014, made the Team of the Year, made the move up to NSW Cup and represented the Junior Kiwis. Standing at 198cm and weighing in at 112kg, Asofa-Solomona won't be hard to miss at the Nines.
Suliasi Vunivalu (Melbourne Storm)
Born: 27/11/1995 (Fiji)
Position: Wing
Junior Club: St Kentigern College
Rep Honours: Nil
Born in Fiji and educated in Auckland, Vunivalu played 8 NYC games in 2014 before moving up to the NSW Cup and is now training with the Storm's NRL squad. At 192cm and 96kg, Vunivalu is a barnstorming winger who will be looking to make his presence felt at the Nines.
Danny Levi (Newcastle Knights)
Born: 5/12/1995 (Wellington, NZ)
Position: Hooker
Junior Club: Randwick Kingfishers
Rep Honours: Junior Kiwis (2014)
Levi captained the Knights to the Minor Premiership in 2014 and was rewarded with a spot in the Team of the Year and a Junior Kiwis jersey. The crafty dummy half may spend time in the NSW Cup in 2015.
Sione Mata'utia (Newcastle Knights)
Born: 25/6/1996 (Liverpool, NSW)
Position: Centre/Wing/Fullback
Junior Club: Raymond Terrace Roosters/South Newcastle Lions
Rep Honours: Australia (2014), NSW U20s (2014), NSW U18s (2014-13), NSW U16s (2012)
The youngest of the Mata'utia clan, Sione had a dream season in 2014, in which he went from the Holden Cup to Australia's youngest ever debutant. Mata'utia should be a regular first grader in 2015 and will be a must watch player at the Nines.
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