Australia is preparing a raid on the lucrative Auckland NRL Nines tournament - but is being warned to keep its hands off.

The Dick Smith NRL Auckland Nines hit town on Friday, and the build-up begins in the city before the action heads over to Eden Park. Last year more than 90,000 fans packed the stadium; 5000 fans made it into the city for the opening party.

Benji Marshall will make his return to Eden Park as captain of the St George Illawarra Dragons at the NRL Auckland Nines this month.

NRL premiers South Sydney suffered a double blow yesterday with forward Luke Burgess heading to Manly for the next two seasons and CEO Shane Richardson leaving the club to take up a position at the NRL.

Preparations are well under way for the NRL Auckland Nines, which kicks off on January 31, with seven large banners being put up around Auckland ahead of the event.

The Warriors are embracing the pressure that comes with being the only home team competing in the NRL Auckland Nines at Eden Park next month.

Street thug Russell Packer has done the time, or half of it thanks to a successful appeal. Yet his crime was so vicious the NRL would be crazy to let him walk straight through the prison gates and into their playing ranks.

There were just two arrests for intoxication over two days at last year's sold-out inaugural Auckland NRL Nines tournament.

The small but perfectly formed NFL season is a classic example of how to turn less into more. Much more. It's a lesson some of our major sports codes would do well to imitate.

Blake Ferguson will be required to attend monthly welfare meetings with the NRL and Roosters officials next season to ensure his career never spirals out of control again.

When a group of young Mt Wellington flatmates advertised for a new addition to their house, they didn't expect an NRL player to come knocking.

Auckland City's public spaces will be transformed into 'fanzones' to allow the public to fully engage with a bumper summer of international events.

The Warriors hope Kieran Foran will want to move across the Tasman because the club, as flamboyant co-owner Eric Watson says, is about to embark on a period of excellence.

Former NRL star Jarryd Hayne has reportedly trained with the Detroit Lions for the second time, increasing speculation he's set to be offered a deal by the NFL club.

The Warriors' ability to win on the road will be put under thorough inspection next year with the club facing successive away games at the start and end of next year's campaign.

The Warriors will play the Gold Coast Titans in a historic Anzac Day clash at Mt Smart Stadium in Auckland, as part of the NRL's tribute to the 100th anniversary.

New Warriors signing Bodene Thompson expects to face some strong competition to secure a place in the club's 18-man NRL Auckland Nines squad.

Feeling better than he has in years, veteran Melbourne Storm fullback Billy Slater says his injury-enforced lay-off has been a blessing.