Burgess and Burgess get Nines nod

Joe Burgess and Thomas Burgess will made their Auckland Nines’ debuts for their NRL clubs this weekend.

Winger Joe, who arrived from Wigan at the Roosters in the off-season, will play in the tournament for the first time.

Prop Thomas will also feature in Auckland for South Sydney for the first time after missing the cut last year. Twin brother George was in the Rabbitohs team for 2015, which won the competition, but has not been selected this year.

Older brother Luke Burgess was not picked by Manly.

England internationals Jack Reed, Elliot Whitehead, Josh Hodgson, Mike Cooper, Gareth Widdop, James Graham, Sam Burgess, George Burgess will also miss out on the Auckland Nines.

Ireland forward Tyrone McCarthy, who recently moved to the NRL from Hull KR, has been selected in St George Illawarra‘s Nines squad.

The Nines take place at Eden Park this weekend.