2017 Auckland 9s - New Faces - Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks

Watch out for Billy Magoulias when the Sharks get to Auckland.

He's a clever ball-playing back rower who was part of the Sharks SG Ball winning team in 2015. He played in 16 Holden Cup  matches last year and is still eligible in 2017.  Coming off the bench, he spent just 42 minutes on the field each week but regularly ran the ball 60mtrs or more and made an average of 18 tackles. When he wasn't busting through tackles himself he was popping balls to team mates. Turning 20 just four days ago, the trip to New Zealand is a huge present from head-coach Flanagan.

Jesse Ramien was the "bolter" in the Sharks squad for Auckland, with just 6 matches for the Sharks after defecting from the Northern Beaches, mid-season.  Jesse has been on a path to the NRL since scoring two tries in the NSW U-16s win over QLD in 2013.  This time last year he was the surprise selection for the Manly Nines team. As a robust centre for Manly and Cronulla he played a combined 18 matches, averaged 121 metres and broke the line 75 times.  
 
Another Mt Albert junior, Malakai Houma played 24 matches for the Sharks reserve grade team (Newtown Jets) in 2016.  At more than 100kg and 192 cm tall Malakai is a professional league player, which is quite a compliment. The big prop forward was publicly rewarded for his consistency at the Jets and the trip home to New Zealand is the Sharks management's way of saying  "keep up the good work". 

NRL Auckland Nines squads

NRL Auckland Nines schedule (AEDT)