Auckland Nines

Big names in the squad include halves Johnathan Thurston and Michael Morgan, hooker Jake Granville, forwards Jason Taumalolo and Ethan Lowe and backs Justin O'Neill, Kyle Feldt, Kane Linnett and Kalyn Ponga.

It will be the first trip to the Auckland Nines for four-time Dally M winner Thurston.

Lachlan Coote, Matt Scott and Antonio Winterstein are among the few big names left in Townsville.

The Cowboys will meet the Roosters, Raiders and Rabbitohs in the group stage.

Full squad:

New signing Benji Marshall will feature up in the backline alongside other star names including Anthony Milford, James Roberts and Darius Boyd.

With the likes of Adam Blair, Andrew McCullogh and Matt Gillett also selected it's hard to see the side struggling this year.

The Broncos will fancy their chances in a group with the Melbourne Storm, Newcastle Knights and Wests Tigers.

BRONCOS’ NRL AUCKLAND NINES SQUAD

Alex Barr

Adam Blair

Darius Boyd

Gerome Burns

Mitch Cronin

Matt Gillett

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Young star Bevan French scored his eighth try of the tournament and prolific winger Semi Radradra his sixth in the rousing win in which the Warriors struggled to get out of their end, let alone threaten the Eels consistently.

Shaun Johnson's short kick-off to start the game was handled by the Eels and when a spiralling midfield bomb on the last from Luke Kelly floated past the last line of defence and shot into the in-goal, tournament top try-scorer French was on hand to make it 7-0 under the posts just 90 seconds in.

Storm try-scorer Tohu Harris was proud of what his side were able to achieve at the Nines, with few tipping Melbourne to make it deep in the tournament.

"Nobody sort of gave us a chance but we thought we had come up with a quality side, one that works hard for each other," Harris told NRL.com.

"I guess everyone else will think we're overachievers but we knew we were better than what we came up with in the last game. Unfortunately we faced an in-form Parra team and it just wasn't to be."

The former Sydney Roosters and Penrith prop has spent the past two years with St Helens in the English Super League and believes his game has grown in leaps and bounds.

But even Masoe was taken aback by his selection in Paul McGregor's squad for the fast-paced Nines event.

"It was surprising for myself because it's not really meant to be for the bigger dudes," the 199cm Samoa international said.

"It's more for the faster guys, so I'm quite stoked at being named.