Australian rugby league identity Phil Gould has taken a shot at the company responsible for the Auckland Nines, Duco Events via his social media account.
Gould, whose dislike for the tournament has been made public on several occasions, is the general manager of NRL club the Penrith Panthers and is also a commentator on Australia's Channel 9 network.
The 59-year-old criticised the nine-a-side rugby league tournament which kicks off at Eden Park on 4 February, suggesting that the players didn't train for the format meaning the protection of players was an issue for clubs.
"I do not like the NINES at all…", Gould tweeted.
Gould also said he couldn't understand why Duco Events was given access to the players when they were owned by the NRL clubs.
"Injury is enough. The entrepreneurs who run the competition don't own the players, so why do they get access to them? We train for 13 a side."
The tournament came under criticism last year after several clubs lost players due to injury with Manly coach Trent Barrett voicing his concerns about player welfare.
"You have to come but there's a reason why you don't bring your Daly Cherry-Evans' and Brett Stewarts' because you can't afford to," Barrett told Australian radio.
"It's dangerous and it's risky with the back-up factor, the fatigue factor and we're down to 13 players."
Newshub.
