2017 Auckland 9s - New Faces - Brisbane Broncos

They won't be wearing maroon this time around but Brisbane are perennial challengers at the Nines. George Peterson looks at three exciting prospects coming out of the sunshine state.

18 years old and starting your second year as a 5/8 or halfback in the Bronco's U/20s team, that is what Gerome Burns has to look forward to in 2017. But before that, he gets to travel to Auckland with teammates for the Nines tournament. Gerome played 12 matches in 2016 averaging 100 metres with ball in hand, scored six tries and averaged two goals each week. In 12 months Ben Hunt will have moved on to St George Illawarra, and Gerome might be in the frame to play in his place, who knows?

Matiu Love-Henry at 21 is working through his carpentry apprenticeship and spent 2016 in the second row at Norths Devils in the Intrust Super Cup. He played 17 matches and most were the full 80 minutes. Love-Henry goes home to New Zealand to play in the Auckland 9s having represented his home country at the under 18 level. Auckland will be his first chance to impress Wayne Bennett while wearing the Broncos emblem on his chest.

Gehamat Shibasaki, meanwhile, is almost 19 and he's already represented Queensland at Under 18 Schoolboys and State of Origin levels. In 2016, he played 24 matches with the Broncos Holden Cup side, and travels to Auckland as a centre with 14 tries, and 3200 metres with ball in hand. The Nines will be yet another opportunity to show his skills as he marches toward a senior role at the Broncos.