The 16 clubs have an extra incentive to field their biggest stars for the return of the nines after the NRL dangled a $1 million cheque to any team capable of doubling down and winning the pre-season tournament and the premiership proper.

The club-based nines is yet to be formally announced, but will be staged in Perth after the city pipped Newcastle and Melbourne’s bids to stage the return of the abbreviated version of the game.

The Roosters won the Nines in 2017, the last time the competition was held. Credit:NRL Photos

The nines champions will earn $250,000 for just two days of work at Perth’s HBF Stadium, the home of A-League side Perth Glory. However, the windfall will be greater still if they can back it up and take out the NRL grand final in 2020.

The premiers will still earn $400,000, but the NRL will provide a bonus of $350,000 if a team is able to take out both the NRL and the Nines titles. That will take the total prizemoney to seven figures if the feat can be achieved.