Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga has called for the Nines to become an international tournament, believing the abridged version of rugby league can attract new audiences to the game in the same way the Big Bash League has for cricket.

The third edition of the Auckland Nines kicked off over the weekend, playing to packed houses at Eden Park and marking the unofficial start of the season. The tournament has become a major event on New Zealand's sporting calendar, while the rugby union world Sevens competition was a big-ticket event in Sydney.

Meninga, appointed as Australian coach after a decade of dominance overseeing the Queensland State of Origin team, said part of his charter was reinvigorating the international program. The Raiders legend predicted that could include the return of Kangaroo tours, albeit in a different format, and an expansion of the Prime Minister's XIII itinerary. He also believed an international Nines event had the potential to expose league to new audiences.

"International Nines is an important part of growing the game globally," Meninga said.