The Auckland Nines might be under fire, but Canberra Raiders outside back Brent Naden says it was an invaluable experience to kick start his career.
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His Nines campaign came to an end after the round-robin stage when the Raiders lost 21-0 to the Sydney Roosters at Eden Park on Sunday.
The Raiders struggled to contain the Roosters, especially down their right defensive edge, with Latrell Mitchell scoring a double down the Chooks' left wing.
Canberra needed to win to progress to the quarter-finals where they would have met the Brisbane Broncos.
Nines captain Jeff Lima, Adam Clydsdale and Zac Santo were the only Raiders who have played NRL for the Green Machine in Sunday's team, with Blake Austin, Aidan Sezer and Luke Bateman all watched on.
The Canterbury Bulldogs were threatened with having their appearance fee stripped for not playing their stars and the timing and location of the tournament have been called into question.
But Naden said it was a valuable learning tool — both playing alongside someone of Lima's experience and also against someone of Johnathan Thurston's class.
Naden admitted to being a little bit star struck when the Cowboys legend ran at him.
The outside back scored the Raiders' opening try of the tournament — against the South Sydney Rabbitohs in their only win of the Nines.
"It's been unbelievable ... playing alongside the likes of Jeff Lima, Adam Clydsdale, Zac Santo — alongside first-graders and against first-graders — was a big experience and you can take a lot from it," Naden said.
"They're the best of the best, really, the likes of Johnathan Thurston and all them playing. Playing against them you can learn from that, your mistakes and you can watch them play.
"I got shocked at one stage when he ran at me — I wanted to smash him, but then I wanted to not tackle him because he's one of the greats."
The 21-year-old was part of the Penrith Panthers' under-20s premiership in 2015, but he felt he was stuck behind a raft of talented backs at the foot of the mountains.
He joined NSW Cup side Mounties, who are the Raiders' feeder team, and from there caught Canberra's eye and has followed former Mounties teammate Clay Priest onto the Raiders roster.
Now he's hoping to emulate Priest and force his way into the NRL and was soaking up everything he could from working with the Green Machine stars.
"All the outside backs like Jack Wighton, Edrick Lee and Jordan Rapana have taken me under their wing and are teaching me things every day," Naden said.
"Just really mentoring me, so I've got three mentors which is pretty lucky."
SYDNEY ROOSTERS 21 (Latrell Mitchell bonus try; Latrell Mitchell, Daniel Tupou, Ryan Matterson tries; Mitchell 2 goals) bt CANBERRA RAIDERS 0 at Eden Park.
