The draw for the $2.6 million inaugural NRL Auckland nines tournament took place on Wednesday morning with the 16 teams being put into four groups.

The competition, which takes place on February 15 and 16 at Eden Park, will be opened by Newcastle and Cronulla who form the blue group with Wests Tigers and Gold Coast.

Local favourites the Warriors are joined in the yellow group by Manly, Cronulla and North Queensland.

Reigning premiers the Sydney Roosters are in the green group with Parramatta, Brisbane and Canterbury.

Melbourne, Penrith, South Sydney and St George Illawarra are in the red group.

The clubs will compete for $2.6 million in prize money and have all guaranteed at least one top five player from their salary cap will appear.

The team will send at least 12 of each club’s top-25 salary capped players to the event.

The tournament has received the endorsement of several NRL stars including Sam Thaiday, Willie Mason, Robbie Farah, Paul Gallen and Todd Carney.

State of Origin coaches Mal Meninga and Laurie Daley and Newcastle’s seven-time premiership-winning coach Wayne Bennett have also pledged their support.

Pools for the tournament on February 15-16:

Yellow: Warriors, Canberra, Manly, North Queensland

Green: Sydney Roosters, Parramatta, Brisbane, Canterbury

Blue: Cronulla, Newcastle, Wests Tigers, Gold Coast

Red: Melbourne, Penrith, South Sydney, St George Illawarra.