Brad Fittler's comeback a coup for Auckland Nines Unstoppable: Brad Fittler scores against Newcastle in 2004. Photo: Craig Golding Those still shattered about the premature retirement of Justin Bieber just before Christmas should perk up - the great Brad Fittler is coming out of retirement for the Roosters' tilt at the Auckland Nines next month. Fittler confirmed on Thursday to this column that he was approached by Roosters powerbrokers late last year, and has agreed to play in the inaugural pre-season tournament to be held at Eden Park on February 15 and 16. Kerry O'Keeffe is heading off into the sunset. Photo: Angela Milne "I expect to get hammered," said Freddy, whose last professional game of footy was the Roosters' loss to the Bulldogs in the 2004 grand final. I've been training with my 10-year-old, Demi. I've got a lot of work to do. Asked where he intends to play for the 2013 premiers, the Channel Nine sideline eye said: "As close to the wing as possible, without catching any high balls." Asked what would happen if he found monstrous Warriors winger Manu Vatuvei running at him, he said: "I'll be having a word to Manu before the match." Roosters coach Trent Robinson has endorsed the move, while the players are said to be thrilled about playing alongside a club legend. Fittler, 41, is one of the Roosters' favourite sons. A premiership-winning captain, no less. He has pulled on the boots twice since retiring: for NSW in a charity match and for the Classic Wallabies in the World Rugby Classic in Bermuda in November 2012. Former Wallabies hooker Adam Freier played in those rugby games, and returned to Australia believing Fittler would "kill it" in club rugby for any first-grade side. There appears, as always, to be some hurdles for the Roosters to clear if Fittler is to play. Under the agreement between the NRL and Duco Events - the tournament's promoter - each team must provide at least 12 players from their 25-man squad for the NRL season. The other four can come from outside it. It is understood that a Roosters contract for Fittler, worth less than $1000, will be lodged with the NRL shortly. "As long as the NRL is OK with it, I can't see why it can't happen,"David Higgins from Duco Events said. We haven't really discussed or thought about the possibility of wildcards, but we're open-minded about these sorts of things. Surely the NRL will allow it to happen. It's a no-brainer. Fittler's presence would help increase interest and TV ratings. Lock up your daughters The Real Cancun. That's what some are unofficially branding the Nines. While some clubs - notably the Sharks - would gobble up the prizemoney on offer, there is already some concern from some NRL chief executives about the cream of the NRL, all in the one city, all on the one weekend, all in the pre-season. On that note, many are not surprised that the New Zealand Rugby League has launched an official investigation into the alleged misuse of prescription drugs during the World Cup. While the Kangaroos were ruthless in their 34-2 win in the final at Old Trafford, some of the Kiwis were very shabby. As reported in this space, whispers were swirling around within days of the loss that something had gone down in camp. The Kiwis had, for most of the six-week tournament, been on an alcohol ban. In the cold north of England, you need something to warm you up. One more final dispatch from League Land ... the Cowboys are apparently tearing it up at training. New coach Paul Green has completely ripped into the squad that has under-achieved for years, and put other nosy officials, who have had too much to say for years, back in their box. We're expecting a much better showing from the Cowboys this season. Let's raise a glass to Skull Sadly, regrettably, inconceivably, this will be Kerry O'Keeffe's last Test behind the microphone for ABC Radio. He's hanging up thatlaugh. Good luck to him. Typical of his modesty, he politely brushed media requests this week, but that won't stop us from taking a journey through time and space to remember some of Skull's greatest moments. With thanks to ABC Books' Back to the Studio. Stand and applaud Your humble correspondent stood before the new Noble and Bradman stands for the first time on Thursday and let's just say it's the greatest thing to happen at the SCG since Saints won their 11th consecutive premiership. It's not finished. So bloody what? It's one Test. The SCG Trust has built a grandstand that will last an eternity, or at least until the Dragons win their next title. "Wow," England batsman Kevin Pietersen said as he walked on to the field for practice. Impressive. Those who enjoy an amber beverage will be particularly well catered for. In the old Noble Stand, there was a 40-metre-long bar from which the thirsty members could watch proceedings. Now there is 240m of bar over two levels. A microbrewery will be serving 14 craft beers from the Matilda Bay Brewery on tap, including offerings by the name of Dirty Granny, Itchy Green Pants and Ruby Tuesday. Goodbye, Ruby Tuesday. And straight down the throat. The trust is holding a competition to name the last of the 14 beers. The leading contender: 99.94. We like that one. SCG Trust boss Jamie Barclay has been conscious in the construction of the grandstand of bringing food and beverage up to international standard. In other words, as good as the stadiums in the US. Gone are pies and chips and in come seafood from Doyles, Asian noodles and wood-fired pizzas. And you can order them from an app on your phone, powered by Wi-Fi throughout the stadium. Whole new ball game One interested spectator on day two of the Sydney Test will be Arizona Diamondbacks president Derrick Hall. His team will play the LA Dodgers at the SCG in March. Apart from running an eye over the MLB club's new Sydney home ground, we're told he will be casting an eye for talent. Baseball and cricket have often been closely compared, and Hall is bound to look at the likes of Dave Warner and Steve Smith and think of the possibilities. Question & Answer with Mark Waugh We talk to the cricketing great who is entertaining viewers in his commentary for Ten of this summer's Big Bash League. You guys are clocking some miles. How many airport lounges have you been in the past few weeks? Plenty. I don't like that Hobart one. Not enough flights down there. Actually, they don't have one. I tweeted the other day that Adam Gilchrist and Ricky Ponting were great commentators to listen to, and I was attacked by all your fans who said you're the best of the three. That's good! We're having a good time. Punter has taken to it very well in his first stint. He's pretty clever and he's a cricket junkie so he knows all the stats and his players inside out. What about Sir Viv Richards? What was his reaction when you said they really love their KFC in Antigua? Well, they do. He wasn't that keen on my comment. He said, "Well, a lot of places like KFC." He's all right. I've got him under control. Did you play against him? In my first year of Test cricket [in 1991], he was playing his last. I played one series against him. He was one of my idols. He was the player I wanted to be. I got him out lbw in a Test in Barbados. He's a lovely bloke, even though he's a legend. He didn't laugh about the KFC remark, did he? Maybe he doesn't like KFC. In Twenty20, with the ropes in and the batsman-friendly pitches and loose bowling, surely no other player would've loved it as much as you ... I do wish I played it competitively. Not just because of the money, especially in the IPL, but there's good skills in it. There's more pressure on the batsmen than the bowlers, because the bowlers are expected to go for runs and the batsmen are expected to hit boundaries. I was born five years too early. You're a punter. Who's going to win it? The Melbourne Stars are the team to beat. I don't mind the Brisbane Heat. They're a bit hot and cold. Did you just say the Heat are hot and cold? Ha! I did.