EZ Squad: Built for It. Still Waiting to Finish It.

EZ have been in the Nines ecosystem since the beginning, evolving from a loose collection of mates into a properly built program. Hybrid Labs sessions. Purposeful recruitment. Feeder teams running through Sydney and Brisbane to widen the base and harden the list. This isn’t a pop-up side anymore. It’s a system.

That’s what makes them dangerous.

On paper, EZ Squad have already shown they can win this thing. In 2025 they had the size, the skill, and the experience to go all the way. Tyrone Roberts controlled tempo. Joe Tomane finished like he always has. Sam Kasiano bent defensive lines until something broke. Matt Bowen still moved like time hadn’t caught him yet. Around them, younger legs added energy and intent.

They didn’t look out of place at any stage of the weekend.
They looked like a contender.

And that’s where the question lives.

EZ Squad didn’t fall short because they were underdone or outmatched. They fell short because the Nines demands timing as much as talent. A play here. A penalty there. One moment that didn’t go their way. Their quarterfinal against the Salty Pigs swung on a handful of decisions and one late defensive lapse.

That’s the margin.

With feeder teams now feeding genuine depth and Nines experience into the squad, EZ arrive better prepared than ever. They understand the rotations. They understand the recovery. They understand what two days really cost.

What they haven’t done yet is align it all on Sunday.

If EZ Squad get there with legs, discipline, and clarity, they’re not a feel-good story or a dangerous outsider. They’re a team that could finally turn “almost” into something louder.

Because the hard part is done.

Now it’s about finishing.