SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - MAY 28: Luke Brooks of the Wests Tigers looks dejected during the round 12 NRL match between the South Sydney Rabbitohs and the Wests Tigers at Accor Stadium, on May 28, 2022, in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Since the Knock-On Effect NSW Cup resumed on the NSWRL calendar following the abandonment of the 2020 competition due to the COVID pandemic, 142 players have progressed to NRL in the past three seasons.
Yvette Downey, NSWRL Head of Competitions, emphasized the significance of The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup as the state’s premier men’s competition, serving as an excellent platform for players aspiring to professional Rugby League careers. She highlighted memorable moments from the previous season, including the thrilling Grand Final Day at CommBank Stadium, where South Sydney Rabbitohs and North Sydney Bears delivered an exciting decider in front of a crowd exceeding 10,000 fans. Downey expressed confidence that the upcoming season would be equally captivating, eagerly anticipating the development of the next generation of players.
In 2021, despite the competition lasting only 15 rounds before another interruption due to COVID, 52 players from The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup advanced to the NRL, followed by 46 in 2022 and 44 in 2023. Notable players who made their mark for their respective clubs include Sam Walker and Joseph Suaalii of the Sydney Roosters (2021), Toluatau Koula of the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles and Sunia Turuva of the Penrith Panthers (2022), and Jahream Bula of the Wests Tigers and Jacob Preston of the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs (2023).
The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup’s prosperity continues, bolstered by its naming rights sponsor, Transport for NSW, extending their partnership until the end of 2026. The collaboration between NSWRL and Transport for NSW, initiated in 2017, has been instrumental in the competition’s growth.
The season’s opening round commences tomorrow night, with the Newcastle Knights hosting the Canberra Raiders at McDonald Jones Stadium. Additional matches include the reigning premiers South Sydney Rabbitohs facing Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles at 4 Pines Park on Saturday, and Grand Finalists North Sydney Bears taking on the St George Illawarra Dragons at Collegians on Sunday.
Three games from The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup will be available for live streaming on NSWRL TV every week, with the platform now offering a dedicated app downloadable from both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. Subscribers to NSWRL TV will also have access to replays and round highlights.
Additionally, the upcoming weekend marks the commencement of the Jersey Flegg Cup (Under 21s) season, with the inclusion of Fiji’s Kaiviti Silktails and the Warriors expanding the competition from 12 to 14 teams in 2024.
The opening round fixtures include the Parramatta Eels, last year’s Preliminary Finalists, hosting the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, who were crowned Premiers in 2023, at New Era Stadium. Meanwhile, the 2022 Premiers Penrith Panthers will face off against the Sydney Roosters, last year’s Grand Finalists, at St Mary Leagues Stadium.
Furthermore, the Leagues Clubs Australia Ron Massey Cup, a semi-professional competition serving as NSWRL’s second-tier for senior men, along with the Sydney Shield, the competition beneath it, will commence on the following weekend (16-17 March).
NSWRL TV will broadcast all Jersey Flegg Cup matches in Australia and New Zealand, featuring the Silktails, as well as one game per week from the Ron Massey Cup. Additionally, the platform will cover the finals series of all competitions, including the Sydney Shield.
