The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup will expand to 14 teams in 2026 with Melbourne Storm joining the competition to continue the Victorian club’s expansion into NSWRL competitions.
The Storm will now field teams in NSWRL Major Competitions including The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup and Jersey Flegg Cup (Under 21s), and NSWRL Junior Representatives Competitions including UNE SG Ball Cup (Under 19s), Westpac Tarsha Gale Cup (Under 19s), UNE Harold Matthews Cup (Under 17s) and Westpac Lisa Fiaola Cup (Under 17s).
It is the first time the Storm has had teams in female pathways competitions after joining the Westpac Tarsha Gale Cup (Under 19s) and Westpac Lisa Fiaola Cup (Under 17s) for 2026.
The club continues to go from strength to strength after becoming the first team outside NSW to win the Jersey Flegg Cup in 2025 following a dominant season. Melbourne claimed the Minor Premiership with a record 13 local Victorians featuring throughout the campaign.
“NSWRL competitions continue to thrive and that is reflected again by Melbourne Storm joining the state’s premier competition, The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup, and our female pathways competitions for 2026,” NSWRL Chief Executive David Trodden said.
“The Storm made history last year by winning the Jersey Flegg Cup on what was a momentous NSWRL Grand Final Day with the Warriors also becoming the first team from outside NSW to claim The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup.
“I am confident the 2026 NSWRL season will feature just as many memorable moments, and I look forward to the action kicking off next year.”
The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup and Jersey Flegg Cup will start on 5-8 March while the NSW Women’s Premiership will kick-off on 13 June. The Leagues Clubs Australia Ron Massey Cup and Sydney Shield will commence on 21-22 March with the draws for those competitions to be released in 2026. The opening round of Newcastle Rugby League’s Denton Engineering Cup will be held on Saturday 11 April.
Other highlights of the 2026 NSWRL Major Competitions draws include:
- The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup Grand Final rematch between the Warriors and St George Illawarra Dragons to be played in Round 12 at Jubilee Stadium;
- A Festival of Footy featuring six games from The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup to be held at North Sydney Oval in Round 11;
- The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup Magic Round featuring five matches to be held in Round 17 at Scully Park in Tamworth;
- The Country v City representative weekend to be held on the weekend of 16-17 May.
The draws for the 2026 NSWRL Junior Representatives season were released last week and feature a Regional Magic Round to kick-off the season.
The Regional Magic Round will showcase 13 games from the SLE Laurie Daley Cup (Under 18s), Westpac Regional Lisa Fiaola Cup (Under 17s) and the SLE Andrew Johns Cup (Under 16s) to be played on one day (Saturday 31 January) at David Campese Oval and Seiffert Oval in Canberra and Pirtek Park in the Hunter Region.
The metropolitan Junior Representatives season will start the following weekend (7-8 February) for the UNE SG Ball Cup (Under 19s), Westpac Tarsha Gale Cup (Under 19s), UNE Harold Matthews Cup (Under 17s) and Westpac Lisa Fiaola Cup (Under 17s). The UNE SG Ball Cup will expand to 17 teams in the 2026 following the addition of the Central Coast Roosters.
Click here for the NSWRL Major Competitions draws.
