The NSW Cup is the State's second-tier competition and clubs are run as direct feeders to Telstra Premiership sides.

The 2010 NSW Cup will feature 12 teams. 10 from NSW, one from Melbourne and one from Auckland.

This year there are a few changes. The Melbourne Storm have entered the competition as a stand alone entity, the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs have also become a stand alone entity after a successful relationship with the Bankstown City Bulls and the Newcastle Knights have joined with the Central Coast Rugby League to form the Central Coast Centurions.

The competition will be run over a 26 week period and will include one bye week around State of Origin III which coincides with the selection of the NSW Residents side.

The NSW Residents side is picked from all eligible players competiting in the NSW Cup and they play the QLD Residents in an annual fixture as a curtain raiser to State of Origin III in Syndey (May 7).