Minor Premiers Newtown Jets have named halfback Braydon Trindall to make his return from appendicitis when they face the in-form Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in the Preliminary Final of The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup at Leichhardt Oval on Saturday 17 September.
The winner will progress through to the NSWRL Grand Final Day at CommBank Stadium on Sunday 25 September, where they will face the Penrith Panthers. The match tomorrow will kick-off at 3pm and will be broadcast by the Nine Network.
In another huge day of finals action for the NSWRL, Minor Premiers Sydney Roosters will take on the Penrith Panthers in the Preliminary Final of the Jersey Flegg Cup while the Semi-finals will be held for the Presidents Cup to determine the champion club in the state.
Trindall has played the bulk of his season for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in the NRL but has still managed four games for the Jets in 2022. He played in the Sharks’ Round 24 match against the Bulldogs but has been sidelined for the past two weeks after having his appendix removed.
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He could still be called into the NRL team for their must-win NRL Semi-final against South Sydney Rabbitohs at Allianz Stadium which could open the door for Lachlan Miller to return, who has also been named on the Sharks extended bench.
The Sharks team boasts plenty of firepower including The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup Player of the Year Kayal Iro, Kade Dykes and hooker Jayden Berrell, who has been named to make his return after missing last week’s loss to the Panthers through suspension.
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The Bulldogs have been in scintillating form throughout the finals series after winning sudden death matches against Parramatta Eels and the North Sydney Bears. Their team includes former Golden Boot nominee Brandon Wakeham, and NRL players Jayden Okunbor and Jackson Topine.
The Jersey Flegg Cup Preliminary Final between the Panthers and the Roosters will kick-off at 1pm with the winner moving on to face the Newcastle Knights on NSWRL Grand Final Day. The match tomorrow will be live streamed on NSWRL TV.
The Presidents Cup is a knockout, statewide competition involving the premiers from the Ron Massey Cup (Central Conference), Denton Engineering Cup (Northern Conference), Mojo Homes Illawarra Cup (Southern Conference), and Peter McDonald Premiership (Western Conference).
The first Semi-final will see Forbes Magpies (Peter McDonald Premiership) host Maitland Pickers (Denton Engineering Cup) at Jock Colley Field in Parkes with kick-off at 1.30pm.
Maitland, who have former NRL player Brock Lamb calling the shots, won the last edition of the Presidents Cup in 2020 which was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. It has now been expanded to include the premiers from four NSWRL Major competitions.
The second Semi-final will see Collegians (Mojo Homes Illawarra Cup) host Hills Bulls (Ron Massey Cup) at Collegians Sports Stadium in Figtree with both matches to be live streamed on NSWRL TV.
The winners of the Presidents Cup Semi-finals between Forbes-Maitland and Collegians-Hills Bulls will meet in the Final on NSWRL Grand Final Day and lay claim to the champion club of the state.
NSWRL FINALS VENUES AND SCHEDULE
Saturday 17 September
Presidents Cup
Jock Colley Field, Parkes
1.30pm: Forbes Magpies v Maitland Pickers
Collegian Sports Stadium, Figtree
3pm: Collegians v Hills Bulls
Leichhardt Oval
Jersey Flegg Cup Preliminary Final
1pm: Sydney Roosters v Penrith Panthers
The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup Preliminary Final
3.10pm: Newtown Jets v Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
