True Blue Tyrone Peachey will headline a list of stars turning out for the opening round of The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup when Premiers Penrith Panthers start their premiership defence against the North Sydney Bears at BlueBet Stadium in Penrith tonight.
Peachey, who represented the NSW Blues in the 2018 series win, has returned to the club he previously played for from 2014-18 before stints at the Gold Coast Titans (2019-21) and Wests Tigers (2022).
The Penrith team also includes Mavrik Geyer, the son of True Blue and former Panther premiership-winning back-rower Mark Geyer, who was part of the Jersey Flegg Cup Grand Final winning team in 2022; and several players who played in The Knock-On Effect Cup-winning team last year including Isaiah Iongi, Lindsay Smith, Chris Smith, Matt Eisenhuth and John Faiumu.
The Warriors make their return to the competition after a two-year hiatus when they host the Newcastle Knights at Navigation Home Stadium in Pukekohe, with the Knights looking to NRL halfback Adam Clune to get them home.
Grand Finalists from last year, Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, will boast True Blue Josh Reynolds in their line-up, when they take on Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles tomorrow. Reynolds helped steer the NSW Blues to a memorable series win in 2014 to snap Queensland’s Origin eight-year winning streak.
The Parramatta v Canberra match at Kellyville Park tomorrow will boast a list of talented players on both sides with the Eels team including Jake Arthur, Jordan Rankin and Mitch Rein while the Raiders have Jarrod Croker, Brad Schneider and Trey Mooney. Mooney captained the NSW Under 19s team to a memorable win over Queensland in their Origin pathways game last year.
Newtown will be out to make amends for last season after finishing as Minor Premiers before bowing out in the Preliminary Final when they host the South Sydney Rabbitohs at Henson Park tomorrow. The Jets team includes The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup Player of the Year Kayal Iro while the Rabbitohs will be captained by winger Tom Carr, who finished last season as the competition’s leading try-scorer.
The opening round will conclude when Western Suburbs Magpies host the Sydney Roosters at Leichhardt Oval on Sunday 5 March. It is the Roosters first time back in the competition since 2005, with the club last winning the competition in 2004; while the Magpies team includes halves Will Smith and Brandon Wakeham, who both boast NRL experience.
The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup continues to provide an important pathway with 46 players graduating last year to make their NRL debuts.
