Five teams have one game left to secure two top-five spots and play finals football in 2023 as an exciting finish looms for The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup, the NSWRL’s major men’s competition.
Defending 2022 premiers – Penrith Panthers – are one of those teams as they currently sit in sixth position on the ladder, but equal on 30 points with fifth-placed Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles.
It makes the Sea Eagles Sunday game against Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs (8th) crucial as Blacktown Workers seek to play NSW Cup finals for the first time.
Breathing more easily than the five teams sitting fourth through to eighth – (4th) Canberra Raiders on 31 points, (5th) Sea Eagles 30, (6th) Panthers 30, (7th) Newtown Jets 29, (8th) Bulldogs 29 – are the North Sydney Bears in top spot and the South Sydney Rabbitohs in second.
The Warriors have marked their return to NSW Cup this year with a top-three spot on the ladder.
The Bears had the Minor Premiership sewn up a fortnight ago being five points clear with two rounds left.
But they let an 18-8 halftime lead slide last week to be beaten by the Panthers 26-18.
They will not want another loss before the North Sydney Oval faithful, when they face the Raiders in the match of the round to be live-streamed on NSWRL TV from 2pm on Sunday (27 August).
NSWRL Chief Executive David Trodden will be presenting the club with the Minor Premiership shield following the match, which the Raiders need to win to secure a finals spot.
The Raiders are also aiming for their first NSW Cup finals campaign as their own entity after separating from Mounties in 2020.
“It’s the closest finish to the regular season we’ve had in The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup for several years,” said NSWRL Head of Competitions, Yvette Downey.
“And that goes to the fact there’s been some entertaining and quality matches across the board in NSW Cup all year.
“Only the five clubs go through to the finals, but every team in the top-eight currently has a chance if results fall their way this weekend.
“For fans of the Raiders, Sea Eagles, Panthers, Bulldogs and Jets, it’s going to be an edge-of-your seat ride this weekend to see where their team finishes up.”
