The 2026 Knock-On Effect NSW Cup season is set to deliver another thrilling campaign, with the defending premiers New Zealand Warriors aiming to become the first team to claim back-to-back titles since the Bulldogs in 2010 and 2011.
Fresh off their historic 2025 breakthrough—where they dominated as minor premiers before clinching a maiden premiership with a 30-12 grand final victory over St George Illawarra—the Warriors will kick off their title defence at home against the Sydney Roosters in Round 1.
The competition expands to 14 teams this year with the addition of Melbourne Storm, promising intense rivalries, cross-border clashes, and a packed 26-round fixture list running from March through August. Here’s the full draw:
fixtures are subject to change. All times based on Sydney time.
Round 1
Date and Time Home Team Away Team Venue Thursday 5 March 2026 5:45pm Melbourne Storm Parramatta Eels AAMI Park Friday 6 March 2026 3:15pm New Zealand Warriors Sydney Roosters Go Media Stadium Saturday 7 March 2026 2:00pm Newcastle Knights South Sydney Rabbitohs Cessnock Sportsground Saturday 7 March 2026 2:00pm Penrith Panthers North Sydney Bears St Marys Leagues Stadium Saturday 7 March 2026 2:15pm Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs St George Illawarra Dragons Belmore Sports Ground Saturday 7 March 2026 5:15pm Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles Canberra Raiders 4 Pines Park
Byes: Newtown Jets, Western Suburbs Magpies
Round 2
Date and Time Home Team Away Team Venue Friday 13 March 2026 3:15pm New Zealand Warriors Canberra Raiders Go Media Stadium Saturday 14 March 2026 2:00pm Penrith Panthers Newtown Jets St Marys Leagues Stadium Saturday 14 March 2026 2:00pm Western Suburbs Magpies North Sydney Bears Lidcombe Oval Saturday 14 March 2026 3:10pm St George Illawarra Dragons Melbourne Storm WIN Stadium Sunday 15 March 2026 1:45pm Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles Newcastle Knights 4 Pines Park Sunday 15 March 2026 2:00pm South Sydney Rabbitohs Sydney Roosters Redfern Oval
Byes: Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, Parramatta Eels
Round 3
Date and Time Home Team Away Team Venue Thursday 19 March 2026 5:40pm Canberra Raiders Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs GIO Stadium Saturday 21 March 2026 12:30pm Newcastle Knights New Zealand Warriors McDonald Jones Stadium Saturday 21 March 2026 2:00pm Melbourne Storm Newtown Jets Seabrook Reserve Saturday 21 March 2026 5:10pm South Sydney Rabbitohs Western Suburbs Magpies Polytec Stadium Sunday 22 March 2026 2:35pm Parramatta Eels St George Illawarra Dragons CommBank Stadium Sunday 22 March 2026 2:45pm Sydney Roosters Penrith Panthers Wentworth Park
Byes: North Sydney Bears, Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles
Round 4
Date and Time Home Team Away Team Venue Thursday 26 March 2026 5:30pm Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles Sydney Roosters 4 Pines Park Friday 27 March 2026 3:15pm New Zealand Warriors Western Suburbs Magpies Go Media Stadium Friday 27 March 2026 12:00am Penrith Panthers Parramatta Eels CommBank Stadium Saturday 28 March 2026 12:00pm Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Newcastle Knights Belmore Sports Ground Saturday 28 March 2026 1:00pm St George Illawarra Dragons North Sydney Bears Michael Cronin Oval Sunday 29 March 2026 1:45pm Canberra Raiders Newtown Jets GIO Stadium
Byes: South Sydney Rabbitohs, Melbourne Storm
Round 5
Date and Time Home Team Away Team Venue Thursday 2 April 2026 12:00am Penrith Panthers Melbourne Storm CommBank Stadium Friday 3 April 2026 1:45pm South Sydney Rabbitohs Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Accor Stadium Friday 3 April 2026 12:00am Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles North Sydney Bears 4 Pines Park Saturday 4 April 2026 2:00pm Newtown Jets New Zealand Warriors Henson Park Sunday 5 April 2026 1:35pm Newcastle Knights Canberra Raiders McDonald Jones Stadium Monday 6 April 2026 2:35pm Parramatta Eels Western Suburbs Magpies CommBank Stadium
Byes: St George Illawarra Dragons, Sydney Roosters
Round 6
Date and Time Home Team Away Team Venue Thursday 9 April 2026 5:20pm Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Penrith Panthers Accor Stadium Saturday 11 April 2026 1:00pm St George Illawarra Dragons Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles Collegians Sporting Complex Saturday 11 April 2026 3:00pm Newtown Jets Sydney Roosters Henson Park Saturday 11 April 2026 4:45pm Melbourne Storm New Zealand Warriors AAMI Park Sunday 12 April 2026 1:40pm Western Suburbs Magpies Newcastle Knights Campbelltown Sports Stadium Sunday 12 April 2026 3:00pm North Sydney Bears Canberra Raiders North Sydney Oval Sunday 12 April 2026 6:00pm Parramatta Eels South Sydney Rabbitohs James Hardie Centre of Excellence
Round 7
Date and Time Home Team Away Team Venue Saturday 18 April 2026 12:15pm New Zealand Warriors Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles Go Media Stadium Saturday 18 April 2026 2:00pm Canberra Raiders Melbourne Storm Seiffert Oval Saturday 18 April 2026 3:10pm South Sydney Rabbitohs St George Illawarra Dragons Accor Stadium Sunday 19 April 2026 2:35pm Parramatta Eels Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs CommBank Stadium Sunday 19 April 2026 2:45pm Sydney Roosters Newcastle Knights Wentworth Park
Byes: North Sydney Bears, Newtown Jets, Western Suburbs Magpies, Penrith Panthers
Round 8
Date and Time Home Team Away Team Venue Friday 24 April 2026 4:00pm Melbourne Storm South Sydney Rabbitohs Seabrook Reserve Friday 24 April 2026 10:00pm New Zealand Warriors North Sydney Bears Go Media Stadium Saturday 25 April 2026 2:00pm Newtown Jets Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Henson Park Saturday 25 April 2026 2:00pm Western Suburbs Magpies Canberra Raiders Lidcombe Oval Sunday 26 April 2026 11:15am Newcastle Knights Penrith Panthers McDonald Jones Stadium Sunday 26 April 2026 1:00pm St George Illawarra Dragons Sydney Roosters Collegians Sporting Complex Sunday 26 April 2026 1:30pm Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles Parramatta Eels 4 Pines Park
Round 9
Date and Time Home Team Away Team Venue Friday 1 May 2026 3:30pm Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs North Sydney Bears Accor Stadium Saturday 2 May 2026 1:00pm Parramatta Eels New Zealand Warriors James Hardie Centre of Excellence Saturday 2 May 2026 3:00pm Newtown Jets Western Suburbs Magpies Henson Park Saturday 2 May 2026 5:00pm Sydney Roosters Canberra Raiders Allianz Stadium Sunday 3 May 2026 11:30am Newcastle Knights Melbourne Storm McDonald Jones Stadium Sunday 3 May 2026 1:00pm Penrith Panthers Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles Parker Street Reserve
Byes: St George Illawarra Dragons, South Sydney Rabbitohs
Round 10
Date and Time Home Team Away Team Venue Saturday 9 May 2026 12:40pm St George Illawarra Dragons Newcastle Knights WIN Stadium Saturday 9 May 2026 2:00pm Parramatta Eels North Sydney Bears James Hardie Centre of Excellence Saturday 9 May 2026 2:15pm Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Sydney Roosters Belmore Sports Ground Sunday 10 May 2026 11:15am Melbourne Storm Western Suburbs Magpies AAMI Park Sunday 10 May 2026 1:45pm Canberra Raiders Penrith Panthers GIO Stadium Sunday 10 May 2026 2:00pm South Sydney Rabbitohs Newtown Jets Coogee Oval
Byes: Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles, New Zealand Warriors
Round 11
Date and Time Home Team Away Team Venue Saturday 16 May 2026 12:00pm Penrith Panthers Western Suburbs Magpies North Sydney Oval Saturday 16 May 2026 2:00pm Newcastle Knights Newtown Jets North Sydney Oval Saturday 16 May 2026 4:00pm North Sydney Bears Sydney Roosters North Sydney Oval Sunday 17 May 2026 11:00am South Sydney Rabbitohs Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles North Sydney Oval Sunday 17 May 2026 1:00pm New Zealand Warriors Melbourne Storm North Sydney Oval Sunday 17 May 2026 3:00pm St George Illawarra Dragons Parramatta Eels North Sydney Oval
Byes: Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, Canberra Raiders
Round 12
Date and Time Home Team Away Team Venue Saturday 23 May 2026 3:00pm Canberra Raiders Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles Seiffert Oval Saturday 23 May 2026 3:10pm St George Illawarra Dragons New Zealand Warriors Jubilee Stadium Saturday 23 May 2026 4:15pm Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Melbourne Storm Belmore Sports Ground Sunday 24 May 2026 3:00pm North Sydney Bears South Sydney Rabbitohs North Sydney Oval
Byes: Parramatta Eels, Newtown Jets, Newcastle Knights, Western Suburbs Magpies, Penrith Panthers, Sydney Roosters
Round 13
Date and Time Home Team Away Team Venue Saturday 30 May 2026 12:00am Penrith Panthers New Zealand Warriors Parker Street Reserve Saturday 30 May 2026 2:00pm Western Suburbs Magpies Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Lidcombe Oval Saturday 30 May 2026 3:00pm Newtown Jets Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles Henson Park Saturday 30 May 2026 4:45pm Melbourne Storm Sydney Roosters AAMI Park Sunday 31 May 2026 12:30pm Newcastle Knights Parramatta Eels McDonald Jones Stadium Sunday 31 May 2026 1:45pm Canberra Raiders St George Illawarra Dragons GIO Stadium
Byes: North Sydney Bears, South Sydney Rabbitohs
Round 14
Date and Time Home Team Away Team Venue Saturday 6 June 2026 10:00am Melbourne Storm Newcastle Knights Seabrook Reserve Saturday 6 June 2026 3:00pm Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles South Sydney Rabbitohs 4 Pines Park Saturday 6 June 2026 3:00pm Newtown Jets St George Illawarra Dragons Henson Park Sunday 7 June 2026 12:00pm Western Suburbs Magpies Penrith Panthers Lidcombe Oval Sunday 7 June 2026 2:45pm Sydney Roosters North Sydney Bears Wentworth Park Monday 8 June 2026 1:40pm Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Parramatta Eels Accor Stadium
Byes: Canberra Raiders, New Zealand Warriors
Round 15
Date and Time Home Team Away Team Venue Saturday 13 June 2026 2:00pm South Sydney Rabbitohs North Sydney Bears Redfern Oval Saturday 13 June 2026 3:15pm New Zealand Warriors Newtown Jets Go Media Stadium Saturday 13 June 2026 5:00pm Parramatta Eels Canberra Raiders CommBank Stadium Sunday 14 June 2026 1:00pm Western Suburbs Magpies Sydney Roosters Lidcombe Oval
Byes: Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, St George Illawarra Dragons, Newcastle Knights, Penrith Panthers, Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles, Melbourne Storm
Round 16
Date and Time Home Team Away Team Venue Friday 19 June 2026 5:30pm Newcastle Knights St George Illawarra Dragons McDonald Jones Stadium Saturday 20 June 2026 12:40pm Western Suburbs Magpies Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles Campbelltown Sports Stadium Sunday 21 June 2026 11:30am New Zealand Warriors Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs One NZ Stadium Sunday 21 June 2026 1:45pm Melbourne Storm Canberra Raiders AAMI Park Sunday 21 June 2026 3:00pm North Sydney Bears Penrith Panthers North Sydney Oval Sunday 21 June 2026 3:45pm Sydney Roosters Newtown Jets Allianz Stadium
Byes: Parramatta Eels, South Sydney Rabbitohs
Round 17
Date and Time Home Team Away Team Venue Friday 26 June 2026 7:00pm Parramatta Eels Newcastle Knights Scully Park Saturday 27 June 2026 11:00am St George Illawarra Dragons Penrith Panthers Scully Park Saturday 27 June 2026 3:00pm Sydney Roosters South Sydney Rabbitohs Scully Park Sunday 28 June 2026 11:00am North Sydney Bears Melbourne Storm Scully Park Sunday 28 June 2026 11:40am Canberra Raiders New Zealand Warriors GIO Stadium Sunday 28 June 2026 3:00pm Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Scully Park
Byes: Newtown Jets, Western Suburbs Magpies
Round 18
Date and Time Home Team Away Team Venue Friday 3 July 2026 5:45pm Penrith Panthers South Sydney Rabbitohs CommBank Stadium Saturday 4 July 2026 1:00pm St George Illawarra Dragons Western Suburbs Magpies Collegians Sporting Complex Sunday 5 July 2026 3:00pm North Sydney Bears Newtown Jets North Sydney Oval Sunday 5 July 2026 6:00pm Parramatta Eels Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles James Hardie Centre of Excellence
Byes: Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, Newcastle Knights, Canberra Raiders, Sydney Roosters, Melbourne Storm, New Zealand Warriors
Round 19
Date and Time Home Team Away Team Venue Saturday 11 July 2026 1:00pm Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Canberra Raiders Belmore Sports Ground Saturday 11 July 2026 2:00pm South Sydney Rabbitohs Newcastle Knights Redfern Oval Saturday 11 July 2026 2:00pm Western Suburbs Magpies New Zealand Warriors Lidcombe Oval Saturday 11 July 2026 3:00pm Newtown Jets Melbourne Storm Henson Park Sunday 12 July 2026 2:45pm Sydney Roosters Parramatta Eels Wentworth Park Sunday 12 July 2026 3:00pm North Sydney Bears Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles North Sydney Oval
Byes: St George Illawarra Dragons, Penrith Panthers
Round 20
Date and Time Home Team Away Team Venue Friday 17 July 2026 5:30pm Sydney Roosters Melbourne Storm Allianz Stadium Saturday 18 July 2026 12:45pm New Zealand Warriors St George Illawarra Dragons Go Media Stadium Saturday 18 July 2026 2:15pm Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Western Suburbs Magpies Belmore Sports Ground Saturday 18 July 2026 2:30pm Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles Penrith Panthers 4 Pines Park Saturday 18 July 2026 3:30pm Newtown Jets Newcastle Knights Henson Park Saturday 18 July 2026 5:15pm Canberra Raiders South Sydney Rabbitohs GIO Stadium
Byes: North Sydney Bears, Parramatta Eels
Round 21
Date and Time Home Team Away Team Venue Thursday 23 July 2026 5:20pm Parramatta Eels Penrith Panthers CommBank Stadium Friday 24 July 2026 5:30pm Newcastle Knights Sydney Roosters McDonald Jones Stadium Saturday 25 July 2026 1:15pm Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs New Zealand Warriors Belmore Sports Ground Saturday 25 July 2026 2:00pm South Sydney Rabbitohs Melbourne Storm Redfern Oval Saturday 25 July 2026 5:15pm Canberra Raiders Western Suburbs Magpies GIO Stadium Sunday 26 July 2026 1:30pm Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles Newtown Jets 4 Pines Park Sunday 26 July 2026 3:00pm North Sydney Bears St George Illawarra Dragons North Sydney Oval
Round 22
Date and Time Home Team Away Team Venue Friday 31 July 2026 5:45pm Melbourne Storm Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs AAMI Park Saturday 1 August 2026 1:00pm North Sydney Bears Newcastle Knights Newcastle Knights COE Saturday 1 August 2026 2:00pm Penrith Panthers Canberra Raiders Parker Street Reserve Saturday 1 August 2026 3:00pm Newtown Jets South Sydney Rabbitohs Henson Park Sunday 2 August 2026 1:00pm Western Suburbs Magpies Parramatta Eels Lidcombe Oval Sunday 2 August 2026 2:45pm Sydney Roosters St George Illawarra Dragons Wentworth Park
Byes: Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles, New Zealand Warriors
Round 23
Date and Time Home Team Away Team Venue Friday 7 August 2026 3:15pm New Zealand Warriors Penrith Panthers Go Media Stadium Saturday 8 August 2026 12:00am North Sydney Bears Western Suburbs Magpies TBA Saturday 8 August 2026 12:00am Melbourne Storm Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles TBA Saturday 8 August 2026 1:00pm St George Illawarra Dragons Newtown Jets Collegians Sporting Complex Saturday 8 August 2026 2:00pm South Sydney Rabbitohs Parramatta Eels Redfern Oval Sunday 9 August 2026 2:45pm Sydney Roosters Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Wentworth Park Sunday 9 August 2026 4:15pm Canberra Raiders Newcastle Knights GIO Stadium
Round 24
Date and Time Home Team Away Team Venue Friday 14 August 2026 5:30pm Penrith Panthers Sydney Roosters Parker Street Reserve Friday 14 August 2026 5:30pm Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs South Sydney Rabbitohs Accor Stadium Saturday 15 August 2026 1:00pm Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles New Zealand Warriors 4 Pines Park Saturday 15 August 2026 3:00pm Newtown Jets Canberra Raiders Henson Park Sunday 16 August 2026 1:00pm Western Suburbs Magpies St George Illawarra Dragons Lidcombe Oval Sunday 16 August 2026 3:00pm North Sydney Bears Parramatta Eels North Sydney Oval
Byes: Newcastle Knights, Melbourne Storm
Round 25
Date and Time Home Team Away Team Venue Friday 21 August 2026 4:45pm Melbourne Storm Penrith Panthers Seabrook Reserve Saturday 22 August 2026 10:30am Newcastle Knights Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles McDonald Jones Stadium Saturday 22 August 2026 1:00pm St George Illawarra Dragons Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Collegians Sporting Complex Saturday 22 August 2026 1:30pm South Sydney Rabbitohs New Zealand Warriors Redfern Oval Saturday 22 August 2026 3:00pm Newtown Jets North Sydney Bears Henson Park Saturday 22 August 2026 3:00pm Canberra Raiders Parramatta Eels GIO Stadium Sunday 23 August 2026 2:45pm Sydney Roosters Western Suburbs Magpies Wentworth Park
Round 26 (Final Round)
Date and Time Home Team Away Team Venue Friday 28 August 2026 3:30pm Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles St George Illawarra Dragons 4 Pines Park Saturday 29 August 2026 2:00pm Penrith Panthers Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Parker Street Reserve Saturday 29 August 2026 2:00pm Western Suburbs Magpies South Sydney Rabbitohs Lidcombe Oval Saturday 29 August 2026 7:30pm North Sydney Bears Melbourne Storm North Sydney Oval Sunday 30 August 2026 9:20am New Zealand Warriors Newcastle Knights Go Media Stadium Sunday 30 August 2026 12:00pm Parramatta Eels Newtown Jets James Hardie Centre of Excellence
Byes: Canberra Raiders, Sydney Roosters
