2015 VB NSW Cup Draw

The New South Wales Rugby League's 2015 VB NSW Cup draw has been released - and the upcoming season looks set to provide fans with more footballing excitement and entertainment than ever before.

The 2015 VB NSW Cup season kicks off with 2014 grand-finalists Newcastle meeting the Warriors on Saturday, March 7 - a day in which a total of four Round 1 afternoon matches are scheduled.

The 2014 VB NSW Cup premiers Penrith will enter the new season as favourites but a host of other sides will likely be hot on their heels.

The Knights should once again prove worth challengers while the Illawarra Cutters, Wentworthville Magpies, NZ Warriors, Wests Tigers, Mounties and Cronulla Sharks (who have partnered with Newtown) will also likely prove hard to handle. Last year's surprise packets Wyong will be looking to go even deeper into the finals in 2015 while Canterbury, Manly and North Sydney have points to prove after disappointing seasons.

Coach of the NSW VB Blues Laurie Daley said he was excited about the prospect of watching second-tier rugby league in 2015, with the VB NSW Cup proving a genuine feeder system to his 2014 Origin-winning side.

"The VB NSW Cup is arguably rugby league's greatest feeder system," Daley said.

"I know the NSW VB Blues have benefitted from the competition - our halves Trent Hodkinson and Josh Reynolds, for example, only played in the VB NSW Cup a couple of years ago.

"It's a great breeding ground for future footballing superstars. I can't wait to watch more of it in 2015."

Chief Executive of the NSWRL David Trodden said the competition grew significantly in 2014 and that he was expecting even better things in the season ahead.

"Viewer numbers and attendances at VB NSW Cup matches rose in 2014 - a sign the competition is one held in particularly high regard by players and fans alike," Trodden said.

"The standard of play also rose to another level in 2014 and I'm expecting even more excitement and entertainment in 2015. I can't wait."

Round 1 :: March 7, 8

Saturday 7 March

Newcastle v Warriors @ Hunter Stadium, 2:10pm (FOX Sports)

Newtown v Wests Tigers @ Henson Park, 3:00pm

Wyong v Manly @ Morrie Breen Oval, 3.00pm

Mounties v Illawarra @ Aubrey Keech Reserve, 3.00pm

Sunday 8 March

Penrith v Canterbury @ Sportingbet Stadium, 1.45pm

Wentworthville v North Sydney @ Ringrose Park, 3.00pm

Round 2 :: March 14

Saturday 14 March

Warriors v Canterbury @ Mt Smart Stadium #2, 11:00am (1pm NZ)

Penrith v North Sydney @ Carrington Park, Bathurst, 2.15pm FOX Sports

Illawarra v Manly @ Win Stadium, 3.00pm

Wyong v Mounties @ Morrie Breen Oval, 3.00pm

Wests Tigers v Wentworthville @ Leichhardt Oval, 3.00pm

Newcastle v Newtown @ Cessnock Sports Grd, 3.00pm

Round 3 :: March 21

Saturday 21 March

Warriors v Wentworthville @ Mt Smart Stadium, 12.45pm (2:45pm NZ) FOX/SKY Sports

Penrith v Newtown @ Sportingbet Stadium, 3.00pm

Mounties v Manly @ Aubrey Keech Reserve, 3.00pm

Wests Tigers v Canterbury @ Leichhardt Oval, 3.00pm

Wyong v Newcastle @ Morrie Breen Oval, 3.00pm

Illawarra v North Sydney @ Win Stadium, 3.00pm

Round 4 :: March 28, 29

Saturday 28 March

Newcastle v Penrith @ Hunter Stadium, 12.45pm FOX Sports

Wests Tigers v Mounties @ Leichhardt Oval, 3.00pm

Canterbury v Wyong @ Belmore Sports Ground, 3.00pm

Newtown v Manly @ Henson Park, 3.00pm

Warriors v North Sydney @ Mt Smart Stadium #2, 1.00pm (3:00pm NZ)

Sunday 29 March

Wentworthville v Illawarra @ Ringrose Park, 3.00pm

Round 5 :: April 4, 5

Saturday 4 April

Manly v Mounties @ Brookvale Oval, 3.15pm FOX Sports

North Sydney v Canterbury @ North Sydney Oval, 3.00pm

Illawarra v Newcastle @ WIN Stadium, 3.00pm

Penrith v Wests Tigers @ Sportingbet Stadium, 3.00pm

Newtown v Wentworthville @ Henson Park, 3.00pm

Sunday 5 April

Wyong v Warriors @ Morrie Breen Oval, 3.00pm

Round 6 :: April 11

Saturday 11 April

Wentworthville v Canterbury @ Pirtek Stadium, 12.45pm FOX Sports

Wyong v Illawarra @ Morrie Breen Oval, 3.00pm

Mounties v Newcastle @ Aubrey Keech Reserve, 3.00pm

Norths v Newtown @ North Sydney Oval, 3.00pm

Warriors v Wests Tigers @ Mount Smart Stadium, 3.15pm (5.15pm NZ)

Penrith v Manly @ Sportingbet Stadium, 5.15pm

Round 7 :: April 18, 19

Saturday 18 April

Wests Tigers v Illawarra @ Leichhardt Oval, 12.45pm FOX Sports

Norths v Wyong @ North Sydney Oval, 3.00pm

Penrith v Warriors @ Sportingbet Stadium, 3.00pm

Manly v Canterbury @ Brookvale Oval, 3.00pm

Newtown v Mounties @ Henson Park, 3.00pm

Sunday 19 April

Newcastle v Wentworthville @ Hunter Stadium, 11.45am

Round 8 :: April 25, 26

Saturday 25 April

Warriors v Newtown @ Mount Smart Stadium, 9.45am (11:45am NZ) FOX/SKY Sports

Mounties v Penrith @ Aubrey Keech Reserve, 3.00pm

Illawarra v Wyong @ WIN Stadium, 3.00pm

Sunday 26 April

Norths v Manly @ North Sydney Oval, 3.00pm

Newcastle v Canterbury @ Newcastle Sports Grd 2, 3.00pm

Wentworthville v Wests Tigers @ Ringrose Park, 3.00pm

Rep Weekend :: May 3

Sunday 3 May

NSW Cup v QLD Cup Rep Match @ Venue TBC

Round 9 :: May 9, 10

Saturday 9 May

Mounties v Canterbury @ GIO Stadium, 12.45pm FOX Sports

Newtown v Illawarra @ Henson Park, 3.00pm

Manly v Warriors @ Brookvale Oval, 3.00pm

Sunday 10 May

Wentworthville v Penrith @ Ringrose Park, 3.00pm

Newcastle v Norths @ Newcastle Sports Grd 2, 3.00pm

Wyong v Wests Tigers @ Morry Breen Oval, 3.00pm

Round 10 :: May 16, 17

Saturday 16 May

Wentworthville v Warriors @ Pirtek Stadium, 12.45pm FOX Sports

Mounties v Wyong @ Aubrey Keech Reserve, 3.00pm

Canterbury v Newtown @ Belmore Sports Ground, 3.00pm

Sunday 17 May

Newcastle v Wests Tigers @ Hunter Stadium, 1.45pm

Norths v Penrith @ North Sydney Oval, 3.00pm

BYES: Manly, Illawarra

Round 11 :: May 23, 24

Saturday 23 May

Manly v Illawarra @ Brookvale Oval, 3.00pm

Wests Tigers v Wyong @ Campbelltown Stadium, 5.15pm FOX Sports

Sunday 24 May

Wentworthville v Newtown @ Ringrose Park, 3.00pm

BYES: Penrith, Mounties, Warriors, Norths, Newcastle, Canterbury

Round 12 :: May 30, 31

Saturday 30 May

Wests Tigers v North Sydney @ Leichhardt Oval, 12.45pm FOX Sports

Canterbury v Mounties @ Belmore Sports Ground, 3.00pm

Manly v Penrith @ Brookvale Oval, 3.00pm

Sunday 31 May

Warriors v Newcastle @ Mount Smart Stadium, 9.30am (11.30am NZ) FOX/SKY Sports

BYES: Wyong, Illawarra, Wentworthville, Newtown

Round 13 :: June 6

Saturday 6 June

Newcastle v Mounties @ Hunter Stadium, 12.45pm FOX Sports

Penrith v Wentworthville @ Sportingbet Stadium, 5.15pm

Newtown v Wyong @ Henson Park, 3.00pm

Canterbury v Warriors @ Belmore Sports Ground, 3.00pm

Manly v Norths @ Brookvale Oval, 3.00pm

Illawarra v Wests Tigers @ WIN Stadium, 3.00pm

Round 14 :: June 13

Saturday 13 June

Warriors v Wyong @ Mount Smart Stadium, 3.45pm (5.45pm NZ) FOX Sports

Illawarra v Newtown @ Win Stadium, 3.00pm

Wests Tigers v Manly @ Leichhardt Oval, 3.00pm

Mounties v Norths @ Aubrey Keech Reserve, 3.00pm

Penrith v Newcastle @ Sportingbet Stadium, 3.00pm

Canterbury v Wentworthville @ Belmore Sports Ground, 3.00pm

Round 15 :: June 20

Saturday 20 June

Mounties v Wentworthville @ GIO Stadium, 12.45pm FOX Sports

Wests Tigers v Newcastle @ Leichhardt Oval, 3.00pm

Manly v Wyong @ Brookvale Oval, 3.00pm

BYES: Illawarra, Penrith, Newtown, Warriors, Canterbury, Norths

Round 16 :: June 27, 28

Saturday 27 June

Warriors v Mounties @ Mount Smart Stadium, 12.45pm (2.45pm NZ time) FOX/SKY Sports

Manly v Newtown @ Brookvale Oval, 3.00pm

Illawarra v Canterbury @ WIN Stadium, 3.00pm

Sunday 28 June

Wyong v Penrith @ Morry Breen Oval, 3.00pm

Norths v Wests Tigers @ North Sydney Oval, 3.00pm

Wentworthville v Newcastle @ Ringrose Park, 3.00pm

Round 17 :: July 4, 5

Saturday 4 July

Illawarra v Wentworthville @ WIN Stadium, 5.15pm FOX Sports

Sunday 5 July

Norths v Mounties @ North Sydney Oval, 3.00pm

Newcastle v Manly @ Newcastle Sports Grd 2, 3.00pm

BYES: Penrith, Warriors, Wests Tigers, Newtown, Canterbury, Wyong

Round 18 :: July 11, 12

Saturday 11 July

Penrith v Wyong @ Sportingbet Stadium, 3.15pm FOX Sports

Newtown v Canterbury @ Henson Park, 3.00pm

Manly v Wests Tigers @ Brookvale Oval, 3.00pm

Sunday 12 July

Warriors v Illawarra @ Mount Smart Stadium, 9.45am (11.45am NZ) FOX/SKY Sports

BYES: Newcastle, Mounties, Wentworthville, Norths

Round 19 :: July 18, 19

Saturday 18 July

Mounties v Newtown @ GIO Stadium, 12.45pm FOX Sports

Norths v Wentworthville @ North Sydney Oval, 3.00pm

Illawarra v Warriors @ WIN Stadium, 3.00pm

Canterbury v Penrith @ Belmore Sports Grd, 3.00pm

Sunday 19 July

Newcastle v Wyong @ Newcastle Sports Grd 2, 3.00pm

BYES: Manly, Wests Tigers

Round 20 :: July 25, 26

Saturday 25 July

Warriors v Manly @ Mount Smart Stadium, 12.45pm (2.45pm NZ) FOX/SKY Sports

Canterbury v Newcastle @ Belmore Sports Grd, 3.00pm

Norths v Illawarra @ North Sydney Oval, 3.00pm

Wests Tigers v Penrith @ Leichhardt Oval, 3.00pm

Sunday 26 July

Wyong v Newtown @ Morry Breen Oval, 3.00pm

Wentworthville v Mounties @ Ringrose Park, 3.00pm

Round 21 :: August 1

Saturday 1 August

Newtown v Warriors @ Henson Park, 3.00pm

Illawarra v Penrith @ Win Stadium, 3.00pm

Canterbury v Norths @ Belmore Sports Grd, 3.00pm

BYES: Wyong, Wentworthville, Newcastle, Wests Tigers, Manly, Mounties

Round 22 :: August 8, 9

Saturday 8 August

Penrith v Mounties @ Sportingbet Stadium, 3.00pm

Norths v Warriors @ North Sydney Oval, 3.00pm

Wests Tigers v Newtown @ Leichhardt Oval, 3.00pm

Sunday 9 August

Wentworthville v Manly @ Ringrose Park, 3.00pm

Wyong v Canterbury @ Morry Breen Oval, 3.00pm

Newcastle v Illawarra @ Newcastle Sports Grd 2, 3.00pm

Round 23 :: August 15

Saturday 15 August

Newtown v Penrith @ Henson Park, 3.00pm

Canterbury v Manly @ Belmore Sports Grd, 3.00pm

Wests Tigers v Warriors @ Leichhardt Oval, 3.00pm

Norths v Newcastle @ North Sydney Oval, 3.00pm

Wentworthville v Wyong @ Ringrose Park, 3.00pm

Illawarra v Mounties @ WIN Stadium, 3.00pm

Round 24 :: August 22

Saturday 22 August

Warriors v Penrith @ Mount Smart Stadium, 11.00am (1.00pm NZ)

Manly v Wentworthville @ Brookvale Oval, 3.00pm

Newtown v Newcastle @ Henson Park, 3.00pm

Mounties v Wests Tigers @ Aubrey Keech Reserve, 3.00pm

Canterbury v Illawarra @ Belmore Sports Grd, 3.00pm

Wyong v Norths @ Morry Breen Oval, 3.00pm

Round 25 :: August 29, 30

Saturday 29 August

Newtown v Norths @ Henson Park, 3.00pm

Mounties v Warriors @ Aubrey Keech Reserve, 3.00pm

Canterbury v Wests Tigers @ Belmore Sports Grd, 3.00pm

Manly v Newcastle @ Brookvale Oval, 3.00pm

Penrith v Illawarra @ Sportingbet Stadium, 3.00pm

Sunday 30 August

Wyong v Wentworthville @ Morry Breen Oval, 3.00pm

Qualifying & Elimination Finals :: September 5, 6

Qualifier 1 v Qualifier 4

Qualifier 5 v Qualifier 8

Qualifier 6 v Qualifier 7

Qualifier 2 v Qualifier 3

Semi Finals :: September 13

Sunday 13 September

Semi-Final 1

Semi-Final 2

Preliminary Finals :: September 20

Sunday 20 September

Preliminary Final 1

Preliminary Final 2

VB NSW Cup Grand Final :: September 27

Sunday 27 September

Winner P1 v Winner P2 @ Venue TBC

NRL State Championship Final :: October 4

Sunday 4 October

VB NSW Cup Premiers v QRL Intrust Super Cup Premiers @ ANZ Stadium, 3:55pm CH9/FOX Sports

Source: www.nswrl.com.au