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6 hours ago | Rhys Sullivan
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