Andrew Johns and Laurie Daley cups 2026

Andrew Johns Cup

Magic Round - Newcastle Maitland Region Knights V Illawarra South Coast Steelers - Pirtek Park, Singleton 31/1/2026
Round 2 - North Coast Bulldogs V Newcastle Maitland Region Knights - Port Macquarie Regional Stadium, Port Macquarie 7/2/2026
Round 3 - Newcastle Maitland Region Knights V Northern Tigers - Lakeside Sporting Complex, Raymond Terrace 14/2/2026
Round 4 - Newcastle Maitland Region Knights V Northern Rivers Titans - Lakeside Sporting Complex Raymond Terrace 21/2/2026
Round 5 - BYE
Round 6 - Central Coast Roosters V Newcastle Maitland Region Knights - Woy Woy Oval Woy Woy 7/3/2026
 
Laurie Daley Cup

Magic Round - Newcastle Maitland Region Knights V Illawarra South Coast Steelers - Pirtek Park, Singleton 31/1/2026
Round 2 - North Coast Bulldogs V Newcastle Maitland Region Knights - Port Macquarie Regional Stadium, Port Macquarie 7/2/2026
Round 3 - Newcastle Maitland Region Knights V Northern Tigers - Lakeside Sporting Complex, Raymond Terrace 14/2/2026
Round 4 - Newcastle Maitland Region Knights V Northern Rivers Titans - Lakeside Sporting Complex Raymond Terrace 21/2/2026
Round 5 - BYE
Round 6 - Central Coast Roosters V Newcastle Maitland Region Knights - Woy Woy Oval Woy Woy 7/3/2026
 
Both teams will play trials tomorrow against North Coast Bulldogs and Northern Rivers Titans in Coffs Harbour.

No teams named that I can find.

We are defending champions in AJ cup, but like every year for 15 year olds, it will be a whole new side.
 
Both teams will play trials tomorrow against North Coast Bulldogs and Northern Rivers Titans in Coffs Harbour.

No teams named that I can find.

We are defending champions in AJ cup, but like every year for 15 year olds, it will be a whole new side.
North Coast Dogs and Northern rivers are now affiliated under the Knights banner. We've signed a few of them to the SG team this year.

So worth checking those two teams out this weekend too on Bart TV.

looks like Sg and Matts teams aren't televised but are in Coffs too playing Titans junior rep teams.
 
All the games for round one of AJ and LD games this weekend are marked to have commentary - hopefully we will get commentary for all games this year - not that it's always useful - some of those guys get the wrong player more often than not.
I can barely pick anyone out these days, but I'd do better than a lot of those guys.
 
A. Johns and L Daley teams pay today in round 1. 10:50 for NC Dogs and Tigers - Knights play @ 1:30

L Daley play @ 12:30 and 2:30 respectively

North Coast Bulldogs and Northern Tigers under Knights banner this year. Tigers wore Knights colours in last trial, Dogs apparently are meant too as well but deal struck late into season means they may be delayed.

Players to watch.

A. Johns NC Dogs:
Kahn Penny
- Electric back with ability to beat defenders with foot work and pace. One of my more exciting talents in the trials ive watched.

Lachlan Pulson - Fullback, did well to keep Penny on the wing. Good mover with ball and ball playing ability.

Zach Hoolahn - Halfback, very crafty and great organiser, great kicking game. One of the best prospects out of the North Coast.

Rocky Mann & Jack Curry - Both signed long term to Knights, very tall and powerful runners of the ball. Great offload ability. Rocky is an edge forward/centre, Jack a lock forward.

A. Johns Northern Tigers:

Harlem Lewis - Very talented Fullback, super quick and agile.

Kaden Young - winger - very strongly built that powers through defenders. Another I'm really excited to watch.

Lewis Brown - quality halfback with strong kicking game and good pass selection. Keen to see his season.


NMR Knights:

Harlem Blair -
Adam Blair's son, quick runner and good ball play ability, set up a couple tries in trials.

Zavier Atkinson - Halfback - Really good control of the game and kicking game, excited for his season as well.

Harrison Gane - Captain and real leadership qualities in his performance. strong runner and strong defender

Junior Finau - Fane Finau's brother, very powerful forward and dangerous close to line.

Bam Shoesmith - Quality young 9, quick out of dummy half and great at setting up forwards through the middle.
 
L. Daley NC Dogs:

Karl Turner -
Quality runner of the ball, reminds me of Jye Gray

Koby Toomey - Powerful middle who scored some impressive solo tries last year with pace and power

Northern Tigers:

Kobhan Nean -
Electric 5/8 with running but also ball play, definitely one of the top talents to watch.

NMR Knights:

Kade Paton -
Big strong winger - Played Matts last year, very tall and great in the air.

Callum Elsley - Strong centre with great pace - also played Matts last year

Aiden Whitaker - Monster of a forward who offloads at will, big exciting year for him.

Finn Murphy - Superb line running edge and great defender

Jazz Schumacher - Quality 9/13 from CC Roosters last year, great ball play ability.
 
It's interesting they are playing all the cross conference games in round 1, and the two traditionally strongest teams - Newcastle and Wollongong - play each other.
You'd have to think we'll be favourites for the minor premiership in both grades if we win today.
 
Jazz Schumacher has Tommy Starling vibes - little fella who is a ball of muscle - that dummy half try from 10 out was vintage Starling - just too strong to stop.
 
Knights 14 - 6 Illawarra with 20 to go in AJ cup
  • Noah Blundell 4'
  • Harrison Gane 11'
  • Terrence Smith 27'
Knights 6 - 4 Illawarra at halftime in LD cup
  • Jazz Schumacher 22'
 
No footage yet of the AJ cup game, but I looked at the try Jazz Schumacher scored in LD again and it really was impressive. He went to dummy half about 10 metres out and ran straight at middle forwards who stopped him just before the line, but he spun out of the tackle of those two and got low and pushed through 2 other defenders to score right between the posts. Like Tom starling, he plays lock and hooker and is a powerful little guy who is a handful on both sides of the ball.
I'd call for him to go into the Ball side next week, but we have Diesal Hagan and Matt McEwen, who are both very impressive as well.
 
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