2026 Ron Massey Cup & Sydney Shield

[League Unlimited News]

Not a whole lot out there about these third tier comps as yet, but fire away.
Last years teams - 9 in each comp were:

Massey
Blacktown
Canterbury
Glebe
Hills
Mounties
Brothers
Ryde-Eastwood
St Marys
Wentworthville

Shield
Glebe
Hills
Manly
Moorebank
Mounties
Brothers
Ryde-Eastwood
St Marys
Wentworthville United

Cabramatta were in both competitions pre-season in 2025, but withdrew after two rounds

 

[Coastbloke]

Would be good to see Windsor back in Massey..

 

[thommo4pm]

10 teams each comp for 2026.
Blacktown going into Shield.

James Maloney on the coaching staff at Brothers for 2026.

 

[Timmah]

10 teams each comp for 2026.
Blacktown going into Shield.

James Maloney on the coaching staff at Brothers for 2026.

Blacktown going into Shield takes that comp to 10, what about Massey? Who comes in for that?

 

[thommo4pm]

Blacktown going into Shield takes that comp to 10, what about Massey? Who comes in for that?

Not sure who the 10th is for Massey yet.
Manly were supposed to have both sides but stayed with Shield only.
May end up staying at 9, but they’re trying to avoid byes, so 10 is preferred.

 

[MountainMan]

Manly are in Massey confirmed,however not in Shield.
10 teams Massey
9 teams Shield (Blacktown the new addition)

 

[madball]

Are Blacktown going to field both? Or just Shield? If not, wouldn't it be 9 and 9?

 

[MountainMan]

Massey
Blacktown
Canterbury
Glebe
Hills
Manly
Mounties
Brothers
Ryde-Eastwood
St Marys
Wentworthville

10 teams

Shield
Blacktown
Glebe
Hills
Moorebank
Mounties
Brothers
Ryde-Eastwood
St Marys
Wentworthville

9 teams

 

[siv]

Interesting

Why do Manly and Canterbury want to play RMC?

 

[madball]

Massey
Blacktown
Canterbury
Glebe
Hills
Manly
Mounties
Brothers
Ryde-Eastwood
St Marys
Wentworthville

10 teams

Shield
Blacktown
Glebe
Hills
Moorebank
Mounties
Brothers
Ryde-Eastwood
St Marys
Wentworthville

9 teams

Gotcha, Blacktown in both.

 

[rightleftin]

Interesting

Why do Manly and Canterbury want to play RMC?

Canterbury had a lot of players over 21 in their NSW Cup squad last year, so they cant play flegg when not picked for NSW Cup. 2 players from their top 30 played a few games in RMC.

Manly won Sydney Shield last year so they want to test their excess players in a higher standard.

 

[siv]

Canterbury had a lot of players over 21 in their NSW Cup squad last year, so they cant play flegg when not picked for NSW Cup. 2 players from their top 30 played a few games in RMC.

Manly won Sydney Shield last year so they want to test their excess players in a higher standard.

So basically they are trying to use RMC like a U23 layer but remain in control rather than outsourcing management of development

Interesting

 

[League Unlimited News]

The Leagues Clubs Australia Ron Massey Cup and Sydney Shield will commence on 21-22 March with the draws for those competitions to be released in 2026.

NSWRL Major Competitions draws released for 2026

Major Competitions draws have been confirmed for 2026

www.nswrl.com.au

 

[Bullmania]

So basically they are trying to use RMC like a U23 layer but remain in control rather than outsourcing management of development

Interesting

The team that played as “Manly” in the Sydney Shield is actually “Manly Leagues Club”.

 

[rightleftin]

The team that played as “Manly” in the Sydney Shield is actually “Manly Leagues Club”.

Yes but a number of players alternated between Sydney Shield and Manly NSW Cup during the season.

 

[rightleftin]

So basically they are trying to use RMC like a U23 layer but remain in control rather than outsourcing management of development

Interesting

We can only hope that these clubs prove competitive rather than just making up the numbers.

 

[Tigers1986]

They need to be careful too given the nonsense that happened with Cabramatta last year.

 

[Timmah]

A few tidbits, we should have the draws pretty soon I'd think

Kickoff 21-22 March as previously mentioned here

Both comps will be 18 rounds, simple home and away no weekly byes in RMC where each team plays 18 games (9 H 9 A). Shield 16 games over 18 rounds, one team has a bye each week.

Off weekends for Easter (early Apr), City-Country (early May) and Kings Birthday (early June).

 

[rightleftin]

Ronny Palumbo has recruited a few players for Blacktown as he attempts to offload the RMC wooden spoon this season - James Valevatu (Brothers), Epeli Sukanaivalu (Wenty), Damian Nati (Hills) and Sunita Lotoaniu (ex Penrith). All are spending the preseason with South Sydney, as is Blacktown captain, Tangi Hokai.

 

[Ashburn]

Ronny Palumbo has recruited a few players for Blacktown as he attempts to offload the RMC wooden spoon this season - James Valevatu (Brothers), Epeli Sukanaivalu (Wenty), Damian Nati (Hills) and Sunita Lotoaniu (ex Penrith). All are spending the preseason with South Sydney, as is Blacktown captain, Tangi Hokai.

Does Blacktown have any direct pathways into the NRL now that the Manly partnership is over bro?