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Harold Matthews Cup premiers start season at home

Back-to-back premiers the One New Zealand Warriors will start their bid at home for a third straight Harold Matthews Cup (under-17) title next season.

In a remarkable introduction to the competition the TJ Ashford-coached Warriors followed up their remarkable debut season win in 2024 with a second triumph when they accounted for Newcastle in this year’s title decider.

Former One New Zealand Warriors prop Albert Vete takes over as coach of the side in 2026.

The Warriors will again start their campaign against the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles – as they did this year – only this time they’ll be at home in a season-opening Harold Matthews-SG Ball Cup (under-19) doubleheader at Bruce Pullman Park in Takanini on Sunday, February 8.

The two teams are back at the same venue a week later with both facing the South Sydney Rabbitohs.

HMC Highlights: Potent comeback seals more history

After a round three bye, the Harold Matthews and SG Ball teams have a third consecutive home game at Bruce Pullman Park in round four against the Central Coast Roosters.

Three away games follow against the Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs, the Balmain  Tigers and the Parramatta Eels before returning to Takanini to hist the Western Suburbs Magpies in round eight and finishing the regular season away to the Illawarra Steelers.

The SG Ball side has a mirror draw throughout.

See full 2026 SG Ball Cup draw HERE.

See full 2026 Harold Matthews Cup draw HERE.

SG Ball Cup and Harold Matthews Cup 2026 draws (listed below) for One New Zealand Warriors (kick-off time listed are local times):Draw | 2026 SG Ball Cup

SG Ball Cup

     
1 11.30am Sun Feb 8 v Manly Warringah Sea Eagles            Bruce Pullman Park, Takanini
2 11.30am Sun Feb 15 v South Sydney Rabbitohs Bruce Pullman Park, Takanini
3 Bye    
4 11.30am Sun Mar 1 v Central Coast Roosters Bruce Pullman Park, Takanini
5 12.00pm  Sat Mar 7 v Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs Belmore Sports Ground, Sydney
6 1.30pm Sun Mar 15 v Balmain Tigers Leichhardt Oval, Sydney
7 12.00pm  Sat Mar 21 v Parramatta Eels Kellyville Park Stadium, Sydney
8 11.30am Sun Mar 29 v Western Suburbs Magpies Bruce Pullman Park, Takanini
9 11.50am Sat Apr 4 v Illawarra Steelers Collegians Sporting Complex, Wollongong

Harold Matthews Cup

     
10.00am Sun Feb 8 v Manly Warringah Sea Eagles Bruce Pullman Park, Takanini
2 10.00am Sun Feb 15 v South Sydney Rabbitohs Bruce Pullman Park, Takanini
3 Bye    
10.00am Sun Mar 1 v Central Coast Roosters      Bruce Pullman Park, Takanini
5 10.30am Sat Mar 7 v Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs Belmore Sports Ground, Sydney
6 12.00pm Sun Mar 15 v Balmain Tigers Leichhardt Oval, Sydney
7 10.30am Sat Mar 21 v Parramatta Eels Kellyville Park Stadium, Sydney
8 10.00am Sun Mar 29 v Western Suburbs Magpies Bruce Pullman Park, Takanini
9 10.30am Sat Apr 4 v Illawarra Steelers Collegians Sporting Complex, Wollongong
Acknowledgement of Country

The New Zealand Warriors honour the mana of the Indigenous peoples of Aotearoa, Australia and the Pacific. We acknowledge the traditional kaitiaki of the lands, elders past and present, their stories, their traditions, their mamae and their mana motuhake.

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