Canterbury Cup NSW Draw - The Big Talking Points

The first three rounds of the Canterbury Cup will be absolute blockbusters, which will see the Rabbitohs face three traditional rivalries in a row, all at the Metricon High Performance Centre, Redfern Oval.

The opening match will be against our former feeder team the North Sydney Bears, who have now aligned themselves with our fiercest rivals the Sydney Roosters. The match also comes just two days after the NRL clash between the Rabbitohs and Roosters at the Sydney Cricket Ground, with plenty of fireworks expected in both fixtures. 

One week later the Red and Green will be looking to get one over the red v after a trial defeat, as we host the St. George Illawarra Dragons in Round 2, while a week later we host the Newtown Jets for the first time at the ground since Return to Redfern 2010. 

With a huge opening month for our new Pathways side, there's no doubt these three matches will be must-attend games for Rabbitohs die-hards. 

THE REDFERN OVAL TREATMENT 

The Metricon High Performance Centre, Redfern Oval is one of the most iconic grounds in Rugby League, and a staple of the Club - with hundreds of memories and moments forged since 1947.

We were already treated to what the field can provide at John Sutton’s Testimonial Match, and now Rabbitohs Members and supporters will get seven opportunities to see their Canterbury Cup team create new memories on the hallowed turf.

As mentioned above, the first three games for the team will be at the ground, against traditional rivals the North Sydney Bears, St. George Illawarra Dragons and Newtown Jets. 

The team will return in Round 11 to take on another foundation club, the Western Suburbs Magpies at 1:10pm on Sunday 26 May, and in Round 13 they will face the Newcastle Knights on Saturday 8 June at 2:00pm.

In Round 16 South Sydney host Mounties at 2:00pm, Saturday 6 July, with the final match at the ground for the season in the final round of the regular season on Saturday 31 August against the Wentworthville Magpies at 4:00pm. 

For those looking for an authentic South Sydney experience, you'll want to make sure you book in these dates!

REVISITING OLD GROUNDS (AND OLD RIVALRIES) 

Redfern Oval won't be the only historic ground that the Rabbitohs will be visiting throughout the 2019 Canterbury Cup.

The list includes a plethora of grounds such as Lottoland (Brookvale Oval), Belmore Sports Ground, Panthers Stadium, Henson Park, Ringrose Park, Campbelltown Stadium, WIN Stadium (Wollongong), North Sydney Oval, and Central Coast Stadium. 

No doubt this will be a mouth-watering prospect for fans who want to get a nostalgic Rugby League experience, particularly for younger Members and supporters who now have a chance to see the Red and Green play on a number of spiritual grounds. 

MAGIC WEEKEND - ROUND 10

The NRL will be introducing the very first Magic Weekend in Round 9, with all teams playing at Suncorp Stadium, and similarly, the Canterbury Cup will have their own rendition in Round 10, with three back-to-back games at Panthers Stadium and another three at Henson Park.

South Sydney will take on Mounties at Penrith Stadium in the third match-up of the day, with Members and supporters getting bang for their buck with three games of football in a row. 

It will be a particularly good opportunity for western Sydney-based Members and supporters to get a full day's worth of Canterbury Cup football. 

PRE-NRL MATCHES 

Speaking of a football-packed day, the Rabbitohs Canterbury Cup side will play six curtain-raising matches before the Rabbitohs NRL games throughout the season.

In Round 4 we travel to Lottoland to take on the Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles at 12:45pm before the NRL match kicks off at 3:00pm. In the Round 17 re-match at ANZ Stadium will see the Canterbury Cup kicking off at 12:45pm before the NRL gets underway at 3:00pm.

Similarly, both games against the Penrith Panthers will be pre-NRL matches, in Round 7 at Penrith Stadium at 5:45pm, and then the Round 14 re-match at ANZ Stadium at 3:15pm.  

In Round 21 the Rabbitohs host the Melbourne Storm at Central Coast Stadium, with the Canterbury Cup side take on the New Zealand Warriors at 1:50pm, and a week later the match against the Bulldogs at ANZ Stadium will start at 5:20pm before the NRL match.

With the Canterbury Cup and Jersey Flegg sides back in action, it's hard not to get excited about the possibility of seeing more South Sydney sides than ever before. 

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