The 2011 New South Wales Cup was the 104th season of New South Wales's top-level statewide rugby league competition. The competition was contested by eleven teams over a 30-week season (including Finals), which concluded with the 2011 Grand Final at ANZ Stadium in Sydney.
Competition changes Melbourne Storm exited the competition after the 2010 season, reducing the number of teams to 11.
Season summary Reigning premiers Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs won the minor premiership, three points clear of the Auckland Vulcans. This was Canterbury's second successive minor premiership. Ladder 2011 New South Wales Cup Team 1 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs (P)2217053666440+226402 Auckland Vulcans2316162810527+283373 Cronulla Sharks2316162656447+209374 Newtown Jets2315172578464+114355 Wentworthville Magpies23121102519602-83296 North Sydney Bears2291123539477+62257 Central Coast Centurions23101122575651-76258 Balmain Ryde-Eastwood Tigers2262143427520-93209 Western Suburbs Magpies2371152442624-1821910 Windsor Wolves2361162459702-2431711 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles2360172452669-21716 Source: Finals series HomeScoreAwayMatch informationDate and timeVenue Semi-finals Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs24 – 22 Balmain Ryde-Eastwood Tigers 10 September 2011, 2:00pm Belmore Sports Ground Newtown Jets34 – 29 Wentworthville Magpies10 September 2011, 3:00pm Henson Park Auckland Vulcans28 – 14 Central Coast Centurions11 September 2011, 1:00pm Mt Smart Stadium Cronulla Sharks28 – 20 North Sydney Bears11 September 2011, 3:00pm Toyota Stadium Semi-finals Cronulla Sharks36 – 34 Wentworthville Magpies18 September 2011, 1:00pm Leichhardt Oval Newtown Jets16 – 17 North Sydney Bears18 September 2011, 3:00pm Leichhardt Oval Preliminary Finals Auckland Vulcans30 – 26 Cronulla Sharks25 September 2011, 1:00pm Leichhardt Oval Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs28 – 10 North Sydney Bears25 September 2011, 3:00pm Leichhardt Oval Grand Final Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs30 – 28 Auckland Vulcans2 October 2011, 12:05pm ANZ Stadium
Grand final A try on the siren by Jonathan Wright secured the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs their third straight NSW Cup title, triumphing 30–28 over the Auckland Vulcans in the Grand Final at ANZ Stadium. The Bulldogs led by 8 points twice in the second half only to surrender both leads, with a Vulcans try in the 75th minute to Ivan Penehe seeing them take the lead 28–26. With their backs to the wall the Bulldogs secured a turnover 25 metres from the Vulcans line with 60 seconds on the clock, and after sending the ball from side to side Josh Reynolds passed the ball to Wright, who evaded the defence to score the match winner as the siren sounded.
See also 2011 NRL season 2011 Queensland Cup
References