For a player to be eligible to play in the NSW Cup final series, the player must meet one of the following criteria (prior to the commencement of the NSW Cup Finals Series):
* If a player has participated in an equal number of matches in a higher level or lower level competition at the conclusion of the regular season, the player will then qualify for the lower level final series and therefore be eligible to play in the higher level final series.
Source:
NSWRL: https://www.nswrl.com.au/siteassets/documents/intrust-super-premiership-nsw.pdf
Sections 13.11 to 13.13
- Played the majority of their games in that seasons NSW Cup (compared to NRL games), or;
- Played an equal number of their games in that seasons NSW Cup (compared to NRL games),* or;
- Played in a minimum of 8 NSW Cup games, or;
- Qualified to play in a lower grade competition (Flegg or NYC), or;
- If the players NRL side is still in the NRL finals series (including if the NRL team is eliminated the same week but before the NSW Cup game). Players who do not qualify under any other clause will be permitted to play on that NSW Cup game ONLY.
- In the instance of the directly above mentioned rule, (the player has not been selected to play in the NRL Final Series game), players will have to have played in 2 lower competition finals games (that season) to continue playing in that finals series.
* If a player has participated in an equal number of matches in a higher level or lower level competition at the conclusion of the regular season, the player will then qualify for the lower level final series and therefore be eligible to play in the higher level final series.
Source:
NSWRL: https://www.nswrl.com.au/siteassets/documents/intrust-super-premiership-nsw.pdf
Sections 13.11 to 13.13