2021 Police Bank Cup: Annual carnival held in Tamworth for the first time

The players and support staff have been joined in Tamworth by scores of supporters - the influx of hundreds of visitors a boon for the local economy.

The teams include the Country North Cowboys, which will feature a number of players from this region and is coached by senior police officer Geoff Sharpe - the Kootingal-Moonbi mentor.

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The carnival gets under way at Scully Park on Monday, with the grand final on Thursday.

It is the first time the tournament has been held in Tamworth, with it previously staged in Port Macquarie.

The Police Bank Cup was first played in the late 1960s.

The event's organiser, NSW Police Rugby League vice-president Rod Sheraton, said the facilities and the weather were major factors in shifting the carnival to Tamworth.

He said the lineups would include a number of former NRL under-20 players.

"It's a pretty big variety of standards," he said. "But overall, it's a pretty good standard of footy, to tell you the truth. Our rep teams are top quality."

The other teams are Country South, Parramatta, Easts, Bankstown, Manly, Macarthur and Penrith.

The games will be live-streamed on NSW Police Rugby League's Facebook page, where the draw can also be found from Sunday night.

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