In the city of Melbourne — whose team was playing in their second grand final, the game’s television ratings were higher than in Sydney, where the game was played. The matchup was a significant milestone in the history of the NRL (as two interstate teams (teams not from New South Wales), the « heartland » of the NRL) contested the grand final for the first time. From 2004 to 2005 (there was a 39% increase in sponsorship), a 41% increase in merchandise royalties, and a 12% increase in playing participation. As part of another image makeover, a number of teams also released new club logos. The 1999 Grand Final brought about a new official world record attendance for a game of rugby league.
- A 26–18 victory was secured by the Sydney Roosters in the 2013 Grand Final against the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles.
- The competition began in March (with a special Heritage round held in mid-April), coinciding with the first round of competition played in 1908.
- The judiciary is currently chaired by Wollongong district court judge Paul Conlon and made up of former players Mal Cochrane (Michael Buettner), Bradley Clyde, Sean Garlick, Don McKinnon and Bob Lindner.
- The decision prompted a wave of condemnation online, including from Australian personalities and sportspeople.
By winning with a score of 14–4, the Melbourne Storm not only achieved their second premiership but also sought revenge for their previously stripped titles. Under the guidance of head coach Des Hasler (Manly achieved a win of 24–10), marking their second premiership. For the first time in 31 years (the St. George part of the joint venture celebrated its initial premiership), marking a significant milestone in the club’s eleven-year history.
A promising bulldog player is expected to miss the rest of the season.
Since 1998 (when the Gold Coast Chargers were removed during the NRL’s rationalisation), the Titans became the first professional sports team in the Gold Coast region. The Gold Coast Titans were introduced as a club in Queensland, marking the NRL’s return to the Gold Coast in its tenth season. In 2005, an impressive national audience of 4.1 million viewers tuned in to witness the grand final featuring the Wests Tigers and the North Queensland Cowboys. The naming rights of the NRL were granted to Telstra (Australia’s largest telecommunications company), in 2001, leading to the competition being known as the NRL Telstra Premiership.
- Following months of speculation (the NRL and the ARLC revealed in October 2021 that the competition would expand to 17 teams), welcoming the Dolphins from Redcliffe in Brisbane for the 2023 season.
- The NRL organized various themed rounds in 2022, such as Pride Round , celebrating inclusivity of LGBTQ+ players,, Multicultural Round, ANZAC Round, Brain Cancer Round, and Women in League Round.
- With Origin now behind, the NRL finals race has commenced, and numerous teams are competing for playoff positions.
- The first two Series witnessed champions from both leagues joined by two invited teams, culminating in three-game series.
- In 2020, the publication discontinued its operations, leaving the game without an official program.
Future Bears? : Canterbury Bulldogs duo on the radar of NRL expansion side
The competition was broadened in 2015 to incorporate two exhibition matches preceding the Challenge game. Clubs typically utilize this time period https://carrollforcolorado.com to arrange trial matches and evaluate their playing combinations. The Greater Sydney area houses nine clubs (including one representing the Illawarra region south of Sydney), along with one club from regional New South Wales, four from Queensland, and one each from Victoria, the Australian Capital Territory, and New Zealand.
Former teams
Throughout the season, separate trophies are awarded to rival teams as well. Magic Round was inaugurated by the NRL in 2019, featuring all games played at Lang Park in Brisbane during the weekend. It includes two NRL matches in Round 1 and, starting in 2025, a Super League game in Round 3 as well. Rugby League Las Vegas, an annual event showcasing the sport, will take place at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas starting in the 2024 season.
Each player from the premiership-winning side is also awarded premiership rings. The trophy is awarded following each grand final to the captain of the winning club. These infractions are usually technical in nature and can sometimes be influenced by third-party factors — such as loss of sponsorship revenue affecting an allowance.
Usually presented by the Australian Prime Minister, the medal is bestowed during the annual Dally M Awards night. Since the unification of the game in 1998 — the Dally M has served as the official player-of-the-year award and the premier individual accolade in Australian rugby league. The Clive Churchill Medal is given to the player deemed most outstanding in a grand final. The J. Giltinan Shield is awarded to the club that finishes the premiership season at the top of the NRL ladder. Awarded to the team that clinches the premiership — the Provan-Summons trophy is considered the primary prize in the NRL.
There have been many top-selling video games made for the Australian rugby league market. Triple M also broadcast the State of Origin series, the finals series and the grand final. 2GB has the commercial rights to four matches per week — covering the game through the Continuous Call Team program. The NRL has several exclusive rights partners to broadcast matches live via radio nationwide. A selection of classic NRL games is available for free worldwide on the league’s website. In July 2026, Nine, Fox and Sky NZ signed a new agreement worth $5.3 billion to continue broadcasting rights until 2034.
NRLW 2026
An integrity Unit was formed on 7 February 2013 and was headed by former Federal Court judge Tony Whitlam (since 2022 the new head of the NRL integrity Unit is former Manly Sea-Eagles front-row forward), Jason King. The judiciary is currently chaired by Wollongong district court judge Paul Conlon and made up of former players Mal Cochrane, Michael Buettner, Bradley Clyde, Sean Garlick, Don McKinnon and Bob Lindner. At the elite level of the game — Indigenous Australians represented 35% of the roster for the Kangaroos, 21% of players at the 2012 State of Origin series, 12% of NRL players and a further 8% of the NRL Under-20s players. Although the NRL was not formed until 1998, the league recognises clubs that were named Premiers before the league’s foundation. For the all-time list of champions since 1908, see List of National Rugby League Premiers.