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.
- The 2013 Grand Final was played between the Sydney Roosters and the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles with the Roosters recording a 26–18 victory.
- 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.
The Melbourne Storm recorded a 14–4 victory, thus achieving their second premiership and claiming some vengeance for the stripped premierships. Manly recorded a 24–10 win, claiming their second premiership under head coach Des Hasler. This was the first premiership won by the club in its eleven-year existence and the first time in 31 years for the St. George part of the joint venture.
Bulldogs rising star set to be sidelined for remainder of season
The Titans were the first professional sporting team to occupy the Gold Coast since 1998, when the Gold Coast Chargers were one of the teams removed during the NRL’s rationalisation process between the end of the Super League war and the 2000 season. In its tenth season (the NRL returned to having a club based on the Gold Coast), Queensland, with the inclusion of the Gold Coast Titans. In 2005, a record national audience of 4.1 million tuned in to watch the grand final between the Wests Tigers and the North Queensland Cowboys. In 2001 (Australia’s largest telecommunications provider), Telstra, became the naming rights sponsor of the NRL, with the competition’s name becoming the NRL Telstra Premiership.
- In October 2021 — after months of speculation, the NRL and the ARLC announced that the competition would expand to 17 teams, with the admission of the Dolphins, based out of the suburb of Redcliffe in greater Brisbane, for the 2023 season.
- In 2022, the NRL held various themed rounds, including a Pride Round (to celebrate and respect inclusivity of LGBTQ+ players); Multicultural Round; ANZAC Round; Brain Cancer Round; and Women in League Round.
- The run home into the NRL finals has started (with many teams still competing for positions), while the origin remains in the past.
- The first two Series saw the leagues’ champions joined by two invited teams from each league, resulting in a three-game series.
- The publication ceased operations in 2020 — leaving the game without an official program.
Future Bears? NRL expansion side has Canterbury Bulldogs duo on their radar.
The competition expanded in 2015 to add two exhibition games that take place prior to the Challenge game. https://carrollforcolorado.com This period is typically utilized by clubs to arrange trial matches aimed at evaluating playing combinations. Within the Greater Sydney region, there are nine clubs (one of which represents the Illawarra area south of Sydney), along with another from regional New South Wales, four based in Queensland, and one each from Victoria, the Australian Capital Territory, and New Zealand.
Former teams
Throughout the season — rival teams are also presented with distinct trophies. Magic Round was introduced by the NRL in 2019, featuring all matches that took place at Lang Park in Brisbane over the course of the weekend. It includes two NRL matches from Round 1 and (starting in 2025), a Super League game from Round 3 will be added. Rugby League Las Vegas (showcasing the sport annually at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas), will commence with the 2024 season.
Each member of the premiership-winning team receives premiership rings as recognition. Following each grand final, the winning club’s captain is presented with the trophy. Generally technical in nature — these infractions may also be swayed by external influences, such as the impact of sponsorship revenue loss on an allowance.
Typically, the medal is presented by the Australian Prime Minister during the annual Dally M Awards ceremony. Since the game’s unification in 1998, the Dally M has served as the official player-of-the-year accolade and is the highest individual award in Australian rugby league. The most outstanding player in a grand final receives the Clive Churchill Medal. Awarded to the club finishing atop the NRL ladder after the season, the J. Giltinan Shield recognizes that achievement. The main prize of the NRL, known as the Provan-Summons trophy, is given to the team that wins the premiership.
Numerous top-selling video games have been created for the Australian rugby league audience. The State of Origin series (finals series), and grand final are also broadcasted by Triple M. 2GB holds commercial rights for four matches each week, providing coverage through the Continuous Call Team program. A number of exclusive rights partners enable the NRL to broadcast matches live on radio across the country. A selection of classic NRL games can be accessed for free globally on the league’s website. In July 2026 — a new agreement valued at $5.3 billion was signed by Nine, Fox, and Sky NZ, extending broadcasting rights until 2034.
NRLW 2026
Formed on February 7, 2013, the Integrity Unit was led by former Federal Court judge Tony Whitlam, and since 2022, Jason King, a former front-row forward for the Manly Sea Eagles, has taken over as head. The judiciary is currently presided over by Paul Conlon, a judge from Wollongong district court, and consists 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 made up 35% of the Kangaroos roster), 21% of the players in the 2012 State of Origin series, 12% of NRL players, and an additional 8% of the NRL Under-20s players. Although the NRL was established in 1998, it acknowledges clubs that were designated as Premiers prior to the league’s inception. For the complete list of champions dating back to 1908, refer to the List of National Rugby League Premiers.