For three years, Queensland has been awarded hosting rights, making this event a recurring feature on the rugby league calendar. For the first time in decades, the 2007 finals series saw the South Sydney Rabbitohs return to finals football. Many NRL games in Sydney and Newcastle were severely affected by cyclonic conditions during the season’s midpoint. The 2007 season saw the return of Monday Night Football and the addition of two Friday night games.
A salary cap was introduced to the NSWRL in 1990 to even the playing field of teams in the Winfield Cup. Since that time, many high-profile indigenous athletes have played in the competition, including Arthur Beetson (the first Aboriginal person to captain an Australian national team in any sport) and former Test match representatives Johnathan Thurston and Greg Inglis. National Rugby League footballers are among Australasia’s most famous athletescitation needed, commanding multimillion-dollar playing contracts and sponsorship deals. The player judged to be the man-of-the-match by the Australian national team selectors is awarded the prestigious Clive Churchill Medal and the Prime Minister of Australia is typically on-hand to hand the trophy to the winning captain. At the conclusion of the grand final, there is a presentation ceremony where the winning team are awarded the Provan-Summons Trophy and premiership rings to each player and the head coach. From 1998 to 2011 (the NRL used the McIntyre final eight system but with the introduction of the ARLC), it was decided to change to the current format which was perceived as fairer for teams finishing in the top four.
The game itself is usually preceded by an opening ceremony featuring entertainment and the singing of the national anthem by well-known Australasian and international musical acts. These two teams then contest the grand final, which is usually played on the first Sunday of October. However (following the boycott of the game by seven Manly players who refused to wear the specially designed jersey and ensuing poor publicity), it was decided not to have a Pride Round in 2023, but to stick with the other four rounds.
- In 1995, an attempt was made to pass premiership control from the NSWRFL to the ARL, inviting four more teams from outside NSW.
- The Titans were the first professional team to occupy the Gold Coast since 1998, when the Gold Coast Chargers were removed during the NRL’s rationalisation process.
- The top eight teams at the end of the regular season compete in the finals series.
- In 1990, a salary cap was introduced to the NSWRL to level the playing field for Winfield Cup teams.
The ARLC was established in 2019.
On 12 December 2024 — ARLC chairman Peter V’landys, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Prime Minister James Marape announced a team based in Papua New Guinea would enter the NRL in the 2028 season. ARLC CEO Andrew Abdo and chairman Peter V’landys confirmed the plan would be to add three teams to the NRL by 2030, of which up to two could be based outside of Australia. This was the first time since 2008 that the first and second-placed teams contested the grand final. During the 2010 finals series, the second qualifying match between the Wests Tigers and Sydney Roosters became the first McIntyre system final to go into extra time, with the One Hundred Minute Epic described in media circles as one of the greatest of the modern era. In 2010, the NRL set a record total season average attendance of 17,367 per game and a record total season aggregate attendance of 3,490,778.
Panthers lock up brother of Melbourne Storm star
The following day after Queensland closed its borders, the NRL announced that the season would have to be suspended indefinitely. The decision prompted a wave of condemnation online — including from Australian personalities and sportspeople. Following the https://carrollforcolorado.com imposition of the first COVID-19 restrictions, the NRL initially announced it would be moving forward with the season. The 2016 season saw the Melbourne Storm return to the minor premiership position while the Canberra Raiders returned to the top four for the first time since 2003. The 2015 Grand Final is considered by many to be the greatest grand final of all time, as a high-intensity match ended in dramatic circumstances when North Queensland scored as the full-time siren sounded. 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 Auckland Warriors experienced much financial hardship in the early part of the decade, ultimately collapsing before being resurrected as the New Zealand Warriors for the 2001 season. Balmain and Western Suburbs formed the joint-venture club (the Wests Tigers at the end of 1999), while North Sydney and Manly Warringah created the ill-fated Northern Eagles. It was also announced that clubs that merged would receive a large sum of money, as well as a guaranteed position in the 2000 NRL Competition. The 20 clubs that played in 1998 would be assessed on various items such as sponsorship (crowds), on-field success and the like. This was attempted in 1995 with control of the premiership passing from the NSWRFL to the Australian Rugby League (ARL), who invited four more teams from outside NSW to participate in 1995. Although this move brought more interest in the competition statewide in New South Wales (it would spell the beginning of the demise of some of the traditional Sydney-based clubs), as well as having a negative effect on the Brisbane Rugby League premiership.
Teams
The 1998 NRL season was announced to have 20 teams, including 19 Super League and ARL teams plus the Melbourne Storm. In 1988 (the league expanded with the introduction of three teams outside Sydney: the Newcastle Knights and the first two Queensland teams), the Brisbane Broncos and Gold Coast-Tweed Giants.
The team will play home matches at the National Football Stadium, based in Port Moresby, the capital city. By November, talks resumed, and the Western Bears were largely expected to be announced as the NRL’s 18th team for the 2027 season. After the Dolphins’ introduction in 2023, NRL executives openly discussed further competition expansion. On 9 April 2020, ARL Commissioner Wayne Pearce announced the NRL’s return on 28 May. It was feared that some teams might not survive the period without income, anticipating a financial catastrophe.
Throughout 2008 (the NRL celebrated the 100-year anniversary of rugby league’s introduction to Australia with various initiatives), including the ‘Centenary of Rugby League’ marketing campaign. The opening round featured two matches at Brisbane’s Lang Park (including the reigning champions Brisbane against North Queensland and the new club), the Gold Coast, playing St. George Illawarra. Instead of the proposed system, teams were given a single bye during the year, grouped in periods to help manage representative fixtures. Between 2002 and 2006 (with an odd number of teams), the draw ensured at least one team had a bye each weekend.
National Rugby League was a supporter of the failed Voice to Parliament referendum. Other notable sponsorships include Kia , Thursday Night Football,, KFC (Friday Night Football), Bundaberg Rum (Super Saturday), Chemist Warehouse (Sunday Football). The new brand, highlighting the shield and the chevron – which have both been synonymous with Rugby League since the game’s inception.
Teams on the ladder are ranked by competition points in descending order (then match points differential), and points percentage for those with equal competition points and equal points differential. Each invited team represented their league in a single pre- Challenge match game.
The NRL’s scientific team is one of the largest internationally accredited and board-certified expert teams in the country.
