The National Rugby League (NRL) is the top league of professional men’s rugby league clubs in Australasia. Run by the Australian Rugby League Commission, the NRL’s main competition is known as the Telstra Premiership due to sponsorship from Telstra Corporation and is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand. It is the most viewed and attended rugby league club competition in the world.
The NRL was formed in Sydney on 8 August 1907 to administer the game of rugby league football “in the national interests”. Since then the game has gone from strength to strength to become one of Australia’s largest spectator sports, with a 2012 Harris Poll rating rugby league the second most popular spectator sport in Australia, behind only Australian Rules Football, and ahead of cricket and motor racing.
The inaugural NSWRL season of 1908 began In February 1908 and concluded on 5 September 1908.
Current 2024 NRL Teams
St. George Illawarra Dragons
The St. George Illawarra Dragons were founded in 1908, they are one of the founding members of the National Rugby League, along with the Sydney Roosters, South Sydney Rabbitohs and the NSW Waratahs. The St. George Illawarra Dragons play their home games at Jubilee Oval in Kogarah, New South Wales.
South Sydney Rabbitohs
South Sydney Rabbitohs is a professional rugby league club which plays in the National Rugby League (NRL) and are based in Redfern, a suburb of inner-Sydney, New South Wales. South Sydney is one of two foundation clubs still present in the NRL, and therefore the oldest existing rugby-league football club
Parramatta Eels
The Parramatta Eels are a professional rugby league team based in the Sydney suburb of Parramatta. They play in the National Rugby League (NRL) premiership, and are one of nine existing teams from the state capital. The club was formed in 1947 as a result of the efforts of supporters
New Zealand Warriors
The New Zealand Warriors are a professional rugby league team based in Auckland, New Zealand. They compete in the National Rugby League (NRL) and are the only professional rugby league team based in the country. The team was founded in 1995 as a joint Australia-based club following the liquidation of
Newcastle Knights
Newcastle Knights is a rugby league team in Newcastle. They are part of the two grandest rugby league clubs in Australia and have been around since 1988. The club started as the Newcastle Rugby League Club but changed their name to Newcastle Rugby League Football Club in 1947. Later they
Melbourne Storm
Melbourne Storm – Melbourne Storm NRL team are an Australian professional rugby league club that plays in the National Rugby League (NRL) competition. The club was formed in 1997, and made their debut in the semi-professional Australian Rugby League (ARL) competition as the “Melbourne Storm”, before continuing to compete in
Manly Warringah Sea Eagles
The Manly Warringah Sea Eagles are an Australian professional rugby league club based on Sydney’s Northern Beaches. They compete in the National Rugby League (NRL) premiership, as well as the Holden Cup junior competition. The Manly Warringah Rugby League Football Club were formed at a meeting on 4 March 1911
Gold Coast Titans
The Gold Coast Titans (also known as the Gold Coast, and stylised as GC) are an Australian professional rugby league football club, based on the Gold Coast, Queensland. They compete in the National Rugby League’s (NRL) Telstra Premiership. The club was admitted to the competition in 2007, along with the
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
The Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, nickname the Sharks, are an Australian professional rugby league club based in Cronulla, in the Sutherland Shire, Southern Sydney, New South Wales. The Sharks compete in the National Rugby League (NRL) premiership and are the only remaining foundation club still playing in the NRL. The Sharks were
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs were founded in 1935. They are based in Belmore, a suburb of Sydney. They play their home games in the stadium of the same name. The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs NRL team was established in 1935 and is a club that has seen their fair share of ups and downs
North Queensland Cowboys
The North Queensland Cowboys are a professional rugby league football club based in Townsville, Queensland. They compete in the National Rugby League (NRL) premiership and have won three premierships since their establishment. The club was formed as the North Queensland Cowboys on 17 March 1995 on the back of the
Penrith Panthers
Penrith Panthers are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the western Sydney suburb of Penrith. They compete in the National Rugby League (NRL) premiership, as well as the NSW Rugby League and Queensland Rugby League state leagues. The club was formed in 1967, and played their first
Canberra Raiders
The Canberra Raiders are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the national capital city of Canberra. They currently play in the National Rugby League, and have won the premiership three times, once in 1990 and again in 1994 and 2004. The Canberra Raiders were admitted to the
Brisbane Broncos
The Brisbane Broncos are the most successful team in Australian rugby league history, having won six premierships since their inception in 1988. The Broncos play their home games at Suncorp Stadium and are currently coached by Wayne Bennett. The Broncos have won fourteen minor premierships and one pre-season cup since