| 1997 Australian Rugby League | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Duration | 7 March – 28 September 1997 |
| Teams | 12 |
| Premiers |  Newcastle (1st title) |
| Minor premiers |  Manly (9th title) |
| Matches played | 141 |
| Points scored | 5,370 |
| Average attendance | 10,610 |
| Attendance | 1,496,040 |
| Top points scorer(s) |  Jason Taylor (242) |
| Player of the year |  Brad Fittler (Provan-Summons Medal) |
| Top try-scorer(s) | Terry Hill (22) |
The 1997 Australian Rugby League season was the 90th season of professional rugby league football in Australia, and the third season run by the Australian Rugby League. While several clubs had left the League to compete in the 1997 Super League season, twelve ARL-loyal teams – eight from across Sydney, two from greater New South Wales and two from Queensland (Brisbane and Gold Coast) – competed for the Optus Cup Trophy. The top seven teams then played a series of knock-out finals which culminated in a September grand final played in Sydney between the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles and the Newcastle Knights. The fairytale came true for thousands of Novocastrians when the Newcastle club won their first ever premiership, staging a comeback from 8–16 to shatter Manly's hopes.