 | This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (September 2023) |
| Most recent season or competition: 2024 NRL season | |
 | |
| Sport | Rugby league |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1998[1] |
| First season | 1998 |
| CEO | Andrew Abdo |
| Commissioner | Peter V'landys |
| No. of teams | 17[2] |
| Country |  Australia(16 teams)  New Zealand(1 team) |
| Headquarters | Rugby League Central, Sydney, New South Wales |
| Current premiers |  Penrith Panthers (6th title) |
| Most premiers |  South Sydney Rabbitohs (21 titles) |
| TV partner(s) | Australia: Nine Network Fox League New Zealand: Sky Sport Prime |
| Streaming partner(s) | Kayo Sports (Australia) 9Now (Australia) WatchNRL (Overseas) |
| Sponsor(s) | Telstra |
| Level on pyramid | Level 1 |
| International cup(s) | World Club Challenge |
| Related competitions | New South Wales Cup Queensland Cup |
| Official website | NRL.com |
The National Rugby League (known as the NRL Telstra Premiership due to sponsorship) is a professional rugby league competition in Australasia which contains clubs from New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, the Australian Capital Territory and New Zealand.
Tracing its origins back to the New South Wales Rugby League, which formed in 1908, rugby league competition in Australia had gone through numerous iterations, including the 1990s Super League war,[3] by the time the NRL formed in 1998 as a joint partnership between the Australian Rugby League (ARL) and the News Corporation-controlled Super League.[4] The partnership was dissolved in 2012, with control of the NRL going to the re-constituted ARL, which was re-structured with an independent board of directors and renamed the Australian Rugby League Commission.
The season typically runs from March to October, with each team playing 24 matches. The first-placed team at the end of the regular season awarded the minor premiership. This is followed by a finals series contested between the eight highest-placed teams from the regular season. The season culminates in the premiership-deciding grand final.[5] The winners compete in the World Club Challenge against the champions of the English Super League.[6] The reigning premiers are the Penrith Panthers, having won their sixth premiership, and fourth consecutive, in 2024.
- ^ Official National Rugby League statistics encompass all Sydney first grade competitions, namely the New South Wales Rugby League premiership, Australian Rugby League, Super League, and the present day NRL.
- ^ "Redcliffe Dolphins poised to be unveiled as NRL's 17th team for 2023 season". The Guardian. 11 October 2021.
- ^ Miller, Toby; Geoffrey A. Lawrence; Jim McKay (2001). Globalization and sport: playing the world. SAGE. p. 82. ISBN 9780761959694. Retrieved 4 July 2011.
- ^ Australian Rugby League and National Rugby League. "Rugby league" (PDF). Australian Human Rights Commission Report. hreoc.gov.au. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 May 2012. Retrieved 13 May 2012.
- ^ Schwarz, David (2 September 2009). "Spike TV To Telecast National Rugby League Playoffs and Championship Game". Reuters. Archived from the original on 12 September 2012. Retrieved 19 September 2009.
- ^ "RFL cool on bigger Challenge". Sky Sports. 2 March 2009. Retrieved 4 July 2011.