The National Rugby League (NRL) is the top flight of Australian club rugby league, and one of the most prestigious rugby league competitions in the world, alongside England’s Super League. Established in 1998, the NRL contains some of Australia’s most historic and decorated rugby league sides, as well as one side from across the Tasman Sea, the New Zealand Warriors.
The 17 current NRL teams and their most commonly used home stadiums are:
- Brisbane Broncos (Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane)
- Canberra Raiders (GIO Stadium)
- Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs (Accor Stadium, Sydney)
- Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks (PointsBet Stadium, Sydney)
- Dolphins (Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane)
- Gold Coast Titans (Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast)
- Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles (4 Pines Park, Sydney)
- Melbourne Storm (AAMI Park, Melbourne)
- New Zealand Warriors (Go Media Stadium Mount Smart, Auckland)
- Newcastle Knights (McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle)
- North Queensland Cowboys (Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville)
- Parramatta Eels (CommBank Stadium, Sydney)
- Penrith Panthers (BlueBet Stadium, Sydney)
- South Sydney Rabbitohs (Accor Stadium, Sydney)
- St. George Illawarra Dragons (Netstrata Jubilee Stadium, Sydney, & WIN Stadium, Wollongong)
- Sydney Roosters (Allianz Stadium, Sydney)
- Wests Tigers (CommBank Stadium, Leichhardt Oval, & Campbelltown Sports Stadium, Sydney)
2023 Schedule
The 2023 NRL season started in early March. The regular season (also referred to as the home-and-away season) will take place across 27 rounds of matches; each team plays 23 regular season fixtures, as well as having 3 bye rounds spaced throughout the campaign. Each NRL team plays against 8 of its 16 fellow sides once only, either at home or away from home, and plays against the other 8 sides twice, once home and once away.
The 2023 NRL Finals will then get underway immediately after the regular season ends; the finals will take place across 4 weeks, starting in early September, and concluding with the grand final in early October. You can find the full 2023 NRL season schedule here.
NRL Rivalries
During the NRL regular season, every team plays against the other 17 teams at least once, allowing for plenty of derby matches over the course of a campaign. Australian rugby league’s traditional base is within New South Wales, with many present-day NRL sides still drawing on fanbases from within the Greater Sydney area; many of the league’s top rivalries are therefore found there, with local derbies and historic grudge matches alike having originated in the state capital. Some of the league’s most notorious rivalries involve teams such as the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, the Parramatta Eels, the Penrith Panthers, the South Sydney Rabbitohs, the St. George Illawarra Dragons, and the Sydney Roosters.
Other notable rivalries include the Brisbane Broncos-North Queensland Cowboys rivalry and the modern Sea Eagles-Melbourne Storm rivalry.
2023 NRL Finals
The NRL finals commences immediately after the final round of the regular season is played. The finals is typically staged across 4 consecutive weeks and involves the teams which finish the regular season in eighth place or higher. These 8 teams compete in a knock-out bracket; teams can be eliminated from the finals after 1 or 2 losses, depending on where in the final league table they finished. The team which wins the final match of the finals – the all-important NRL grand final – is crowned that season’s premiers.
2023 Tickets & Prices
Although every NRL venue varies in terms of seating capacity, configuration, and stadium facilities, cheap or relatively affordable tickets can typically be found at every match, even games involving prestigious or strong teams. NRL venues generally house seating sections around all sides of the pitch; viewing the match from behind the posts is often more affordable than opting to sit along the sidelines, particularly in close proximity to the halfway line. For those who wish to have a premium spectator experience, many NRL stadiums have VIP seats and lounge areas, which provide prime location, elevated seating by the halfway line, as well inclusive hospitality perks.
During the 2023 NRL season, the most affordable adult tickets start at approximately AUD $30, with many tickets available for under AUD $50. There are typically ticketing discounts for children, as well as other age-related, educational, or occupational concessions. The most premium tickets at NRL matches can cost upwards of AUD $100, with some of the most luxurious packages costing even more.
How to get Cheap Tickets
Fans wishing to buy cheaper NRL match tickets may wish to select a match involving smaller or less historically successful teams, or sides which are not major rivals. Matches involving famous, successful, or rival teams may command higher ticket prices. Moreover, selecting a seat in a less coveted section of the stadium, for example the stands behind the posts, can also help keep costs down. Matches held at less famous or smaller venues are also likelier to command cheaper ticket prices, compared to games staged at prestigious or modern stadia. Koobit compares the prices offered by both official ticket suppliers and secondary resellers, to help you find the best ticket for you at the most affordable price possible.
Where to Buy Tickets
NRL tickets can be bought in person at stadium ticket offices, or online. Purchasing tickets online is however often more convenient: it allows fans to access ticket sales as soon as they open, compare prices throughout different sections of the stadium, and compare prices from different suppliers. Digital tickets can be downloaded and then presented digitally at the stadium gates. Buying tickets in person, for example on the day of the match, may result in disappointment if the game is already sold out.
How to Get to a Game
Most NRL stadiums are located in towns and cities, meaning there are usually many car parking options nearby, as well as public transport links to help spectators get to games. Some NRL stadiums, typically larger or more modern venues, also house on-site parking lots, meaning cars can be parked in close proximity to the stadium gates. Koobit provides travel and parking information for NRL venues: visit a venue page for more information, or see an individual event page’s Travel & Parking tab for match-specific information.
To stay up to date with the latest schedule and ticketing information for this season and beyond, visit the National Rugby League (NRL) page.