2026 NRL season
| 2026 National Rugby League | |
|---|---|
| Duration | 28 February[a] – 4 October 2026 |
| Teams | 17 |
| Matches played | 32 |
| Points scored | 1,523 |
| Average attendance | 22,581 |
| Total attendance | 700,020 |
| Biggest home win | AAMI Park 5 March, Round 1 |
| Biggest away win | Allianz Stadium 20 March, Round 3 |
The 2026 NRL season is the 119th season of professional rugby league in Australia and the 29th season run by the National Rugby League (NRL). The regular season will be followed by a finals series contested by the top eight teams on the competition ladder.
Teams
[edit]The lineup of teams in the league remained unchanged for the 4th and final consecutive year, with seventeen participating in the regular season: ten from New South Wales, four from Queensland and one from each of Victoria, the Australian Capital Territory and New Zealand.
Venues
[edit]Venues for the 2026 National Rugby League competition.
Stadium locations
[edit]Venues used for the 2026 National Rugby League season.

621miles
Pre-season
[edit]Trials
[edit]Italics indicates a non-NRL club
| Date | Time | Home | Score | Away | Stadium | Report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 February 2025 | 18:00 AEST (UTC+10:00) | 16–26 | Marley Brown Oval, Gladstone | |||
| 14 February 2025 | 19:10 AEST (UTC+10:00) | 14–26 | Sunshine Coast Stadium, Sunshine Coast | |||
| 22 February 2025 | 14:00 AEST (UTC+10:00) | 22–58 | Davies Park, Brisbane |
All Stars match
[edit]Pre-season Challenge
[edit]The 16-game pre-season challenge was played from 7 February to 22 February 2026 and was won by the Parramatta Eels, the first team to score the maximum 30 competition points.[7]
Regular season
[edit]Results
[edit]| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | F1 | F2 | F3 | GF |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brisbane Broncos | PEN –26 |
PAR –8 |
MEL +4 |
DOL +14 |
GCT |
NQL |
WTI |
CBY |
SYD |
MAN |
NZL |
X | SGI |
GCT |
SOU |
X | SYD |
CRO |
X | PEN |
NQL |
NEW |
DOL |
NZL |
CAN |
MEL |
CBY |
||||
| Canberra Raiders | MAN +1* |
NZL –34 |
CBY –4 |
CRO –12 |
NEW |
SOU |
MEL |
WTI |
GCT |
PEN |
X | DOL |
NQL |
SYD |
PAR |
MEL |
SGI |
X | CBY |
SOU |
WTI |
PEN |
NEW |
CRO |
BRI |
X | NQL |
||||
| Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | SGI +1* |
X | CAN +4 |
NEW –8 |
SOU |
PEN |
PAR |
BRI |
NQL |
DOL |
CRO |
MEL |
WTI |
PAR |
X | MAN |
GCT |
X | CAN |
WTI |
NZL |
MEL |
SYD |
SOU |
SGI |
PEN |
BRI |
||||
| Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | GCT +40 |
PEN –20 |
DOL –28 |
CAN +12 |
NZL |
SYD |
X | NQL |
WTI |
SOU |
CBY |
X | MAN |
SGI |
NZL |
SYD |
X | BRI |
DOL |
NEW |
MAN |
SOU |
SGI |
CAN |
GCT |
PAR |
MEL |
||||
| Dolphins | SOU –10 |
GCT +4 |
CRO +28 |
BRI –14 |
MAN |
X | PEN |
NZL |
MEL |
CBY |
SOU |
CAN |
X | NQL |
SYD |
WTI |
NZL |
NEW |
CRO |
NQL |
X | SGI |
BRI |
MAN |
PAR |
SYD |
GCT |
||||
| Gold Coast Titans | CRO –40 |
DOL –4 |
NQL –14 |
SGI +8 |
BRI |
PAR |
NZL |
X | CAN |
SYD |
NEW |
MAN |
X | BRI |
WTI |
PEN |
CBY |
X | MEL |
MAN |
SGI |
NZL |
NQL |
NEW |
CRO |
SOU |
DOL |
||||
| Manly Warringah Sea Eagles | CAN –1* |
NEW –20 |
X | SYD –17 |
DOL |
SGI |
NQL |
PAR |
PEN |
BRI |
WTI |
GCT |
CRO |
SOU |
X | CBY |
MEL |
PAR |
NQL |
GCT |
CRO |
X | MEL |
DOL |
NEW |
SGI |
NZL |
||||
| Melbourne Storm | PAR +48 |
SGI +26 |
BRI –4 |
NQL –4 |
PEN |
NZL |
CAN |
SOU |
DOL |
WTI |
PAR |
CBY |
SYD |
NEW |
X | CAN |
MAN |
X | GCT |
SYD |
SOU |
CBY |
MAN |
X | PEN |
BRI |
CRO |
||||
| Newcastle Knights | NQL +10 |
MAN +20 |
WAR –26 |
CBY +8 |
CAN |
WTI |
SYD |
PEN |
SOU |
SGI |
GCT |
X | PAR |
MEL |
X | SGI |
WTI |
DOL |
SOU |
CRO |
SYD |
BRI |
CAN |
GCT |
MAN |
NZL |
X | ||||
| New Zealand Warriors | SYD +24 |
CAN +34 |
NEW +26 |
WTI –18 |
CRO |
MEL |
GCT |
DOL |
PAR |
X | BRI |
SGI |
PEN |
X | CRO |
NQL |
DOL |
X | WTI |
SGI |
CBY |
GCT |
PEN |
BRI |
SOU |
NEW |
MAN |
||||
| North Queensland Cowboys | NEW –10 |
WTI –28 |
GCT +14 |
MEL +4 |
SGI |
BRI |
MAN |
CRO |
CBY |
PAR |
SYD |
SOU |
CAN |
DOL |
X | NZL |
PEN |
X | MAN |
DOL |
BRI |
SYD |
GCT |
PAR |
X | WTI |
CAN |
||||
| Parramatta Eels | MEL –48 |
BRI +8 |
SGI +10 |
PEN –28 |
WTI |
GCT |
CBY |
MAN |
NZL |
NQL |
MEL |
X | NEW |
CBY |
CAN |
X | SOU |
MAN |
SYD |
X | PEN |
WTI |
SOU |
NQL |
DOL |
CRO |
SGI |
||||
| Penrith Panthers | BRI +26 |
CRO +20 |
SYD +36 |
PAR +28 |
MEL |
CBY |
DOL |
NEW |
MAN |
CAN |
SGI |
X | NZL |
WTI |
X | GCT |
NQL |
SOU |
X | BRI |
PAR |
CAN |
NZL |
SYD |
MEL |
CBY |
WTI |
||||
| South Sydney Rabbitohs | DOL +10 |
SYD –8 |
WTI +4 |
X | CBY |
CAN |
SGI |
MEL |
NEW |
CRO |
DOL |
NQL |
X | MAN |
BRI |
X | PAR |
PEN |
NEW |
CAN |
MEL |
CRO |
PAR |
CBY |
NZL |
GCT |
SYD |
||||
| St. George Illawarra Dragons | CBY –1* |
MEL –26 |
PAR –10 |
GCT –8 |
NQL |
MAN |
SOU |
SYD |
X | NEW |
PEN |
NZL |
BRI |
CRO |
X | NEW |
CAN |
WTI |
X | NZL |
GCT |
DOL |
CRO |
WTI |
CBY |
MAN |
PAR |
||||
| Sydney Roosters | NZL –24 |
SOU +8 |
PEN –36 |
MAN +17 |
X | CRO |
NEW |
SGI |
BRI |
GCT |
NQL |
X | MEL |
CAN |
DOL |
CRO |
BRI |
X | PAR |
MEL |
NEW |
NQL |
CBY |
PEN |
WTI |
DOL |
SOU |
||||
| Wests Tigers | X | NQL +28 |
SOU –4 |
NZL +18 |
PAR |
NEW |
BRI |
CAN |
CRO |
MEL |
MAN |
X | CBY |
PEN |
GCT |
DOL |
NEW |
SGI |
NZL |
CBY |
CAN |
PAR |
X | SGI |
SYD |
NQL |
PEN |
||||
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | F1 | F2 | F3 | GF |
Bold – Home game
X – Bye
* – Golden point game
Opponent for round listed above margin
Ladder
[edit]| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | B | PF | PA | PD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 140 | 30 | +110 | 8 | Advance to finals series | |
| 2 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 134 | 68 | +66 | 6 | ||
| 3 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 92 | 50 | +42 | 6 | ||
| 4 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 100 | 88 | +12 | 6 | ||
| 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 78 | 72 | +6 | 6 | ||
| 6 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 45 | 48 | −3 | 6 | ||
| 7 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 136 | 70 | +66 | 4 | ||
| 8 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 98 | 90 | +8 | 4 | ||
| 9 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 100 | 96 | +4 | 4 | ||
| 10 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 76 | 92 | −16 | 4 | ||
| 11 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 92 | 112 | −20 | 4 | ||
| 12 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 81 | 116 | −35 | 4 | ||
| 13 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 94 | 152 | −58 | 4 | ||
| 14 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 60 | 98 | −38 | 2 | ||
| 15 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 67 | 116 | −49 | 2 | ||
| 16 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 62 | 112 | −50 | 2 | ||
| 17 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 68 | 113 | −45 | 0 |
Ladder progression
[edit]- Numbers highlighted in green indicate that the team finished the round inside the top eight.
- Numbers highlighted in blue indicates the team finished first on the ladder in that round.
- Numbers highlighted in red indicates the team finished last place on the ladder in that round.
- Underlined numbers indicate that the team had a bye during that round.
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 5 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 6 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 7 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 8 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 9 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 10 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 11 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 12 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 13 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 14 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 15 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Player statistics and records
[edit]- In Round 2, Alex Johnston surpassed Ken Irvine as the greatest tryscorer in the NRL and its predecessor competitions.
The following statistics are as of the conclusion of round 4.
|
Top 5 point scorers
Top 5 try scorers |
Top 5 goal kickers
Top 5 tacklers
|
Attendances
[edit]Club figures
[edit]| Team | Games | Total | 2026 Average | 2025 Average | Difference | Highest | Lowest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brisbane Broncos | 3 | 130,463 | 43,488 | 41,185 | +2,303 | 45,882 | 39,015 |
| Canberra Raiders | 2 | 31,180 | 15,590 | 19,136 | -3,546 | 17,457 | 13,723 |
| Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | 2 | 66,291 | 33,146 | 30,688 | +2,458 | 45,719 | 20,572 |
| Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | 2 | 22,644 | 11,322 | 12,856 | -1,534 | 11,548 | 11,096 |
| Dolphins | 2 | 36,187 | 18,094 | 21,820 | -3,726 | 20,114 | 16,073 |
| Gold Coast Titans | 1 | 12,241 | 12,241 | 16,410 | -4,169 | 12,241 | 12,241 |
| Manly Warringah Sea Eagles | 3 | 50,442 | 16,814 | 16,393 | +421 | 17,253 | 16,082 |
| Melbourne Storm | 2 | 46,509 | 23,255 | 21,677 | +1,578 | 28,245 | 18,264 |
| Newcastle Knights | 2 | 67,401 | 33,701 | 20,891 | +12,810 | 45,719 | 21,682 |
| New Zealand Warriors | 3 | 71,425 | 23,808 | 23,188 | +620 | 24,246 | 23,067 |
| North Queensland Cowboys | 2 | 37,930 | 18,965 | 18,649 | +316 | 20,931 | 16,999 |
| Parramatta Eels | 1 | 25,573 | 25,573 | 15,904 | +9,669 | 25,573 | 25,573 |
| Penrith Panthers | 2 | 34,813 | 17,407 | 16,695 | +712 | 22,813 | 12,000 |
| South Sydney Rabbitohs | 1 | 19,940 | 19,940 | 16,070 | +3,870 | 19,940 | 19,940 |
| St. George Illawarra Dragons | 1 | 11,511 | 11,511 | 12,505 | -994 | 11,511 | 11,511 |
| Sydney Roosters | 2 | 63,552 | 31,776 | 23,799 | +7,977 | 41,424 | 22,128 |
| Wests Tigers | 1 | 17,637 | 17,637 | 15,176 | +2,461 | 17,637 | 17,637 |
* = Magic Round home game not counted
Top regular season crowds
[edit]Match officials
[edit]| Referee | Games |
|---|---|
| Wyatt Raymond | 4 |
| Adam Gee | 4 |
| Ashley Klein | 4 |
| Peter Gough | 4 |
| Todd Smith | 4 |
| Grant Atkins | 4 |
| Liam Kennedy | 4 |
| Gerard Sutton | 3 |
| Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski | 1 |
2026 transfers
[edit]Source:[8]
Coaches
[edit]| Coach | 2025 Club | 2026 Club |
|---|---|---|
| Des Hasler | Gold Coast Titans | N/A[3] |
| Adam O'Brien | Newcastle Knights | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs (assistant)[9] |
| Josh Hannay | Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks (assistant) | Gold Coast Titans[3] |
| Justin Holbrook | Sydney Roosters (assistant) | Newcastle Knights[6] |
References
[edit]- ^ Whittaker, Troy (23 February 2025). "McInnes and Brailey installed as NRL co-captains". sharks.com.au. Retrieved 26 February 2025.
- ^ Howden, Breanne (17 February 2025). "Dolphins Team List: Pre-Season Challenge v Warriors". dolphinsnrl.com.au. Retrieved 21 February 2025.
- ^ a b c Edwards, Colleen (25 August 2025). "'Burst of energy': Hannay to replace Hasler as Titans coach". nrl.com.au. Retrieved 25 August 2025.
- ^ "Kieran Foran appointed interim Head Coach at Manly". seaeagles.com.au. 28 March 2026. Retrieved 28 March 2026.
- ^ "Turbo appointed Captain at Manly". seaeagles.com.au. 24 November 2025. Retrieved 13 December 2025.
- ^ a b "Knights appoint NRL Head Coach". newcastleknights.com.au. 15 September 2025. Retrieved 22 September 2025.
- ^ "Eels crowned Witzer Pre-Season Challenge Champions". Parramatta Eels. 22 February 2026. Retrieved 28 February 2026.
- ^ "NRL 2025: Signings tracker, contracts, player movement". NRL.com.
- ^ Issa, Isaac (14 October 2025). "O'Brien lands coaching gig for 2026". msn.com. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
Notes
[edit]- ^ Local time in Las Vegas.
- ^ Penrith's usual home ground, Penrith Stadium, is not usable due to ongoing renovations
- ^ Gee was replaced by Belinda Sharpe after 60 minutes.