2021 NRL season
| 2021 National Rugby League | |
|---|---|
| Duration | March 11 – October 3, 2021 |
| Teams | 16 |
| Premiers | Penrith Panthers (3rd title) |
| Minor premiers | Melbourne Storm (5th title) |
| Matches played | 201 |
| Points scored | 9,219 |
| Average attendance | 10,364[a] |
| Total attendance | 2,083,258[b] |
| Top points scorer | Reuben Garrick (334) |
| Wooden spoon | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs (6th spoon) |
| Dally M Medal | Tom Trbojevic |
| Top try-scorer | Alex Johnston (30) |
The 2021 NRL season was the 114th season of professional rugby league in Australia and the 24th season run by the National Rugby League.
Teams
The lineup of teams remained unchanged for the 15th consecutive year.
Regular season
| 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 | F1 | F2 | F3 | GF |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brisbane Broncos | PAR −8 |
GCT −12 |
CBY +24 |
MEL −34 |
SOU −29 |
PEN −8 |
PAR −40 |
GCT +8 |
NQL −1 |
MAN −44 |
SYD +18 |
MEL −28 |
SGI −28 |
CAN −22 |
SOU −46 |
CRO +8 |
X | WTI −18 |
PEN −6 |
NQL +19 |
NEW −8 |
SYD −1 |
NZL +2 |
CRO −8 |
NEW +13 |
||||
| Canberra Raiders | WTI +18 |
CRO +2 |
NZL −3 |
GCT +16 |
PEN −20 |
PAR −25 |
NQL −2 |
SOU −14 |
NEW −8 |
CBY +2 |
MEL −24 |
SYD −28 |
X | BRI +22 |
SGI −2 |
GCT −38 |
MAN +14 |
CRO +16 |
PAR +2 |
NEW −10 |
SGI +8 |
MEL −10 |
MAN −1 |
NZL +12 |
SYD −24 |
||||
| Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | NEW −16 |
PEN −28 |
BRI −24 |
SOU −38 |
MEL −34 |
NQL −12 |
CRO +6 |
PAR −22 |
SGI −20 |
CAN −2 |
GCT −10 |
PEN −26 |
X | SGI +22 |
PAR −26 |
MAN −66 |
SYD −6 |
SOU −8 |
CRO −20 |
GCT −28 |
WTI −12 |
NZL −14 |
NEW −6 |
MAN −18 |
WTI +38 |
||||
| Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | SGI +14 |
CAN −2 |
PAR −24 |
NQL +38 |
SYD −8 |
NEW −4 |
CBY −6 |
MEL −26 |
PEN −48 |
SOU −10 |
SGI +1* |
GCT +28 |
X | PEN +1 |
NQL +2 |
BRI −8 |
NZL +8 |
CAN −16 |
CBY +20 |
MAN −18 |
NZL −2 |
NEW −2 |
WTI +30 |
BRI +8 |
MEL −12 |
||||
| Gold Coast Titans | NZL −13 |
BRI +12 |
NQL +36 |
CAN −16 |
NEW +26 |
MAN −36 |
SOU −10 |
BRI −8 |
WTI +8 |
PEN −36 |
CBY +10 |
CRO −28 |
MEL −6 |
SYD −1 |
MAN −32 |
CAN +38 |
X | PAR −18 |
SGI +22 |
CBY +28 |
NQL +22 |
SOU −30 |
MEL −14 |
NEW −1 |
NZL +44 |
SYD −1 |
|||
| Manly Warringah Sea Eagles | SYD −42 |
SOU −14 |
SGI −26 |
PEN −40 |
NZL +1 |
GCT +36 |
WTI +34 |
PEN −12 |
NZL +6 |
BRI +44 |
PAR +22 |
NEW −8 |
X | NQL +32 |
GCT +32 |
CBY +66 |
CAN −14 |
SGI +14 |
WTI +20 |
CRO +18 |
MEL −10 |
PAR +46 |
CAN +1 |
CBY +18 |
NQL +28 |
MEL −28 |
SYD +36 |
SOU −20 |
|
| Melbourne Storm | SOU +8 |
PAR −4 |
PEN −2 |
BRI +34 |
CBY +34 |
SYD +16 |
NZL +22 |
CRO +26 |
SOU +50 |
SGI +26 |
CAN +24 |
BRI +28 |
GCT +6 |
NZL +26 |
WTI +50 |
SYD +46 |
X | NEW +44 |
NQL +4 |
PEN +27 |
MAN +10 |
CAN +10 |
GCT +14 |
PAR −12 |
CRO +12 |
MAN +28 |
X | PEN −4 |
|
| Newcastle Knights | CBY +16 |
NZL +4 |
WTI −4 |
SGI −9 |
GCT −26 |
CRO +4 |
PEN −18 |
SYD −34 |
CAN +8 |
WTI −18 |
NQL −16 |
MAN +8 |
PAR −36 |
SOU −14 |
NZL +4 |
NQL +38 |
X | MEL −44 |
SYD −20 |
CAN +10 |
BRI +8 |
CRO +2 |
CBY +6 |
GCT +1 |
BRI −13 |
PAR −8 |
|||
| New Zealand Warriors | GCT +13 |
NEW −4 |
CAN +3 |
SYD −20 |
MAN −1 |
SGI +6 |
MEL −22 |
NQL +4 |
MAN −6 |
PAR −16 |
WTI +4 |
NQL −1 |
X | MEL −26 |
NEW −4 |
SGI −1* |
CRO −8 |
PEN −14 |
SOU −38 |
WTI +2 |
CRO +2 |
CBY +14 |
BRI −2 |
CAN −12 |
GCT −44 |
||||
| North Queensland Cowboys | PEN −24 |
SGI −7 |
GCT −36 |
CRO −38 |
WTI +4 |
CBY +12 |
CAN +2 |
NZL −4 |
BRI +1 |
SYD −14 |
NEW +16 |
NZL +1 |
X | MAN −32 |
CRO −2 |
NEW −38 |
SOU −28 |
SYD −16 |
MEL −4 |
BRI −19 |
GCT −22 |
WTI −8 |
PAR −16 |
SGI +12 |
MAN −28 |
||||
| Parramatta Eels | BRI +8 |
MEL +4 |
CRO +24 |
WTI +14 |
SGI −14 |
CAN +25 |
BRI +40 |
CBY +22 |
SYD +13 |
NZL +16 |
MAN −22 |
SOU −18 |
NEW +36 |
WTI +28 |
CBY +26 |
PEN −1 |
X | GCT +18 |
CAN −2 |
SYD −28 |
SOU −28 |
MAN −46 |
NQL +16 |
MEL +12 |
PEN −34 |
NEW +8 |
PEN −2 |
||
| Penrith Panthers | NQL +24 |
CBY +28 |
MEL +2 |
MAN +40 |
CAN +20 |
BRI +8 |
NEW +18 |
MAN +12 |
CRO +48 |
GCT +36 |
SOU +44 |
CBY +26 |
WTI −20 |
CRO −1 |
SYD +26 |
PAR +1 |
X | NZL +14 |
BRI +6 |
MEL −27 |
SYD +6 |
SGI +18 |
SOU +13 |
WTI +14 |
PAR +34 |
SOU −6 |
PAR +2 |
MEL +4 |
SOU +2 |
| South Sydney Rabbitohs | MEL −8 |
MAN +14 |
SYD +10 |
CBY +38 |
BRI +29 |
WTI +4* |
GCT +10 |
CAN +14 |
MEL −50 |
CRO +10 |
PEN −44 |
PAR +18 |
X | NEW +14 |
BRI +46 |
WTI +16 |
NQL +28 |
CBY +8 |
NZL +38 |
SGI +36 |
PAR +28 |
GCT +30 |
PEN −13 |
SYD +42 |
SGI +4 |
PEN +6 |
X | MAN +20 |
PEN −2 |
| St. George Illawarra Dragons | CRO −14 |
NQL +7 |
MAN +26 |
NEW +9 |
PAR +14 |
NZL −6 |
SYD −24 |
WTI −8 |
CBY +20 |
MEL −26 |
CRO −1* |
WTI −16 |
BRI +28 |
CBY −22 |
CAN +2 |
NZL +1* |
X | MAN −14 |
GCT −22 |
SOU −36 |
CAN −8 |
PEN −18 |
SYD −18 |
NQL −12 |
SOU −4 |
||||
| Sydney Roosters | MAN +42 |
WTI +34 |
SOU −10 |
NZL +20 |
CRO +8 |
MEL −16 |
SGI +24 |
NEW +34 |
PAR −13 |
NQL +14 |
BRI −18 |
CAN +28 |
X | GCT +1 |
PEN −26 |
MEL −46 |
CBY +6 |
NQL +16 |
NEW +20 |
PAR +28 |
PEN −6 |
BRI +1 |
SGI +18 |
SOU −42 |
CAN +24 |
GCT +1 |
MAN −36 |
||
| Wests Tigers | CAN −18 |
SYD −34 |
NEW +4 |
PAR −14 |
NQL −4 |
SOU −4* |
MAN −34 |
SGI +8 |
GCT −8 |
NEW +18 |
NZL −4 |
SGI +16 |
PEN +20 |
PAR −28 |
MEL −50 |
SOU −16 |
X | BRI +18 |
MAN −20 |
NZL −2 |
CBY +12 |
NQL +8 |
CRO −30 |
PEN −14 |
CBY −38 |
||||
| 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 | F1 | F2 | F3 | GF |
Bold – Home game
X – Bye
* – Golden point game
Opponent for round listed above margin
Ladder
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | B | PF | PA | PD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Melbourne Storm | 24 | 21 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 815 | 316 | +499 | 44 |
| 2 | Penrith Panthers (P) | 24 | 21 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 676 | 286 | +390 | 44 |
| 3 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | 24 | 20 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 775 | 453 | +322 | 42 |
| 4 | Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles | 24 | 16 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 744 | 492 | +252 | 34 |
| 5 | Sydney Roosters | 24 | 16 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 630 | 489 | +141 | 34 |
| 6 | Parramatta Eels | 24 | 15 | 0 | 9 | 1 | 566 | 457 | +109 | 32 |
| 7 | Newcastle Knights | 24 | 12 | 0 | 12 | 1 | 428 | 571 | −143 | 26 |
| 8 | Gold Coast Titans | 24 | 10 | 0 | 14 | 1 | 580 | 583 | −3 | 22 |
| 9 | Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | 24 | 10 | 0 | 14 | 1 | 520 | 556 | −36 | 22 |
| 10 | Canberra Raiders | 24 | 10 | 0 | 14 | 1 | 481 | 578 | −97 | 22 |
| 11 | St. George Illawarra Dragons | 24 | 8 | 0 | 16 | 1 | 474 | 616 | −142 | 18 |
| 12 | New Zealand Warriors | 24 | 8 | 0 | 16 | 1 | 453 | 624 | −171 | 18 |
| 13 | Wests Tigers | 24 | 8 | 0 | 16 | 1 | 500 | 714 | −214 | 18 |
| 14 | Brisbane Broncos | 24 | 7 | 0 | 17 | 1 | 446 | 695 | −249 | 16 |
| 15 | North Queensland Cowboys | 24 | 7 | 0 | 17 | 1 | 460 | 748 | −288 | 16 |
| 16 | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | 24 | 3 | 0 | 21 | 1 | 340 | 710 | −370 | 8 |
Ladder progression
- Numbers highlighted in green indicate that the team finished the round inside the top 8.
- 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Melbourne Storm | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 24 | 26 | 28 | 30 | 32 | 34 | 36 | 38 | 40 | 42 | 42 | 44 |
| 2 | Penrith Panthers (P) | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 26 | 28 | 30 | 32 | 34 | 34 | 36 | 38 | 40 | 42 | 44 |
| 3 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | 0 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 24 | 26 | 28 | 30 | 32 | 34 | 36 | 38 | 38 | 40 | 42 |
| 4 | Manly Warringah Sea Eagles | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 22 | 24 | 26 | 26 | 28 | 30 | 32 | 34 |
| 5 | Sydney Roosters | 2 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 22 | 24 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 30 | 32 | 32 | 34 |
| 6 | Parramatta Eels | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 24 | 24 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 30 | 32 | 32 |
| 7 | Newcastle Knights | 2 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 24 | 26 | 26 |
| 8 | Gold Coast Titans | 0 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 22 |
| 9 | Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 22 |
| 10 | Canberra Raiders | 2 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 22 | 22 |
| 11 | St. George Illawarra Dragons | 0 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 |
| 12 | New Zealand Warriors | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 |
| 13 | Wests Tigers | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 |
| 14 | Brisbane Broncos | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 16 |
| 15 | North Queensland Cowboys | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 16 |
| 16 | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 8 |
Finals series
Due to the imposition of lockdown measures in New South Wales due to a COVID-19 outbreak, all finals matches were played at neutral venues in Queensland.
| Home | Score | Away | Match Information | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date and Time (Local) | Venue | Referee | Crowd | |||||
| QUALIFYING & ELIMINATION FINALS | ||||||||
| Melbourne Storm | 40 – 12 | Manly Warringah Sea Eagles | 10 September 2021, 7:50 pm | Sunshine Coast Stadium | Grant Atkins | 9,120 | ||
| Sydney Roosters | 25 – 24 | Gold Coast Titans | 11 September 2021, 5:40 pm | Queensland Country Bank Stadium | Adam Gee | 18,244 | ||
| Penrith Panthers | 10 – 16 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | 11 September 2021, 7:50 pm | Gerard Sutton | ||||
| Parramatta Eels | 28 – 20 | Newcastle Knights | 12 September 2021, 4:05 pm | Browne Park | Ashley Klein | 5,087 | ||
| SEMI FINALS | ||||||||
| Manly Warringah Sea Eagles | 42 – 6 | Sydney Roosters | 17 September 2021, 7:50 pm | BB Print Stadium | Gerard Sutton | 5,824 | ||
| Penrith Panthers | 8 – 6 | Parramatta Eels | 18 September 2021, 7:50 pm | BB Print Stadium | Ashley Klein | 6,011 | ||
| PRELIMINARY FINALS | ||||||||
| South Sydney Rabbitohs | 36 – 16 | Manly Warringah Sea Eagles | 24 September 2021, 8:05 pm | Suncorp Stadium | Ashley Klein | 26,249 | ||
| Melbourne Storm | 6 – 10 | Penrith Panthers | 25 September 2021, 4:00 pm | Suncorp Stadium | Gerard Sutton | 29,011 | ||
Bracket
| Qualifying and elimination finals | Semi-finals | Preliminary finals | Grand final | ||||||||||||||||
| 10 September – Sunshine Coast | |||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Melbourne | 40 | |||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Manly Warringah | 12 | 17 September – Mackay | ||||||||||||||||
| Manly Warringah | 42 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 11 September – Townsville | Sydney | 6 | 25 September – Brisbane | ||||||||||||||||
| 5 | Sydney | 25 | Melbourne | 6 | |||||||||||||||
| 8 | Gold Coast | 24 | Penrith | 10 | 3 October – Brisbane | ||||||||||||||
| Penrith | 14 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 12 September – Rockhampton | 24 September – Brisbane | South Sydney | 12 | ||||||||||||||||
| 6 | Parramatta | 28 | South Sydney | 36 | |||||||||||||||
| 7 | Newcastle | 20 | 18 September – Mackay | Manly Warringah | 16 | ||||||||||||||
| Penrith | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 11 September – Townsville | Parramatta | 6 | |||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Penrith | 10 | |||||||||||||||||
| 3 | South Sydney | 16 | |||||||||||||||||
Grand Final
2021 NRL Grand Final
| Penrith Panthers | 14 – 12 | South Sydney Rabbitohs |
|---|---|---|
| Tries: 2 Burton 17' Crichton 67' Goals: 3 Cleary 19', pen 33', 69' (3/3) |
1st: 8–6 2nd: 6–6 |
Tries: 2 Walker 21' Johnston 75' Goals: 2 Reynolds 23', pen 45' (2/3) |
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Attendance: 39,322 Referee: Gerard Sutton Touch judges: Dave Munro, Todd Smith Clive Churchill Medal: Nathan Cleary (Penrith) |
Player statistics and records
The following statistics are as of the conclusion of Round 25.
|
Top 5 point scorers
Top 5 try scorers
|
Top 5 goal scorers
Top 5 tacklers
|
2021 Transfers
Players
Source:[16]
Loan moves
| Player | Home club | → Loan club | Dates | Pld | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jamayne Taunoa-Brown | New Zealand Warriors | St George Illawarra Dragons | 12 July – 25 July (Rounds 18 – 19) |
2 | [18] |
| Corey Horsburgh | Canberra Raiders | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | 10 August – 23 August (Rounds 22 – 23) |
1 | [19] |
| Ryan James | Canberra Raiders | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | 10 August – 23 August (Rounds 22 – 23) |
1 | [19] |
| Freddy Lussick | Sydney Roosters | St George Illawarra Dragons | 24 August – 6 September (Rounds 24 – 25) |
2 | [20] |
Coaches
| Coach | 2020 Club | 2021 Club |
|---|---|---|
| Kevin Walters | Queensland | Brisbane Broncos |
| Trent Barrett | N/A | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs |
| Nathan Brown | N/A | New Zealand Warriors |
| Anthony Griffin | N/A | St. George Illawarra Dragons |
Notes
References
- ^ "Kevin Walters Appointed Brisbane Broncos Coach". Broncos.com.au. 30 September 2020.
- ^ "Barrett the Bulldog: Trent signs on to coach until end of 2023". NRL.com. 22 July 2020.
- ^ "Sharks Statement". Sharks.com.au. 13 April 2021.
- ^ "Proctor & Fogarty to lead Titans in 2021". Titans.com.au. 26 February 2021.
- ^ "Welcome to 4 Pines Park - Home of the Sea Eagles". SeaEagles.com.au. 11 June 2021.
- ^ "Bromwich, Finucane to captain Storm". MelbourneStorm.com.au. 19 February 2021.
- ^ "Saifiti & Brailey earn Rd1 co-captaincy roles". NewcastleKnights.com.au. 2 March 2021.
- ^ "Brown: You need to have sustained success". Warriors.kiwi. 8 August 2020.
- ^ "Cowboys name Payten Head Coach". Cowboys.com.au. 4 September 2020.
- ^ "Taumalolo named Cowboys co-captain". Cowboys.com.au. 16 December 2020.
- ^ "Panthers home becomes BlueBet Stadium". PenrithPanthers.com.au. 22 March 2021.
- ^ "Yeo and Cleary named Panthers captains". PenrithPanthers.com.au. 9 February 2021.
- ^ "Dragons appoint Anthony Griffin as head coach". Dragons.com.au. 7 September 2020.
- ^ "Dragons confirm Hunt captaincy". Dragons.com.au. 19 February 2021.
- ^ "James Tamou named as Wests Tigers captain". WestsTigers.com.au. 12 February 2021.
- ^ "2021 Signings Tracker: Official rosters and contracts for all 16 clubs". NRL.com.
- ^ "Jennings suspended until end of 2023 season". NRL.com. 15 October 2021.
- ^ Becht, Richard (12 July 2021). "Taunoa-Brown joins Dragons on short-term loan". New Zealand Warriors. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
- ^ a b Millard, Benjamin (10 August 2021). "Desperate Bulldogs sign two players on loan deals". Zero Tackle. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
- ^ "Rooster to join Red V on loan deal". St George Illawarra Dragons. 24 August 2021. Retrieved 29 September 2021.