2026 NRL season
| 2026 National Rugby League | |
|---|---|
| Duration | 28 February[a] β 4 October 2026 |
| Teams | 17 |
| Matches played | 22 |
| Points scored | 1,042 |
| Average attendance | 23,306 |
| Total attendance | 466,128 |
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
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
Venues for the 2026 National Rugby League competition.
Stadium locations
Venues used for the 2026 National Rugby League season.
621miles
Pre-season
Trials
Italics indicates a non-NRL club
| Date | Time | Home | Score | Away | Stadium | Report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 February 2025 | 18:00 AEST (UTC+10:00) | Central Queensland Capras | 16β26 | Dolphins | Marley Brown Oval, Gladstone | |
| 14 February 2025 | 19:10 AEST (UTC+10:00) | Sunshine Coast Falcons | 14β26 | Brisbane Broncos | Sunshine Coast Stadium, Sunshine Coast | |
| 22 February 2025 | 14:00 AEST (UTC+10:00) | Souths Logan Magpies | 22β58 | Brisbane Broncos | Davies Park, Brisbane |
All Stars match
Pre-season Challenge
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.[6]
Regular season
Results
| 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 β26 |
PAR β8 |
MEL +4 |
DOL |
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 β34 |
CBY β4 |
CRO |
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 |
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 β20 |
DOL β28 |
CAN |
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 β10 |
GCT +4 |
CRO +28 |
BRI |
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 β40 |
DOL β4 |
NQL |
SGI |
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 β1* |
NEW β20 |
X | SYD |
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 β4 |
NQL |
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 β26 |
CBY |
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 |
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 β10 |
WTI β28 |
GCT |
MEL |
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 β48 |
BRI +8 |
SGI |
PEN |
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 |
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 β8 |
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 β1* |
MEL β26 |
PAR |
GCT |
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 β24 |
SOU +8 |
PEN β36 |
MAN |
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 β4 |
NZL |
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 β Home game
X β Bye
* β Golden point game
Opponent for round listed above margin
Ladder
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | B | PF | PA | PD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Zealand Warriors | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 120 | 36 | +84 | 6 | Advance to finals series |
| 2 | Penrith Panthers | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 92 | 10 | +82 | 6 | |
| 3 | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 29 | 24 | +5 | 6 | |
| 4 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 98 | 88 | +10 | 6 | |
| 5 | Melbourne Storm | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 112 | 42 | +70 | 4 | |
| 6 | Dolphins | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 86 | 64 | +22 | 4 | |
| 7 | Wests Tigers | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 76 | 56 | +20 | 4 | |
| 8 | Newcastle Knights | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 76 | 72 | +4 | 4 | |
| 9 | Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 66 | 74 | β8 | 2 | |
| 10 | Manly Warringah Sea Eagles | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 44 | 65 | β21 | 2 | |
| 11 | Brisbane Broncos | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 50 | 80 | β30 | 2 | |
| 12 | Canberra Raiders | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 45 | 82 | β37 | 2 | |
| 13 | Parramatta Eels | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 44 | 84 | β40 | 2 | |
| 14 | Sydney Roosters | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 48 | 100 | β52 | 2 | |
| 15 | St. George Illawarra Dragons | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 34 | 61 | β27 | 0 | |
| 16 | North Queensland Cowboys | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 34 | 72 | β38 | 0 | |
| 17 | Gold Coast Titans | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 24 | 68 | β44 | 0 |
Ladder progression
- 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 | New Zealand Warriors | 2 | 4 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Penrith Panthers | 2 | 4 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | 2 | 4 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Melbourne Storm | 2 | 4 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 5 | Wests Tigers | 2 | 4 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 6 | Dolphins | 0 | 2 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 7 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | 2 | 2 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 8 | Newcastle Knights | 2 | 4 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 9 | Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | 2 | 2 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 10 | Manly Warringah Sea Eagles | 0 | 0 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 11 | Brisbane Broncos | 0 | 0 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 12 | Canberra Raiders | 2 | 2 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 13 | Parramatta Eels | 0 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 14 | Sydney Roosters | 0 | 2 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 15 | St. George Illawarra Dragons | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 16 | North Queensland Cowboys | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 17 | Gold Coast Titans | 0 | 0 |
Player statistics and records
- In Round 2, Alex Johnston surpassed Ken Irvine as the greatest tryscorer in the NRL and its predecessor competitions.
Attendances
Club figures
| Team | Games | Total | 2026 Average | 2025 Average | Difference | Highest | Lowest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brisbane Broncos | 2 | 84,581 | 42,291 | 41,185 | +1,106 | 45,566 | 39,015 |
| Canberra Raiders | 1 | 13,723 | 13,723 | 19,136 | -5,413 | 13,723 | 13,723 |
| Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | 1 | 45,719 | 45,719 | 30,688 | +15,031 | 45,719 | 45,719 |
| Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | 1 | 11,548 | 11,548 | 12,856 | -1,308 | 11,548 | 11,548 |
| Dolphins | 2 | 36,187 | 18,094 | 21,820 | -3,726 | 20,114 | 16,073 |
| Gold Coast Titans | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16,410 | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| Manly Warringah Sea Eagles | 2 | 34,360 | 17,180 | 16,393 | +787 | 17,253 | 17,107 |
| 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 | 2 | 47,179 | 23,590 | 23,188 | +402 | 24,112 | 23,067 |
| North Queensland Cowboys | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18,649 | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| Parramatta Eels | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15,904 | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| Penrith Panthers | 1 | 12,000 | 12,000 | 16,695 | -4,695 | 12,000 | 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
Match officials
| Referee | Games |
|---|---|
| Adam Gee | 3 |
| Grant Atkins | 3 |
| Todd Smith | 3 |
| Liam Kennedy | 3 |
| Wyatt Raymond | 3 |
| Peter Gough | 2 |
| Ashley Klein | 2 |
| Gerard Sutton | 2 |
| Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski | 1 |
2026 transfers
Source:[7]
Coaches
| Coach | 2025 Club | 2026 Club |
|---|---|---|
| Des Hasler | Gold Coast Titans | N/A[3] |
| Adam O'Brien | Newcastle Knights | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs (assistant)[8] |
| Josh Hannay | Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks (assistant) | Gold Coast Titans[3] |
| Justin Holbrook | Sydney Roosters (assistant) | Newcastle Knights[5] |
References
- ^ 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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Eelsβ―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
- ^ 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.