History of the National Rugby League
The history of the National Rugby League (NRL), the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia, goes back to December 1997, when it was formed in the aftermath of the Super League war of the mid-1990s.[1] The NRL has, in its relatively brief history, enjoyed growth and record attendance figures.
Prior Australian first grade competitions include
History and origin
The
Further expansion of the league followed in
Although a top-flight league, legally parallel to the NSWRL Premiership until the beginning of the truly national ARL Premiership in 1995, the Brisbane Rugby League's history is not officially recorded by the NRL, and it is considered to have been an equal but unrelated first grade competition from 1922-1994.
This was attempted in
The prospect of a truly national rugby league competition in addition to the introduction of pay television in Australia attracted the attention of global media organisation,
It was announced that the inaugural National Rugby League (NRL) season of
Structure of the NRL between 1998–2012
A Partnership Executive Committee administered the agreement between the
The National Rugby League markets the premiership on behalf of the clubs as well as organising the draw and finals matches. When the draw is finalised, teams are responsible for controlling and organising their assigned home games. Clubs each have their own organisational structure but are also bound to the National Rugby League by a common set of rules in club agreements.[8]
In late November/early December each year the NRL holds a conference for CEOs, coaches and players to discuss issues facing the League.
1998: The beginning of the National Rugby League
With twenty-two teams playing in two competitions in 1997 crowd attendances and corporate sponsorships were spread very thinly, and many teams found themselves in financial difficulty. On 23 September 1997 the
It was announced that the 1998 Season would have 20 teams competing, 19 Super League/ARL teams and the
1999–2002: Rationalisation
One condition of the peace agreement between the ARL and News Limited was that there would be a 14 team competition in 2000. The 20 clubs that played in 1998 would be assessed on various items such as sponsorship, crowds, on-field success and the like. It was also announced that clubs that merged would receive a large sum of money, as well as a guaranteed position in the 2000 NRL Competition. The St. George Dragons and the Illawarra Steelers were the first clubs to take up the offer, forming the joint-venture St. George Illawarra Dragons at the end of the 1998 season.
The Bulldogs continued in their present form without merging in 1999, however dropped the Canterbury from their club name to simply become known as the Bulldogs.
In August 1999 the NRL's CEO Neil Whittaker announced that he would resign at the end of the season.[10]
The
The 2000 National Rugby League season started with a new CEO in rugby union's David Moffett who replaced Neil Whittaker in late 1999.[11]
As part of another image makeover, a number of teams also released new club logos. The most notable of these was the Sydney Roosters, dropping the City section of their name for the 2000 season and beyond. Souths were controversially axed from the competition at the end of 1999 for failing to meet the criteria.
This move was highly controversial and on 11 November 2001 80,000 marched in protest at their continued exclusion. South Sydney challenged the decision in the Federal Court claiming that the NRL agreement was exclusionary, intended to unfairly exclude South Sydney, and breached the Trade Practices Act. Justice Paul Finn ruled that the agreement did not specifically exclude any club and dismissed the Rabbitohs claims for re-instatement into the national competition. Souths appealed this decision and were re-admitted into the competition in 2002.
The Auckland Warriors experienced much financial hardship in the early part of the decade, ultimately collapsing before being resurrected as the New Zealand Warriors for the 2001 season. They made the Grand Final the following year.
In 2001, Australia's largest telecommunications provider Telstra became naming rights sponsor of the NRL, with the competition's name becoming the NRL Telstra Premiership, while in 2002 David Gallop took over the CEO role from David Moffett, and the competition has become more and more popular each season.
Since 2001, the NRL Grand Final has been played on Sunday nights, a shift from the traditional Sunday afternoon slot used for over a decade prior.
2003–2005: Record popularity
The 2003 season was widely regarded as the most successful since the beginning of the National Rugby League in 1998. The Penrith Panthers rose from the bottom of the table to win the Premiership, while the Broncos returned to
Crowd average records were broken in 2003, 2004 and 2005.
At the beginning of 2005 the NRL became the first mainstream professional sport in Australia to appoint a female director to a governing body, with Katie Page, the managing director of retail giant Harvey Norman, accepting an invitation to join the NRL executive board. She replaced Sydney orthopedic surgeon Dr Merv Cross, who retired. Former Broncos and Australian captain Gorden Tallis also joined the board, replacing John Brass.[15]
Before the 2005 season the NRL introduced a pension incentive scheme to try to retain top players in the competition.[16]
In the middle of 2005 the NRL reached a broadcasting rights agreement with Foxsports and Channel 9 worth $500 million over six years, representing a 65% increase in direct television income.[17]
2005: Legal action
On 13 September 2005, the Seven Network began proceedings in the Federal Court in Sydney naming 22 parties (including the NRL) in a conspiracy to shut down the C7 pay television station.[18] C7 had unsuccessfully bid $72,000,000 per annum for the right to broadcast the NRL competition on pay television. After News Limited re-signed these rights, C7 was left without a major sport to broadcast and subsequently ceased operation in March 2002. It is alleged that News Limited used its position as half-owner of the NRL to secure the rights. Jonathan Sumption, QC representing the Seven Network, has said
- It is inconceivable that News would have been able to get away with this if it had not controlled one, half the NRL, two, the leading pay TV broadcaster and three, the largest cable network in Australia.[19]
The case is being heard by Justice Ron Sackville. The Seven Network is seeking up to $1.1 billion in damages. Sumption also stated that:
- Other alternative remedies (to stop Foxtel illegally acquiring sports) would be to make News and PBL divest Fox Sports or stop them buying AFL or NRL rights in a non-competitive environment[20]
2006: A unique year
The
Melbourne, after leading the competition for most of the season, comfortably claimed the minor premiership, with the Bulldogs, Brisbane, and Newcastle making up the top four. Manly, St George Illawarra, Canberra and Parramatta took places five to eight.
The 2006 NRL Grand Final won by the Brisbane Broncos over the Melbourne Storm, 15–8. The matchup was a significant milestone in the history of the NRL, as two interstate teams (teams not from New South Wales, the perceived "heartland" of the NRL) contested the grand final for the first time ever.
The game itself once again enjoyed immense support, with more record TV ratings, particularly capturing Melbourne on Grand Final night[citation needed]. Crowds were down on 2005, however were better than any other year prior to that.
2007: Expansion once more
The 2007 NRL Season kicked off on Friday 16 March 2007 with eight games each round. Monday night football returned during the 2007 season, the first match saw the Sydney Roosters go down to the South Sydney Rabbitohs 18–6 on 19 March 2007. The opening round also saw two matches at Brisbane's
Another change from the previous season included a reduction in the number of byes per team in the season. With an odd number of teams contesting between 2002 and 2006, the draw meant that at least one team would have to have a bye each weekend. With the inclusion of the 16th team for the 2007 season, the National Rugby League had the option of reverting to back to the system used between 2000 and 2001 where every team played each round. This system was not used however, but rather teams were given just a single bye during the year, grouped in periods that assisted clubs around the representative fixtures.
Following the 2011 season, the newly formed independent Australian Rugby League Commission took over control of the NRL.
A 2013 report conducted by Brand Finance valued the Penrith Panthers club at $46.2m, the highest of any Australian sporting brand, while the Brisbane Broncos had the highest brand equity.[21]
Teams that have joined the NRL since its inception
Club | Colours | Years Contested |
---|---|---|
Melbourne | 1998 – current | |
St George Illawarra
|
1999 – current | |
Wests Tigers | 2000 – current | |
Northern Eagles | 2000 – 2002 | |
Gold Coast Titans | 2007 – current | |
The Dolphins
|
2023 – current |
National Rugby League premiers
Note – Melbourne Storm were stripped of their 2007, 2009 premiership titles and their 2006, 2007, 2008 minor premiership titles due to their 2010 salary cap breaches. Although they have been stripped, the NRL declined to make the second placed team the premiers/minor premiers.
Famous NRL Rivalries
NRL Club Rivalries
Current
- Brisbane Broncos vs Gold Coast Titans – South Queensland Derby (2007–)[22]
- Brisbane Broncos vs North Queensland Cowboys – Queensland Derby (1995–)[23]
- Brisbane Broncos vs Dolphins – Brisbane Derby (2023–)[23]
- Derby (2012-)
- Queen's Birthday (2014-)[24]
- Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks vs St. George Illawarra Dragons – Sydney Derby (1967–)
- Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles– Battle of the Beaches (1967–)
- Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks vs Melbourne Storm – 2016 Grand Final Rivalry (2016–)
- Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles vs Wests Tigers– Modern Fibros-Silvertails Rivalry (2000–)
- Melbourne Storm vs New Zealand Warriors – ANZAC Day (Michael Moore Trophy) Rivalry (2009–)
- Parramatta Eels vs Penrith Panthers – Battle of the West (1967–)[27]
- ANZAC Rivalry(2002–)
- St. George/St. George Illawarra Dragons vs South Sydney Rabbitohs – Historic and Charity Shield Rivalry (1921–)
- South Sydney Rabbitohs vs Sydney Roosters – Foundation Rivalry (1908–)[28]
- South Sydney Rabbitohs vs Wests Tigers – Foundation Rivalry (1908–)[29]
Former
- Brisbane Broncos vs South Queensland Crushers – Brisbane Derby (1995–1996)[23]
- Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles vs North Sydney Bears– North Shore Rivalry (1947–1999)
- Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles vs Western Suburbs Magpies– Fibros-Silvertails Rivalry (1978–1999)
- Newtown Jets vs South Sydney Rabbitohs – 1910 (drawn), 1954 and 1955 Grand Final Rivalry (1910–1983)
- North Sydney Bears vs South Sydney Rabbitohs – Historic Rivalry (1908–1999)
- Balmain Tigers vs South Sydney Rabbitohs – 1909 Grand Final Rivalry (1909–1999)
Representative Rivalries
- Country– City vs Country Origin (1911–2017)
- Queensland Maroons– State of Origin (1908–)
- Australian Kangaroos vs New Zealand Kiwis – Anzac Test Matches (1908–)
- Australian Kangaroos vs England Lions – Ashes Test Matches (1908–)
- New Zealand Kiwis vs England Lions – Baskerville Test Matches (1907–)
See also
References
- ^ "Rugby League: Long-awaited merger agreed in Australia". The Independent. London. 20 December 1997. Retrieved 4 May 2010.
- ^ Canberra Raiders RL1908.com Retrieved on 15 January 2006.
- ^ Illawarra Steelers RL1908.com Retrieved on 14 January 2006.
- ^ Club History Newtown Jets – Established 1908 Retrieved on 14 January 2006. Archived by the Wayback Machine beta.
- ^ [1] RL1908.com Retrieved on 14 January 2006.
- ^ [2] Archived 8 October 2014 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Sydney Football Stadium Magic Moments". sydneycricketground.com.au. Sydney Cricket & Sports Ground Trust. Archived from the original on 16 August 2007. Retrieved 2 September 2009.
- ^ a b c NRL History National Rugby League. Retrieved 14 January 2006.
- ^ "Sydney Football Stadium Magic Moments". sydneycricketground.com.au. Sydney Cricket & Sports Ground Trust. Archived from the original on 16 August 2007. Retrieved 2 September 2009.
- ^ "NRL boss Neil Whittaker quits". CNN Sports Illustrated. Australia: Reuters. 13 August 1999. Archived from the original on 25 October 2012. Retrieved 24 December 2009.
- ^ Hadfield, Dave (30 November 1999). "Moffett insists conversion is no miracle". The Independent. London, UK: Independent News and Media Limited. Retrieved 24 December 2009.
- ^ Rugby League Tables / Attendances 1957–2006 / All Teams Archived 8 October 2014 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Courier Mail
- ^ Storm the sentimental favourite in Sydney – League – Sport. theage.com.au (24 September 2006). Retrieved 29 September 2010.
- Masters, Roy (20 January 2005). "Woman on board as NRL turns a new page". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Digital. Retrieved 6 October 2009.
- ^ Richards, Martin (17 February 2005). "NRL provides incentive with pension plan". The Times. London, UK: Times Newspapers Ltd. Retrieved 25 December 2009.
- ^ "NRL secures $500m rights deal". ABC News. Australia: Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 1 July 2005. Archived from the original on 9 March 2010. Retrieved 4 December 2009.
- ^ Seven's footy legal battle to kick off, The Sydney Morning Herald, 9 September 2005
- ^ News plotter used NRL spot to outbid C7, The Sydney Morning Herald, 14 September 2005
- ^ Seven wants $1.1b payback over C7 demise, The Age, 19 September 2005
- ^ Baker, Rosie (5 December 2013). "NRL versus AFL: Penrith Panthers 'most valuable Aussie sport brand'". adnews.com.au. Retrieved 5 December 2013.
- ^ Lutton, Phil (16 July 2010). "Broncos get more bang from another young buck in win over Titans". The Sydney Morning Herald.
- ^ a b c "Broncos outlast Cowboys in Queensland derby". 13 July 2007. Archived from the original on 17 February 2011.
- ^ a b c "Bulldogs and Parramatta rekindle their bitter rivalry". The Sydney Morning Herald.
- ^ "Manly, Storm resume rivalry". 8 April 2010. Archived from the original on 6 July 2011.
- ^ Film Camp. The Fibros and the Silvertails. Retrieved 29 September 2010.
- ^ "Warriors v Storm Preview". 14 July 2010.
- ^ "NRL: Rabbitohs: The rivalry between South Sydney Rabbitohs and the Sydney Roosters is legendary". 10 March 2010.
- ^ "Wests Tigers demolish Raiders". 26 July 2009.