
Throughout the history of the NRL, there have been some incredible clubs and players alike. For decades, Australian Rugby League has been home to some of the most dominant and resilient teams within the sport. From founding clubs such as the South Sydney Rabbitohs, to the latest league additions like the Dolphins, the NRL has become arguably the best competition in the Rugby League world. In this article, we will take you through the decades and discover more about the history of the competition, some of the most successful teams and how everything has evolved throughout the last century.
The Beginning of Rugby League in Australia
To discuss the history of the NRL, we must first start with the history of rugby league and how it developed in Australia. Rugby League in Australia was not as we know it today, the NRL. Rugby League was founded in Huddersfield, England in 1895. This was due to many players being unhappy at not being able to play professionally, along with wanting to change some of the rules to make the game faster and more interesting. The new breakaway code of rugby was originally called the Northern Union. This new code of rugby quickly increased in popularity and it wasn’t long before it was then brought over to Australia.
At the time, Australia’s code of rugby was closely affiliated with England’s RFU, and both the Australian and New Zealand governing bodies followed the same rules. Working class rugby players based in Sydney were unhappy that they were not able to also play professionally, which then led to the forming of the New South Wales Rugby League (NSWRL) in 1907.
In 1908 New South Wales Rugby League began to create clubs and build a competition. Players in the nearby province of Queensland also caught wind of this and followed suit, forming the Queensland Rugby League (QRL).
1908 - The Original NSWRL Clubs:
1. Souths - South Sydney Rabbitohs
Souths are the only current NRL club that were also a founding member of the NSWRL. This historic club has seen plenty of success over the years, having won 21 premierships in their 116 year run. Their most successful period was between the 50s-70s, the most notable being 1955, where they won 11 back to back ‘sudden death’ matches to help them clinch the title. In more recent years, the Rabbitohs have been less successful, however they have a strong fanbase known as ‘The Burrow’ throughout Southern Sydney.
2. Wests - Western Suburb Magpies
One of the founding clubs of the NSWRL, Wests were based in the western suburbs of Sydney (in case the name didn’t give that away.) They were not the most successful team in Rugby League, winning just 4 Premierships in their 91 year history. The club existed from 1908 until 1999, when they merged with fellow inaugural club, Balmain Tigers. Together, both clubs would now be known as Wests Tigers.
3. Eastern Suburbs
Eastern Suburbs were originally a Rugby Union team, on 24th January 1908 the club held a meeting to discuss leaving the Union after hearing about the formation of the NSWRL. Known as the ‘Tricolours’ due to their red, white and blue kits, the Easts were handing a huge opportunity. The newly formed NSWRL were able to sign the iconic Dally Messenger, and they enabled Easts to have him play for them. Dally Messenger is such an important part of Australian Rugby League history, having been the first star of the sport and in 2018 he was inducted as a ‘Rugby League Immortal’. The NRL also present the Dally M Medal to the competition’s player of the season each year.
4. Balmain
Balmain Tigers are based in the suburb of Balmain, which is located in west Sydney. Whilst they no longer play at senior level, they were one of the most successful clubs in premiership history, winning the league eleven times. The only teams to have won more during that time were St George and South Sydney Rabbitohs. In 1999 they join the Western Suburbs Magpies to create the NRL club we know today as Wests Tigers.
5. Newtown
Newtown, also known as the Newton Jets, are based near to Balmain Tigers, previously competed in the premiership. Despite being one of the founding members of the NSWRFL in 1908, they left the premier devision in 1983. They were not one of the more successful founding teams, however they did manage to win the competition three times.
After leaving the top flight, they are still active today, competing in the NSW Cup.
6. Newcastle
Newcastle were an anomaly amongst of the original clubs to compete in the NSWRFL. Every founding club was Sydney based, however the founders were keen to secure an additional team in their new and exciting league. Newcastle at this point did not have a rugby league club, so one needed forming.
The issue facing Newcastle was coming from the local rugby union body, who were going to sanction any players that considered leaving to join the new code of Rugby League. All negotiations and potential players to be recruited for this potential club had to be carried out in secret. When everything was becoming finalised, the players all confirmed their dedication by signing on a cigarette packet. From this point Newcastle became the ninth team to participate in the new NSWRFL.
7. Norths
The North Sydney Bears are one of the founding clubs that are still active to this day. They enjoyed a run of top flight rugby league for 90 years. In their early days, the Norths were a strong team and did enjoy some premiership success, however they struggled to fill the trophy cabinet during more recent decades.
In 1999 the Norths decided they were no longer going to compete in the NRL, which lead them to a joint venture with Manly in 2000 to enter the Northern Eagles into the NRL for the next two years. Unfortunately the Northern Eagles only lasted until 2002, with both Norths and Manly going their separate ways.
The Bears re-entered into the New South Wales Cup, where they still participate today.
8. Glebe
Glebe are said to possibly be the first Sydney Rugby League club to have formed back in 1908. Also known as the “Dirty Reds” due to their maroon coloured kits, Glebe were short lived and only lasted in the premiership until 1929.
9. Cumberland
Cumberland were formed in western Sydney, in the Cumberland Plain area. Their official club name was “Central Cumberland”. They were late comers to the NSWRL, having joined after round one of the new tournament had already commenced. They had an even shorter fate than the Glebe Dirty Reds, having disbanded later that year.
Despite their short shelf-life, they still managed to break a record for Australian Rugby League, having the poorest ever record, lasting only eight games throughout their first ever (and final) season.
The 1980s: Australian Dominance
The 1980s witnessed pure rugby league dominance coming from the Southern Hemisphere. Australia became a powerhouse for the sport, here we list three teams that helped the country make their mark:
1. The Australian National Team: The Invincibles
Whilst not an NRL team, the Invincibles are such an important part of Rugby League in Australia. In 1982, the Kangaroos participated in a Tour across Britain and France. Coached by Franked Stanton and Captained by Max Krillich, they played Great Britain three times and they played France twice. the Kangaroos won every single match during their outing, including a 40 - 4 thrashing of Great Britain on the first Test of the series.
This Kangaroo side were the first Australian side that were undeafted whilst touring. They won twenty two matches and scored over 1000 points. The nickname “Invincibles” was rightly deserved.
2. Parramatta Eels
To say the mighty Parra got off to a slow start would be an understatement. Parramatta Eels took their time, thirty years to be exact, to even reach a grand final. They achieved this in the mid 70s, reaching the final twice but losing both times. However this was just a sign of things to come, Parra were on the rise and they soon were able to bask in their hard fought glory during the 80s.
Coached by Jack Gibson, Parra managed to win four out of five grand final appearances during 1981 to 1986. This included a win three years in a row in ‘81, ‘82’ and ‘83. One of these wins was against Newtown Jets before they left the league.
3. Canterbury Bulldogs
The Bulldogs, also known as “Berries” pre 1978, were rebranded to seem tougher due to their less than remarkable record in previous decades. Wether it was the re-brand affecting overall mentality, or just better coaching, the Bulldogs had a change in fortune. Their win rate was improving and it finally gave everyone some hope, even if some of the losses they faced were some of their worst.
Having forced their way back into the premiership, they earned a grand final win in 1980, starting the decade off on a high note. They had a young, fresh side, that posed a real threat to the other teams. They moved the ball quickly and it was clear they had fun whilst playing, this made them an incredible team to watch and were dubbed “The Entertainers”. From this, they won three more grand finals during the 80s.
The 1990s: New Kids on the Block
The 1990s saw a shift in dynamics for Australia’s top flight, with the NRL being formed as a breakaway league,, plus the addition of newly formed teams bursting onto the scene, this began to shape the league we know today.
1. Brisbane Broncos
Brisbane entered the decade in strong form, having beaten most teams during their 1990 campaign. They reached the qualifiers for the grand final however were knocked out by Canberra Raiders. Following this, the board wanted Brisbane to become a serious contender for the following season, and didn’t believe that former Invincible’s Vice Captain, Wally Lewis, was the man to coach the team to glory. They needed to be ruthless and push both players and coaching staff to their limits to ensure success.
The following season was a challenge, having one of their fixtures resulting in them being nilled by Manly for the first time, they then finished the year in seventh place.
Finally in 1992, the Broncos started to see some success. They only lost four matches and they managed to secure their first Grand Final, which they beat St George to lift their first Premiership trophy. Following this, they also defeated Wigan against the odds in the World Club Challenge. The Broncos then went on to win Grand Finals in 1993, 1997 and 1998.
2. Canberra Raiders
The Raiders started the decade strong, they reached three consecutive Grand Finals, 1989, 1990 and 1991. Known as quite a controversial team, who also had salary cap troubles, Canberra continued their strong form and secured another premiership win in 1994 against the Canterbury Bulldogs. The Bulldogs were undoubtedly one of the strongest teams in the league for the early 90s, however from 1996 their form began to decline and the club became distracted by the breakaway Super League competition, which is what we know as the NRL.
3. Melbourne Storm
In the grand scheme of things, Melbourne Storm are still a relatively new Rugby League club, having only been formed in 1998.
At the start of their campaign, Melbourne were severe underdogs, however they stunned rugby league fans everywhere, managing to win their first four matches and later qualifying for the finals.
In 1999, after a strong season, they finished in third position but managed to reach the Grand Final. Melbourne defeated a strong St George Illawarra 20-18 which won them their first title, just one year after conception.
The 2000s: New Rivalries
The 2000s marked the era of continued dominance from both the Broncos and Storm, however the Sydney Roosters were becoming a tough opponent to beat. Here we share an overview about each of the three teams:
1. Brisbane Broncos
The Broncos continued their fine form from the 90s straight into the new millennium. Their wonderkid, Darren Lockyer, continued to play a strong part in the Broncos success. In 2000 they won yet another title.
They continued to pose a significant threat to competing teams within the newly formed NRL throughout the 00s. Despite this, it took them until 2006 to win another Grand Final, taking them up to six premierships in total.
2. Sydney Roosters
Sydney Roosters emerged as the Broncos' key rival in the 2000s, they reached a staggering four grand finals within the space of just five seasons. In the early 00s they looked to be in extremely good form, winning the Grand Final in 2002 meant that they qualified for the World Club Challenge, their first ever appearance. In this match they faced St Helens, who managed to hammer them 38-0. Despite this setback, the Roosters picked themselves up and managed to storm the NRL for the following few seasons, which made them a serious issue for the Broncos.
3. Melbourne Storm
In 2003, Craig Bellamy, formerly Wayne Bennett's assistant coach at the Brisbane Broncos, assumed the role of Melbourne Storm's new coach. Joining him was Kiwi international Stephen Kearney, who became the team's captain. Bellamy's disciplined coaching brought new life to the team, steering them out of a period of struggle.
The remainder of the Noughties were a successful if not frustrating period for this new club. Melbourne were gaining a lot of traction, by reaching the top of the table multiple times. They also managed to qualify for four Grand Finals back to back, with two wins, one in 2007 and the other in 2009.
Key Players in NRL History
Behind every successful NRL team, there are exceptional players who have left an indelible mark on the sport. These players have showcased their skills, leadership, and versatility, becoming legends of the game and inspiring future generations of NRL players.
1. Clive Churchill
Churchill is an Australian Rugby League legend. A club hero for the Souths, he won five premierships playing for the Rabbitohs and after retirement he went on to coach them, earning them three more premiership wins.
He also represented both New South Wales and Queensland in the State of Origin tests. On top of this, at the time of his retirement he held the most caps playing for the Australian National Team.
He left a huge mark on the sport, with the NRL honouring him by having the man of the match medal named after him.
2. Wally Lewis
Wally Lewis, also known as ‘The King’, is an iconic character within the sport of Rugby League. His playing career spanned three decades and he coached during two. Lewis was also part of The Invincibles squad, acting as captain, leading them through many of their incredible victories.
In addition to this, Lewis was perhaps best known for his State of Origin performances for Queensland. He was a key element into their domination throughout thirty three matches and earning himself man of the match eight times.
Wally Lewis is without a doubt one of the legends of the game and arguably one of the best Rugby League players to have existed.
3. Andrew Johns
Johns, affectionately known as Joey, held the record for scoring the highest number of points during his career within the Australian league. Captaining Newcastle Knights, Johns saw them through to two huge Grand Final wins in 1997 and 2001.
At the time of his retirement, he was regarded as one of the best players within the last few decades. Contributing to this was his achievement of three Dally M Medal wins and two Golden Boots.
Summary
Now you are up to speed with a brief history of the NRL you can visit our dedicated NRL section, or you can visit our betting section to see who this season’s favourites are.