Australian rugby league season
Rugby league season
The 2023 NRL season was the 116th season of professional rugby league in Australia and the 26th season run by the National Rugby League . The season consisted of 27 competition rounds, the longest in league history, followed by a finals series contested by the top eight teams on the competition table. The Penrith Panthers were the 2023 minor and major premiers.
Teams
For the 2023 season, the number of teams in the NRL increased from sixteen to seventeen with the inclusion of a fourth Queensland-based club, the Dolphins , based at Redcliffe .[ 1] It is the first time the number of Premiership teams has changed since 2007 when the Gold Coast Titans joined the competition.
Collective bargaining agreement issues
The start of the season was overshadowed by ongoing issues between the NRL and the Rugby League Players Association (RLPA). By February 2023, the RLPA and the NRL were at a stalemate following the expiration of the previous collective bargaining agreement in November 2022.[ 14]
The NRL had announced an increased salary cap on 23 December 2022,[ 15] surprising the RLPA who had yet to agree to terms with the NRL.[ 16]
By February 2023, the possibility of a player's strike or other industrial action had yet to be ruled out by the RLPA.[ 14]
In response to the stalled negotiations over the new agreement, in early July the RLPA took industrial action with players boycotting almost all broadcast and media engagements.[ 17] [ 18] [ 19] [ 20] The RLPA later publishing a list of frequently asked questions in response to media reporting.[ 21]
In Round 22, the players took further action by covering the NRL logo on their jerseys.[ 22]
Pre-season
Pre-season in 2023 saw the introduction of the NRL Pre-season Challenge in attempt to ensure each team had played an even number of matches before the start of the season. The annual All Stars match was still played, however the Pre-season Challenge saw a vast reduction in the number of trial played. As the 2023 World Club Challenge was hosted in Australia, the competition was incorporated into the final week of the Pre-season Challenge, which also resulted in St Helens participating in the NRL Pre-season Challenge in both weeks.
Matches were played between 4 February and 19 February 2023, before a 11-day lead up until the beginning of the regular season.[ 23]
All Stars match
Rotorua hosted the All Stars match , which was the first time the match was played in New Zealand.[ 24]
Trials
Italics indicates a non-NRL club
Pre-season Challenge
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 +1
NQL +12
SGI +22
DOL +6
WTI +34
CAN −6
GCT +17
PAR +10
SOU −26
MAN +26
MEL −8
PEN −11
NZL +4
CRO +8
NEW +4
X
GCT −6
DOL +8
X
CBY +20
SOU +16
SYD +22
NQL +16
PAR +44
X
CAN +11
MEL −10
MEL +26
X
NZL +30
PEN –2
Canberra Raiders
NQL −1
DOL −6
CRO +4
NEW −10
PEN −41
BRI +6
SGI +6
X
DOL +1*
CBY +4
PAR +8
MAN −28
SOU +7
WTI +1
NZL −22
X
SYD +2
GCT +4
SGI +10
X
NZL −1*
NEW −22
WTI +4
MEL −46
CBY +12
BRI −11
CRO −18
NEW −2
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
MAN −25
MEL +14
WTI +4
NZL −2
NQL +1*
SOU −34
PAR −26
CRO −13
SGI +2
CAN −4
NZL −12
GCT +2
X
SYD −1
PAR −22
CRO −38
X
NEW −66
SOU +4
BRI −20
PEN −26
DOL +1
X
NEW −36
CAN −12
MAN −18
GCT −4
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
SOU −9
PAR +4
CAN −4
SGI +32
NZL −2
X
SYD +10
CBY +13
NQL +38
DOL −20
MAN +6
NEW +20
X
BRI −8
MEL −44
CBY +38
X
SGI +36
WTI +24
NZL −32
MAN −4
PEN −28
SOU +10
GCT +30
NQL +20
NEW −26
CAN +18
SYD −1
Dolphins
SYD +10
CAN +6
NEW +16
BRI −6
SGI −26
NQL +10
SOU −22
GCT +2
CAN −1*
CRO +20
X
MEL −8
SGI +14
NZL −22
MAN −40
X
PAR −28
BRI −8
GCT +2*
PEN −10
X
CBY −1
NEW −2
SYD −16
WTI −1
NQL −24
NZL +24
Gold Coast Titans
WTI +12
SGI −14
MEL +4
NQL −12
X
SGI +2
BRI −17
DOL −2
MAN +16
PAR +2
NEW −20
CBY −2
X
SOU −18
WTI +16
X
BRI +6
CAN −4
DOL −2*
PAR −1
SYD −18
NQL +9
NZL −10
CRO −30
PEN −26
MEL −21
CBY +4
Manly Warringah Sea Eagles
CBY +25
X
PAR +4
SOU −1*
NEW 0*
PEN −32
MEL +10
WTI +6
GCT −16
BRI −26
CRO −6
CAN +28
NEW −10
X
DOL +40
PAR −30
MEL −18
SYD +2
X
NQL −11
CRO +4
SGI +6
SYD −10
PEN −12
NZL −7
CBY +18
WTI +42
Melbourne Storm
PAR +4*
CBY −14
GCT −4
WTI +12
SOU +8
SYD +20
MAN −10
NZL +8
X
SOU −16
BRI +8
DOL +8
X
NQL −25
CRO +44
WTI +22
MAN +18
PEN −18
X
SYD +14
NEW −8
PAR +30
PEN −20
CAN +46
SGI +10
GCT +21
BRI +10
BRI −26
SYD +5
PEN −34
Newcastle Knights
NZL −8
WTI +2
DOL −16
CAN +10
MAN 0*
NZL +10
PEN −1*
NQL −2
PAR −31
X
GCT +20
CRO −20
MAN +10
X
BRI −4
SYD −2
PEN −8
CBY +66
X
WTI +16
MEL +8
CAN +22
DOL +2
CBY +36
SOU +19
CRO +26
SGI +20
CAN +2
NZL −30
New Zealand Warriors
NEW +8
SYD −8
NQL +14
CBY +2
CRO +2
NEW −10
NQL +8
MEL −8
SYD −14
PEN −12
CBY +12
X
BRI −4
DOL +22
CAN +22
X
SGI +30
SOU −22
PAR +36
CRO +32
CAN +1*
X
GCT +10
WTI +8
MAN +7
SGI +12
DOL −24
PEN −26
NEW +30
BRI −30
North Queensland Cowboys
CAN +1
BRI −12
NZL −14
GCT +12
CBY −1*
DOL −10
NZL −8
NEW +2
CRO −38
SYD +14
SGI +20
WTI −48
PAR −8
MEL +25
X
PEN +4*
SOU +25
WTI +74
X
MAN +11
PAR +8
GCT −9
BRI −16
X
CRO −20
DOL +24
PEN −32
Parramatta Eels
MEL −4*
CRO −4
MAN −4
PEN +1*
SYD −8
WTI +6
CBY +26
BRI −10
NEW +31
GCT −2
CAN −8
SOU +20
NQL +8
X
CBY +22
MAN +30
DOL +28
X
NZL −36
GCT +1
NQL −8
MEL −30
SGI +6
BRI −44
SYD −22
PEN +14
X
Penrith Panthers
BRI −1
SOU +6
X
PAR −1*
CAN +41
MAN +32
NEW +1*
SOU −2
WTI −4
NZL +12
SYD +44
BRI +11
X
SGI +8
SYD +24
NQL −4*
NEW +8
MEL +18
X
DOL +10
CBY +26
CRO +28
MEL +20
MAN +12
GCT +26
PAR −14
NQL +32
NZL +26
X
MEL +34
BRI +2
South Sydney Rabbitohs
CRO +9
PEN −6
SYD −2
MAN +1*
MEL −8
CBY +34
DOL +22
PEN +2
BRI +26
MEL +16
WTI +20
PAR −20
CAN −7
GCT +18
SGI −6
X
NQL −25
NZL +22
CBY −4
X
BRI −16
WTI +14
CRO −10
SGI +12
NEW −19
X
SYD −14
St. George Illawarra Dragons
X
GCT +14
BRI −22
CRO −32
DOL +26
GCT −2
CAN −6
SYD −1
CBY −2
WTI −2
NQL −20
SYD +2
DOL −14
PEN −8
SOU +6
X
NZL −30
CRO −36
CAN −10
X
WTI +4
MAN −6
PAR −6
SOU −12
MEL −10
NZL −12
NEW −20
Sydney Roosters
DOL −10
NZL +8
SOU +2
X
PAR +8
MEL −20
CRO −10
SGI +1
NZL +14
NQL −14
PEN −44
SGI −2
X
CBY +1
PEN −24
NEW +2
CAN −2
MAN −2
X
MEL −14
GCT +18
BRI −22
MAN +10
DOL +16
PAR +22
WTI +24
SOU +14
CRO +1
MEL −5
Wests Tigers
GCT −12
NEW −2
CBY −4
MEL −12
BRI −34
PAR −6
X
MAN −6
PEN +4
SGI +2
SOU −20
NQL +48
X
CAN −1
GCT −16
MEL −22
X
NQL −74
CRO −24
NEW −16
SGI −4
SOU −14
CAN −4
NZL −8
DOL +1
SYD −24
MAN −42
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
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
Penrith Panthers
0
2
4
4
6
8
10
10
10
12
14
16
18
20
22
22
24
26
28
30
32
34
36
38
40
40
42
2
Brisbane Broncos
2
4
6
8
10
10
12
14
14
16
16
16
18
20
22
24
24
26
28
30
32
34
36
38
40
42
42
3
Melbourne Storm
2
2
2
4
6
8
8
10
12
12
14
16
18
18
20
22
24
24
26
28
28
30
30
32
34
36
38
4
New Zealand Warriors
2
2
4
6
8
8
10
10
10
10
12
14
14
16
18
20
22
22
24
26
28
30
32
34
36
38
38
5
Newcastle Knights
0
2
2
4
5
7
7
7
7
9
11
11
13
15
15
15
15
17
19
21
23
25
27
29
31
33
35
6
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
0
2
2
4
4
6
8
10
12
12
14
16
18
18
18
20
22
24
26
26
26
26
28
30
32
32
34
7
Sydney Roosters
0
2
4
6
8
8
8
10
12
12
12
12
14
16
16
18
18
18
20
20
22
22
24
26
28
30
32
8
Canberra Raiders
0
0
2
2
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
14
16
18
18
20
22
24
26
28
28
28
30
30
32
32
32
9
South Sydney Rabbitohs
2
2
2
4
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
16
16
18
18
20
20
22
22
24
24
26
26
28
28
30
30
10
Parramatta Eels
0
0
0
2
2
4
6
6
8
8
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
22
22
24
24
24
26
26
26
28
30
11
North Queensland Cowboys
2
2
2
4
4
4
4
6
6
8
10
10
10
12
14
16
18
20
22
24
26
26
26
28
28
30
30
12
Manly Warringah Sea Eagles
2
4
6
6
7
7
9
11
11
11
11
13
13
15
17
17
17
19
21
21
23
25
25
25
25
27
29
13
Dolphins
2
4
6
6
6
8
8
10
10
12
14
14
16
16
16
18
18
18
20
20
22
22
22
22
22
22
24
14
Gold Coast Titans
2
2
4
4
6
8
8
8
10
12
12
12
14
14
16
18
20
20
20
20
20
22
22
22
22
22
24
15
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
0
2
4
4
6
6
6
6
8
8
8
10
12
12
12
12
14
14
16
16
16
18
20
20
20
20
20
16
St. George Illawarra Dragons
2
4
4
4
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
8
8
8
10
12
12
12
12
14
16
16
16
16
16
16
16
17
Wests Tigers
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
2
4
6
6
8
10
10
10
10
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
14
14
14
Finals series
Home
Score
Away
Match Information
Date and time (Local)
Venue
Referee
Crowd
Qualifying and Elimination Finals
Brisbane Broncos
26–0
Melbourne Storm
8 September, 7:50 pm
Suncorp Stadium
Grant Atkins
50,157
Penrith Panthers
32–6
New Zealand Warriors
9 September, 4:05 pm
BlueBet Stadium
Adam Gee
21,525
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
12–13
Sydney Roosters
9 September, 7:50 pm
PointsBet Stadium
Gerard Sutton
12,557
Newcastle Knights †
30–28
Canberra Raiders
10 September, 4:05 pm
McDonald Jones Stadium
Ashley Klein
29,548
Semi Finals
Melbourne Storm
18–13
Sydney Roosters
15 September, 7:50 pm
AAMI Park
Ashley Klein
19,534
New Zealand Warriors
40–10
Newcastle Knights
16 September, 6:05 pm
Go Media Stadium
Adam Gee
26,083
Preliminary Finals
Penrith Panthers
38–4
Melbourne Storm
22 September, 7:50 pm
Accor Stadium
Adam Gee
35,578
Brisbane Broncos
42–12
New Zealand Warriors
23 September, 7:50 pm
Suncorp Stadium
Gerard Sutton
52,273
† Match decided in extra time.
Chart
Grand final
Player statistics and records
In Round 22, Cameron McInnes broke the record for the most tackles in a game in the NRL era (1998–present) with 81.
In the Grand Final, Ezra Mam tied the record for most tries by a five-eighth in a season, with 18.
The following statistics are as of the conclusion of Round 27.
Top 5 point scorers
Top 5 try scorers
Top 5 goal kickers
Top 5 tacklers
Attendances
Team
Games
Total
Average
Highest
Brisbane Broncos
12
405,500
33,792
43,271
Canberra Raiders
12
178,755
14,314
21,082
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
11*
178,675
16,243
35,211
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
11*
121,051
11,005
12,757
Dolphins
12
310,520
25,877
51,047
Gold Coast Titans
11*
187,600
17,055
26,563
Manly Warringah Sea Eagles
11*
145,530
13,230
17,385
Melbourne Storm
11*
201,082
18,280
26,829
New Zealand Warriors
11*
234,075
21,280
25,095
Newcastle Knights
12
255,748
21,312
29,423
North Queensland Cowboys
12
230,098
19,175
22,811
Parramatta Eels
12
219,773
18,314
27,655
Penrith Panthers
12
226,081
18,840
21,525
South Sydney Rabbitohs
12
236,807
19,734
45,814
St. George Illawarra Dragons
11*
142,403
12,945
17,357
Sydney Roosters
11*
229,699
20,882
40,191
Wests Tigers
12
152,521
13,866
28,611
* = Magic Round home game not counted
Top regular season crowds
Rank
Home team
Away team
Crowd
Venue
City
Round
1
Dolphins
Brisbane Broncos
51,047
Suncorp Stadium
Brisbane
4
2
Dolphins
Newcastle Knights
45,814
Optus Stadium
Perth
23
South Sydney Rabbitohs
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
3
Brisbane Broncos
Melbourne Storm
43,271
Suncorp Stadium
Brisbane
27
4
Brisbane Broncos
North Queensland Cowboys
43,162
Suncorp Stadium
Brisbane
2
5
Brisbane Broncos
Gold Coast Titans
42,249
Suncorp Stadium
Brisbane
17
6
Sydney Roosters
St. George Illawarra Dragons
40,191
Allianz Stadium
Sydney
8
7
Brisbane Broncos
South Sydney Rabbitohs
40,102
Suncorp Stadium
Brisbane
9
8
Sydney Roosters
South Sydney Rabbitohs
36,669
Allianz Stadium
Sydney
3
9
South Sydney Rabbitohs
Sydney Roosters
36,263
Accor Stadium
Sydney
27
10
Brisbane Broncos
Newcastle Knights
35,814
Suncorp Stadium
Brisbane
15
11
Dolphins
New Zealand Warriors
35,438
Suncorp Stadium
Brisbane
27
12
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
South Sydney Rabbitohs
35,211
Accor Stadium
Sydney
6
13
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
Parramatta Eels
33,866
Accor Stadium
Sydney
15
14
Dolphins
North Queensland Cowboys
33,449
Suncorp Stadium
Brisbane
26
15
Brisbane Broncos
Penrith Panthers
33,343
Suncorp Stadium
Brisbane
12
16
Dolphins
Sydney Roosters
32,177
Suncorp Stadium
Brisbane
1
17
Brisbane Broncos
Canberra Raiders
31,962
Suncorp Stadium
Brisbane
6
18
Brisbane Broncos
Dolphins
30,606
The Gabba
Brisbane
18
19
Wests Tigers
Parramatta Eels
28,611
Accor Stadium
Sydney
6
20
Dolphins
Melbourne Storm
28,325
Suncorp Stadium
Brisbane
12
21
Parramatta Eels
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
27,655
CommBank Stadium
Sydney
7
22
Brisbane Broncos
Wests Tigers
27,533
Suncorp Stadium
Brisbane
5
23
South Sydney Rabbitohs
Parramatta Eels
27,432
Allianz Stadium
Sydney
12
24
Melbourne Storm
Penrith Panthers
26,829
Marvel Stadium
Melbourne
18
25
Brisbane Broncos
St. George Illawarra Dragons
26,612
Suncorp Stadium
Brisbane
3
Magic Round (Round 10)
Home team
Away team
Date
Time
Venue
Match Figure[ 25]
Day Total[ 25]
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
Canberra Raiders
Friday, 5 May
6:00 pm
Suncorp Stadium
41,462
50,077
Manly Warringah Sea Eagles
Brisbane Broncos
8:05 pm
50,077
New Zealand Warriors
Penrith Panthers
Saturday, 6 May
3:00 pm
38,035
50,183
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
Dolphins
5:30 pm
48,068
Melbourne Storm
South Sydney Rabbitohs
7:45 pm
50,183
St. George Illawarra Dragons
Wests Tigers
Sunday, 7 May
1:50 pm
34,568
46,845
Sydney Roosters
North Queensland Cowboys
4:00 pm
45,085
Gold Coast Titans
Parramatta Eels
6:25 pm
46,845
Bye: Newcastle Knights
Finals
Match Officials
2023 Transfers
Source: [ 26]
Players
Mid-season transfers
Notes
References
The Club Home ground Culture Important figures League Premierships (6) Seasons (58) Other competitions Affiliations
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