There are 16 NRL teams:
- Brisbane Broncos
- Melbourne Storm
- Canberra Raiders
- Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
- Penrith Panthers
- St. George Illawarra Dragons
- Parramatta Eels
- New Zealand Warriors
- Gold Coast Titans
- Sydney Rooster
- Wests Tigers
- Cronulla Sharks
- North Queensland Cowboys
- Manly Sea Eagles
- Newcastle Knights
- South Sydney Rabbitohs
Brisbane Broncos
The club was founded in 1988. Their stadium ground is at Suncorp Stadium, which can hold a maximum capacity of 52’000 occupants. The Broncos have a large fan base and boasts the highest average crowd attendance, with 34’587 during the 2009 NRL season. Since the club’s inception into the competition, they have been highly successful and dominant. In their 22 year history, they have accumulated 6 premierships, which in the modern era is no mean feat. The current coach of the Broncos is Ivan Henjak and the captain of the team is Darren Lockyer, one of the greatest athletes to play the game. The jersey colours are maroon and yellow for their home jersey and navy blue and white for their away jersey.
Melbourne Storm
The club was founded in 1997, but they did not enter the NRL competition until the next year. Up until 2010, they played their home games at Olympic Park, which has a capacity of 18’500. Their new stadium, AAMI Park, finished construction in 2010 and opened on 7th May. It can hold a maximum capacity of 30’050 occupants, significantly more than the Olympic Park. The current coach of the Storm is Craig Bellamy. During 2010, the Melbourne storm was engulfed in controversy over salary cap breaches. The club has been stripped off its 2007 and 2009 premierships, along with their minor premiership during 2007-2009. The club was also ordered to pay $1.6 million which includes cheating and prize money. On top of that, the club can not accumulate any premiership points for the remainder of 2010, even if they win or draw matches. The Storm have just one recognised premiership now, following the controversy. The jersey colours of the club include purple, white and black.
Canberra Raiders
The Raiders are based in Canberra and are the only first grade NRL club in the city. The club was established in 1982 and games are played at Canberra Stadium, located in Bruce. Canberra has a great record at home, and many other teams do not enjoy playing the Raiders at home, especially due to the cold, windy conditions. Since the clubs formation, they have won 3 premierships. Canberra Stadium can hold a maximum crowd of 25’000. The current coach of the Raiders is David Furner and the captain is Alan tongue. The club’s jersey colours include lime green, blue and white for their home games.
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs is a Sydney-based rugby league club. It was founded in 1935, so it has been established much longer than several other clubs. The current coach of the Bulldogs is Kevin Moore and the captain is Brett Kimmorley. The Bulldogs play their home games at the ANZ Stadium. The stadium has 83’500 seats, however for NRL club games; the capacity is halved to about 40’000 seats. The Bulldogs have won a total of 8 premierships, their last win in 2004. The main jersey colours for the Bulldogs are blue and white.
Penrith Panthers
The Penrith Panthers were founded in 1967. The Panthers have won two premierships, their last one a 18-6 victory over the Sydney Roosters in 2003. The Panthers play their home games at CUA Stadium. The stadium can hold 21’000 occupants. The coach is Matt Elliot and the captain is Petero Civoniceva. The Panthers home jersey is black while their away jerseys are teal and white.
St. George Illawarra Dragons
The Dragons were founded in 1998 and entered the NRL competition in 1999. The Dragons play their home games at two stadiums, Jubilee Oval, which can hold 21’000 and WIN stadium, which can hold 20’000 occupants. The coach is Wayne Bennett, the most successful coach in NRL history. The captain is Ben Hornby and the team colours are red and white. The Dragons are still yet to win a premiership, although they are getting closer to one after claiming the minor premiership in 2009, and they will claim it in 2010.
Parramatta Eels
The Parramatta Eels were founded in 1947 and have only tasted success during the 1980s. During this decade they won their only 4 premierships to date. During 2001, the Eels finished the regular season as the minor premiers and were strong favourites to take out the premiership. Despite this, they lost in the grand final to the Newcastle Knights 30-26. The Eels play their home games at Parramatta Stadium, which can hold 21’487 occupants. The coach is Daniel Anderson and the captain is Nathan Cayless. The team colours are blue and yellow.
New Zealand Warriors
The New Zealand Warriors were founded in 1995. They are the only team in the NRL competition based outside of Australia, and they have to fly to each state to compete in away matches. They play their home games at MT Smart Stadium, which can hold 25’500 occupants. The coach is Ivan Cleary and the captain is Simon Mannering. The team colours consist of black and white. The Warriors are yet to win a premiership, although they were runners-up in 2002, after losing to the Sydney Roosters 8-30.
Gold Coast Titans
The club was founded in 2007, and is the newest club in the NRL competition. The inception of the club has taken away some of the dominance the Broncos had over the state of Queensland, and created more competition along with the Cowboys. The Titans are referred to as the Little Brother to the Broncos, the Big Brother. The Titans play their home games at Skilled Park, which can hold 27’400 occupants. The coach is John Cartwright and the captain is Scott Prince. The jerseys are aqua blue, yellow and white.
Sydney Roosters
The Sydney Roosters were founded in 1908, and is one of the longest running NRL clubs. They are also one of the most successful clubs, with the Rabbitohs the only ones with more premierships. This has resulted in a strong rivalry with the Rabbitohs, and both clubs have been around for a similar time. The Roosters’ home ground is at the Sydney Football Stadium, which can hold 45’500 occupants. Brian Smith took over the coaching role in 2010, after the sacking of Brad Fittler. The captain is Braith Anasta and the club’s colours are white, red and blue. They are commonly referred to as the Tri-Colours.
Wests Tigers
The Wests Tigers were founded in the year 2000. The Tigers have won one premiership, in 2005, a 30-16 victory over the Cowboys. The Tigers have 3 home grounds, Leicchardt Oval (23’000), Campbelltown Stadium (21’000) and the Sydney Football Stadium (45’500). The coach of the Tigers is Tim Sheens and the captain is Robbie Farah. The club colours are orange, black and white.
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
The Cronulla Sharks were founded in 1963. They are yet to win a premiership, and they seen as the least financially capable club. The home stadium is Toyota Park, which can hold 22’500 occupants. The coach was Ricky Stuart, but he resigned from the job so the current coach is Shane Flanagan. The club colours consist of sea blue, black and white.
North Queensland Cowboys
The Cowboys were founded in 1995, and they are also yet to win a premiership. Their most recent success came in 2005, when they made it to the grand final, but they lost to the Tigers. The Cowboys play their home games at Dairy Farmers Stadium, in Townsville, and it can hold 26’000 occupants. The coach is Neil Henry and the captain is the great man Johnathon Thurston. The club colours are yellow, grey, white and blue.
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
The club was founded in 1947. In 1999 they left the competition and were reinstated in 2002. The Sea Eagles have won 7 premierships; their latest win was a 40-0 thumping of the Storm in 2008. The Sea Eagles home ground is Brookvale Oval, which can hold 23’000 people. The coach is Des Hasler, and the captain is sometimes Jamie Lyon. The club’s colours are maroon and white.
Newcastle Knights
The Knights club was founded in 1988, the same year as the Brisbane Broncos. The Knights have won 2 premierships thus far. The coach is Rick Stone, and their home ground is at Energy Stadium. It can hold a maximum capacity of 26’126 occupants. The Knights jersey colours consist of red blue and white.
South Sydney Rabbitohs
The Rabbitohs were founded in 1908. They are the most successful club in NRL history, in terms of number of premierships won. However they do not have the same dominance that they once had, as they have not won a premiership since 1971. Their home ground is ANZ Stadium. The coach of the club is John Lang and the captain is Roy Asotasi. The club colours for the Rabbitohs consist of red and green.
