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The National Rugby League was formed in 1998 under a partnership arrangement between the Australian Rugby League and News Ltd to administer the National Competition.

A Partnership Executive Committee, consisting of three representatives from News Ltd and three of the ARL, administers the agreement between the ARL and News Ltd and decides major financial issues.

The Partnership Executive Committee in turn commissions the National Rugby League Board to administer the competition. The NRL Board also consists of six members, three appointed by News Ltd and three by the ARL. One of the delegates from the NRL Board and one from the Partnership is nominated as Chairman of those bodies each year.

Each Chairman serves a term of only 12 months and the NRL partners rotate the right to appoint the incoming chairman at the end of that term. For instance, in a year where the ARL appoints the Chairman of the Partnership Committee then News Ltd will have appointed the Chairman of the Board. These roles reverse each year.

Approximately 35 staff members are employed at our headquarters in Sydney in seven different departments; CEO’s office, Football operations, Strategy & Special projects, Salary Cap & Registration, as well as Media, Marketing, and Finance.

The NRL markets the Telstra Premiership and Toyota Cup on behalf of the clubs, and organises the competition draw, finals matches and Grand Final. In association with the ARL, NRL staff also promote the Country v City Origin, State of Origin, the Centenary Bundaberg Test and the 2008 Rugby League World Cup.

History of the Competition

1908:  NSWRL Competition begins with Glebe, Souths, Newtown, Easts, Norths, Balmain, Wests,
Newcastle.

Cumberland added in second round (8-team competition).

Cumberland exits at close of season.

1909:  Eight team Premiership.
               
          Newcastle exit at end of the season.

1910:  Annandale joins the Premiership (8-team competition).

1920:  Sydney University added (9-team competition).

          Annandale exit at end of season.

1921:  St George enters competition (9-team competition).

1929: Glebe exits at the end of the season.

1930:  Eight team competition.

1935:  Canterbury joins competition (9-team competition).

1937:  University exit at end of the season.

1938:  Eight team competition.

1947:  Manly Sea Eagles and Parramatta Eels join the competition (10-team competition).

1967: Cronulla Sharks and Penrith Panthers join the competition (12-team competition).

1982: Canberra Raiders and Illawarra Steelers join the competition (14-team competition).

1983: Newtown exit at the end of the season.

1984: 13-team competition.

1988: Brisbane Broncos, Newcastle Knights and Gold Coast Giants join the competition (16 teams).

1989: Gold Coast becomes the Gold Coast Seagulls.

1995: Auckland Warriors, North Queensland Cowboys, South Queensland Crushers and Western Reds added (20-team competition).

        August: Gold Coast withdraws.

        December: Jeff Muller rescues Gold Coast (20-team competition).

1996: March: ARL takes control as Gold Coast Chargers.

1997: Adelaide Rams, Hunter Mariners join 10-team Super League, ARL runs 12 teams.

         Reds, Mariners, Crushers exit at end of season.

1998: Melbourne Storm added  (20-team competition).

         Adelaide, Gold Coast, exit at end of the season.

         St George and Illawarra merge to become St George-Illawarra.

1999: St George-Illawarra join (16-team competition).

         Norths and Souths exit at end of season.

         Balmain and Wests merge forming the Wests Tigers.

        Manly then merges with Norths to form the Northern Eagles.

2000: Wests Tigers, Northern Eagles join (14-team competition).

        October: Auckland Warriors become New Zealand Warriors under Eric Watson.

2001: August: Manly takes control of the Northern Eagles Licence

2002: South Sydney are readmitted (15-team competition).

        May 25: Northern Eagles play last match in Gosford

        September, Northern Eagles exit competition

2003: Manly Sea Eagles re-enter Premiership in their own right (15-team competition).

2005: Decision taken to readmit Gold Coast.

2007: Gold Coast Titans enter the Telstra Premiership (16-team competition).

2008: The NRL celebrates the game’s Centenary season.