The current NRL premiership winners are the Sydney Roosters, who won the 2026 Grand Final against the Newcastle Knights 19-18. Since 1908, there have been more than 110 NRL grand final winners, with South Sydney holding the record at 21 titles.

Australasia's top men'sĀ rugby league competition, the National Rugby League (NRL), features the best teams from Australia and New Zealand competing against one another. The NRL has grown to be a major part of the local sports culture and is well-known for its intense competitions, quick tempo, and memorable events. Its unparalleled intensity, which features drama, skill, and passion in every match, attracts fans.

Beyond the on-field action, the NRL is a rich tradition that captures the essence of the sport and the communities it serves. Clubs represent the pride, identity, and values of their communities and create enduring relationships with generations of fans, making them more than just sports teams. In addition to honoring athleticism and teamwork, the competition draws attention to rugby league's cultural relevance, which influences grassroots involvement and shapes the sport's larger landscape.

2026 NRL Grand Final: Roosters 19 def. Knights 18

The Sydney Roosters claimed the 2026 premiership at Accor Stadium on Sunday, 4 October, edging the Newcastle Knights 19-18 in one of the tightest grand finals in recent memory. Newcastle led 12-0 before half-time, but a double to winger Mark Nawaqanitawase hauled the Roosters back into the contest, and a late Daly Cherry-Evans field goal proved to be the winning margin. Fullback James Tedesco won the Clive Churchill Medal after running for more than 300 metres.

For Newcastle, the loss capped a remarkable turnaround from wooden spooners in 2025 to grand finalists in 2026, though the club's wait for a first title since 2001 goes on.

Complete NRL Premiers Winners List (1908-2026)

Below is the comprehensive list of every premiership winner in the history of Australian rugby league, from the inaugural season in 1908 through to the current 2026 season. The table includes grand final scores where available.

Season Winner Score Runners-Up
2026 Sydney Roosters 19-18 Newcastle Knights
2025 Brisbane Broncos 26-22 Melbourne Storm
2024 Penrith Panthers 14-6 Melbourne Storm
2023 Penrith Panthers 26-24 Brisbane Broncos
2022 Penrith Panthers 28-12 Parramatta Eels
2021 Penrith Panthers 14-12 South Sydney Rabbitohs
2020 Melbourne Storm 26-20 Penrith Panthers
2019 Sydney Roosters 14-8 Canberra Raiders
2018 Sydney Roosters 21-6 Melbourne Storm
2017 Melbourne Storm 34-6 North Queensland Cowboys
2016 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 14-12 Melbourne Storm
2015 North Queensland Cowboys 17-16 Brisbane Broncos
2014 South Sydney Rabbitohs 30-6 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
2013 Sydney Roosters 26-18 Manly Warringah Sea Eagles
2012 Melbourne Storm 14-4 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
2011 Manly Warringah Sea Eagles 24-10 New Zealand Warriors
2010 St. George Illawarra Dragons 32-8 Sydney Roosters
2009 Melbourne Storm (stripped) 23-16 Parramatta Eels
2008 Manly Warringah Sea Eagles 40-0 Melbourne Storm
2007 Melbourne Storm (stripped) 34-8 Manly Warringah Sea Eagles
2006 Brisbane Broncos 15-8 Melbourne Storm
2005 Wests Tigers 30-16 North Queensland Cowboys
2004 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 16-13 Sydney Roosters
2003 Penrith Panthers 18-6 Sydney Roosters
2002 Sydney Roosters 30-8 New Zealand Warriors
2001 Newcastle Knights 30-24 Parramatta Eels
2000 Brisbane Broncos 14-6 Sydney Roosters
1999 Melbourne Storm 20-18 St. George Illawarra Dragons
1998 Brisbane Broncos 38-12 Canterbury Bulldogs
1997 ARL Newcastle Knights 22-16 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
1997 Super League Brisbane Broncos 26-8 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
1996 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 20-8 St. George Dragons
1995 Canterbury Bulldogs 17-4 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
1994 Canberra Raiders 36-12 Canterbury Bulldogs
1993 Brisbane Broncos 14-6 St. George Dragons
1992 Brisbane Broncos 28-8 St. George Dragons
1991 Penrith Panthers 19-12 Canberra Raiders
1990 Canberra Raiders 18-14 Penrith Panthers
1989 Canberra Raiders 19-14 (aet) Balmain Tigers
1988 Canterbury Bulldogs 24-12 Balmain Tigers
1987 Manly-Warringah 18-8 Canberra
1986 Parramatta 4-2 Canterbury-Bankstown
1985 Canterbury-Bankstown 7-6 St. George
1984 Canterbury-Bankstown 6-4 Parramatta
1983 Parramatta 18-6 Manly-Warringah
1982 Parramatta 21-8 Manly-Warringah
1981 Parramatta 20-11 Newtown
1980 Canterbury-Bankstown 18-4 Eastern Suburbs
1979 St. George 17-13 Canterbury-Bankstown
1978 Manly-Warringah 16-0 Cronulla-Sutherland
1977 St. George 22-0 Parramatta
1976 Manly-Warringah 13-10 Parramatta
1975 Eastern Suburbs 38-0 St. George
1974 Eastern Suburbs 19-4 Canterbury-Bankstown
1973 Manly-Warringah 10-7 Cronulla-Sutherland
1972 Manly-Warringah 19-14 Eastern Suburbs
1971 South Sydney 16-10 St. George
1970 South Sydney 23-12 Manly-Warringah
1969 Balmain 11-2 South Sydney
1968 South Sydney 13-9 Manly-Warringah
1967 South Sydney 12-10 Canterbury-Bankstown
1966 St. George 23-4 Balmain
1965 St. George 12-8 South Sydney
1964 St. George 11-6 Balmain
1963 St. George 8-3 Western Suburbs
1962 St. George 9-6 Western Suburbs
1961 St. George 22-0 Western Suburbs
1960 St. George 31-6 Eastern Suburbs
1959 St. George 20-0 Manly-Warringah
1958 St. George 20-9 Western Suburbs
1957 St. George 31-9 Manly-Warringah
1956 St. George 18-12 Balmain
1955 South Sydney 12-11 Newtown
1954 South Sydney 23-15 Newtown
1953 South Sydney 31-12 St. George
1952 Western Suburbs 22-12 South Sydney
1951 South Sydney 42-14 Manly-Warringah
1950 South Sydney 21-15 Western Suburbs
1949 St. George 19-12 South Sydney
1948 Western Suburbs 8-5 Balmain
1947 Balmain 13-9 Canterbury-Bankstown
1946 Balmain 13-12 St. George
1945 Eastern Suburbs 22-18 Balmain
1944 Balmain 12-8 Newtown
1943 Newtown 34-7 North Sydney
1942 Canterbury-Bankstown 11-9 St. George
1941 St. George 31-14 Eastern Suburbs
1940 Eastern Suburbs 24-14 Canterbury-Bankstown
1939 Balmain 33-4 South Sydney
1938 Canterbury-Bankstown 19-6 Eastern Suburbs
1937 Eastern Suburbs South Sydney
1936 Eastern Suburbs 32-12 Balmain
1935 Eastern Suburbs 19-3 South Sydney
1934 Western Suburbs 15-12 Eastern Suburbs
1933 Newtown 18-5 St. George
1932 South Sydney 19-12 Western Suburbs
1931 South Sydney 12-7 Eastern Suburbs
1930 Western Suburbs 27-2 St. George
1929 South Sydney 30-10 Newtown
1928 South Sydney 26-5 Eastern Suburbs
1927 South Sydney 20-11 St. George
1926 South Sydney 11-5 University
1925 South Sydney Western Suburbs
1924 Balmain 3-0 South Sydney
1923 Eastern Suburbs 15-12 South Sydney
1922 North Sydney 35-3 Glebe
1921 North Sydney Eastern Suburbs
1920 Balmain South Sydney
1919 Balmain Eastern Suburbs
1918 South Sydney Western Suburbs
1917 Balmain South Sydney
1916 Balmain 5-3 South Sydney
1915 Balmain Glebe
1914 South Sydney Newtown
1913 Eastern Suburbs Newtown
1912 Eastern Suburbs Glebe
1911 Eastern Suburbs 11-8 Glebe
1910 Newtown 4-4 South Sydney
1909 South Sydney Forfeit Balmain
1908 South Sydney 14-12 Eastern Suburbs

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Penrith Panthers Dynasty

2021-2024: Four Consecutive Premierships - A Modern Dynasty

The Penrith Panthers established themselves as the dominant force in modern rugby league, winning four consecutive premierships from 2021 to 2024. This remarkable achievement places them among the greatest teams in rugby league history, and it was the first four-peat since St. George's run of 11 straight titles from 1956 to 1966.

šŸ„‡ 2026 PREMIERS

Sydney Roosters
Defeated Newcastle Knights
Score: 19-18
16th premiership, first since 2019

šŸ„ˆ 2026 RUNNERS-UP

Newcastle Knights
Lost to Sydney Roosters
Score: 18-19
From wooden spoon (2025) to grand final

šŸ† PREVIOUS WINNER

Brisbane Broncos
2025 Champions
Defeated Melbourne Storm 26-22
First title since 2006

šŸ’” Pro Tip: Melbourne Storm's 2007 and 2009 premierships were stripped due to salary cap breaches discovered in 2010. These titles were not awarded to the runners-up.

Statistical Analysis

Teams with Most Premierships

Team Premierships Years
South Sydney Rabbitohs 21 1908-2014
Sydney Roosters 16 1911-2026
St. George Dragons 15 1941-1979

Notable Achievements and Records

Longest Dynasty

St. George Dragons won 11 consecutive premierships from 1956 to 1966, a record unlikely to ever be broken.

Modern Era Success

Since the NRL era began in 1998, Penrith (2003, 2021-2024) and the Sydney Roosters (2002, 2013, 2018, 2019, 2026) lead the way with 5 premierships each. Brisbane and Melbourne have 4 each, with Melbourne's tally excluding its 2 stripped titles.

First Winners

South Sydney won the inaugural premiership in 1908, defeating Eastern Suburbs 14-12 in the grand final.

The Super League War

In 1997, Australian rugby league was split between two competitions - the ARL and Super League. Newcastle Knights won the ARL premiership while Brisbane Broncos claimed the Super League title. The competitions merged in 1998 to form the modern National Rugby League (NRL).

Salary Cap Scandal

Melbourne Storm's 2007 and 2009 premierships were stripped in 2010 when it was discovered they had systematically breached the salary cap. The titles for these years were not awarded to any team, leaving them vacant in the record books.