2021 NRL season
Australian rugby league season
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The 2021 NRL season was the 114th season of professional rugby league in Australia and the 24th season run by the National Rugby League.
DurationMarch 11 – October 3, 2021
Teams16
Premiers
Penrith Panthers (3rd title)
Minor premiers
Melbourne Storm (5th title)
| 2021 National Rugby League | |
|---|---|
| Duration | March 11 – October 3, 2021 |
| Teams | 16 |
| Premiers | |
| Minor premiers | |
| Matches played | 201 |
| Points scored | 9,219 |
| Average attendance | 10,364[a] |
| Total attendance | 2,083,258[b] |
| Top points scorer | |
| Wooden spoon | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs (6th spoon) |
| Dally M Medal | |
| Top try-scorer | |
Teams
The lineup of teams remained unchanged for the 15th consecutive year.
Regular season
| 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 | F1 | F2 | F3 | GF |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brisbane Broncos | PAR −8 |
GCT −12 |
CBY +24 |
MEL −34 |
SOU −29 |
PEN −8 |
PAR −40 |
GCT +8 |
NQL −1 |
MAN −44 |
SYD +18 |
MEL −28 |
SGI −28 |
CAN −22 |
SOU −46 |
CRO +8 |
X | WTI −18 |
PEN −6 |
NQL +19 |
NEW −8 |
SYD −1 |
NZL +2 |
CRO −8 |
NEW +13 |
||||
| Canberra Raiders | WTI +18 |
CRO +2 |
NZL −3 |
GCT +16 |
PEN −20 |
PAR −25 |
NQL −2 |
SOU −14 |
NEW −8 |
CBY +2 |
MEL −24 |
SYD −28 |
X | BRI +22 |
SGI −2 |
GCT −38 |
MAN +14 |
CRO +16 |
PAR +2 |
NEW −10 |
SGI +8 |
MEL −10 |
MAN −1 |
NZL +12 |
SYD −24 |
||||
| Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | NEW −16 |
PEN −28 |
BRI −24 |
SOU −38 |
MEL −34 |
NQL −12 |
CRO +6 |
PAR −22 |
SGI −20 |
CAN −2 |
GCT −10 |
PEN −26 |
X | SGI +22 |
PAR −26 |
MAN −66 |
SYD −6 |
SOU −8 |
CRO −20 |
GCT −28 |
WTI −12 |
NZL −14 |
NEW −6 |
MAN −18 |
WTI +38 |
||||
| Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | SGI +14 |
CAN −2 |
PAR −24 |
NQL +38 |
SYD −8 |
NEW −4 |
CBY −6 |
MEL −26 |
PEN −48 |
SOU −10 |
SGI +1* |
GCT +28 |
X | PEN +1 |
NQL +2 |
BRI −8 |
NZL +8 |
CAN −16 |
CBY +20 |
MAN −18 |
NZL −2 |
NEW −2 |
WTI +30 |
BRI +8 |
MEL −12 |
||||
| Gold Coast Titans | NZL −13 |
BRI +12 |
NQL +36 |
CAN −16 |
NEW +26 |
MAN −36 |
SOU −10 |
BRI −8 |
WTI +8 |
PEN −36 |
CBY +10 |
CRO −28 |
MEL −6 |
SYD −1 |
MAN −32 |
CAN +38 |
X | PAR −18 |
SGI +22 |
CBY +28 |
NQL +22 |
SOU −30 |
MEL −14 |
NEW −1 |
NZL +44 |
SYD −1 |
|||
| Manly Warringah Sea Eagles | SYD −42 |
SOU −14 |
SGI −26 |
PEN −40 |
NZL +1 |
GCT +36 |
WTI +34 |
PEN −12 |
NZL +6 |
BRI +44 |
PAR +22 |
NEW −8 |
X | NQL +32 |
GCT +32 |
CBY +66 |
CAN −14 |
SGI +14 |
WTI +20 |
CRO +18 |
MEL −10 |
PAR +46 |
CAN +1 |
CBY +18 |
NQL +28 |
MEL −28 |
SYD +36 |
SOU −20 |
|
| Melbourne Storm | SOU +8 |
PAR −4 |
PEN −2 |
BRI +34 |
CBY +34 |
SYD +16 |
NZL +22 |
CRO +26 |
SOU +50 |
SGI +26 |
CAN +24 |
BRI +28 |
GCT +6 |
NZL +26 |
WTI +50 |
SYD +46 |
X | NEW +44 |
NQL +4 |
PEN +27 |
MAN +10 |
CAN +10 |
GCT +14 |
PAR −12 |
CRO +12 |
MAN +28 |
X | PEN −4 |
|
| Newcastle Knights | CBY +16 |
NZL +4 |
WTI −4 |
SGI −9 |
GCT −26 |
CRO +4 |
PEN −18 |
SYD −34 |
CAN +8 |
WTI −18 |
NQL −16 |
MAN +8 |
PAR −36 |
SOU −14 |
NZL +4 |
NQL +38 |
X | MEL −44 |
SYD −20 |
CAN +10 |
BRI +8 |
CRO +2 |
CBY +6 |
GCT +1 |
BRI −13 |
PAR −8 |
|||
| New Zealand Warriors | GCT +13 |
NEW −4 |
CAN +3 |
SYD −20 |
MAN −1 |
SGI +6 |
MEL −22 |
NQL +4 |
MAN −6 |
PAR −16 |
WTI +4 |
NQL −1 |
X | MEL −26 |
NEW −4 |
SGI −1* |
CRO −8 |
PEN −14 |
SOU −38 |
WTI +2 |
CRO +2 |
CBY +14 |
BRI −2 |
CAN −12 |
GCT −44 |
||||
| North Queensland Cowboys | PEN −24 |
SGI −7 |
GCT −36 |
CRO −38 |
WTI +4 |
CBY +12 |
CAN +2 |
NZL −4 |
BRI +1 |
SYD −14 |
NEW +16 |
NZL +1 |
X | MAN −32 |
CRO −2 |
NEW −38 |
SOU −28 |
SYD −16 |
MEL −4 |
BRI −19 |
GCT −22 |
WTI −8 |
PAR −16 |
SGI +12 |
MAN −28 |
||||
| Parramatta Eels | BRI +8 |
MEL +4 |
CRO +24 |
WTI +14 |
SGI −14 |
CAN +25 |
BRI +40 |
CBY +22 |
SYD +13 |
NZL +16 |
MAN −22 |
SOU −18 |
NEW +36 |
WTI +28 |
CBY +26 |
PEN −1 |
X | GCT +18 |
CAN −2 |
SYD −28 |
SOU −28 |
MAN −46 |
NQL +16 |
MEL +12 |
PEN −34 |
NEW +8 |
PEN −2 |
||
| Penrith Panthers | NQL +24 |
CBY +28 |
MEL +2 |
MAN +40 |
CAN +20 |
BRI +8 |
NEW +18 |
MAN +12 |
CRO +48 |
GCT +36 |
SOU +44 |
CBY +26 |
WTI −20 |
CRO −1 |
SYD +26 |
PAR +1 |
X | NZL +14 |
BRI +6 |
MEL −27 |
SYD +6 |
SGI +18 |
SOU +13 |
WTI +14 |
PAR +34 |
SOU −6 |
PAR +2 |
MEL +4 |
SOU +2 |
| South Sydney Rabbitohs | MEL −8 |
MAN +14 |
SYD +10 |
CBY +38 |
BRI +29 |
WTI +4* |
GCT +10 |
CAN +14 |
MEL −50 |
CRO +10 |
PEN −44 |
PAR +18 |
X | NEW +14 |
BRI +46 |
WTI +16 |
NQL +28 |
CBY +8 |
NZL +38 |
SGI +36 |
PAR +28 |
GCT +30 |
PEN −13 |
SYD +42 |
SGI +4 |
PEN +6 |
X | MAN +20 |
PEN −2 |
| St. George Illawarra Dragons | CRO −14 |
NQL +7 |
MAN +26 |
NEW +9 |
PAR +14 |
NZL −6 |
SYD −24 |
WTI −8 |
CBY +20 |
MEL −26 |
CRO −1* |
WTI −16 |
BRI +28 |
CBY −22 |
CAN +2 |
NZL +1* |
X | MAN −14 |
GCT −22 |
SOU −36 |
CAN −8 |
PEN −18 |
SYD −18 |
NQL −12 |
SOU −4 |
||||
| Sydney Roosters | MAN +42 |
WTI +34 |
SOU −10 |
NZL +20 |
CRO +8 |
MEL −16 |
SGI +24 |
NEW +34 |
PAR −13 |
NQL +14 |
BRI −18 |
CAN +28 |
X | GCT +1 |
PEN −26 |
MEL −46 |
CBY +6 |
NQL +16 |
NEW +20 |
PAR +28 |
PEN −6 |
BRI +1 |
SGI +18 |
SOU −42 |
CAN +24 |
GCT +1 |
MAN −36 |
||
| Wests Tigers | CAN −18 |
SYD −34 |
NEW +4 |
PAR −14 |
NQL −4 |
SOU −4* |
MAN −34 |
SGI +8 |
GCT −8 |
NEW +18 |
NZL −4 |
SGI +16 |
PEN +20 |
PAR −28 |
MEL −50 |
SOU −16 |
X | BRI +18 |
MAN −20 |
NZL −2 |
CBY +12 |
NQL +8 |
CRO −30 |
PEN −14 |
CBY −38 |
||||
| 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 | F1 | F2 | F3 | GF |
Bold – Home game
X – Bye
* – Golden point game
Opponent for round listed above margin
Ladder
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | B | PF | PA | PD | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 24 | 21 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 815 | 316 | +499 | 44 | Advance to finals series | |
| 2 | 24 | 21 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 676 | 286 | +390 | 44 | ||
| 3 | 24 | 20 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 775 | 453 | +322 | 42 | ||
| 4 | 24 | 16 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 744 | 492 | +252 | 34 | ||
| 5 | 24 | 16 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 630 | 489 | +141 | 34 | ||
| 6 | 24 | 15 | 0 | 9 | 1 | 566 | 457 | +109 | 32 | ||
| 7 | 24 | 12 | 0 | 12 | 1 | 428 | 571 | −143 | 26 | ||
| 8 | 24 | 10 | 0 | 14 | 1 | 580 | 583 | −3 | 22 | ||
| 9 | 24 | 10 | 0 | 14 | 1 | 520 | 556 | −36 | 22 | ||
| 10 | 24 | 10 | 0 | 14 | 1 | 481 | 578 | −97 | 22 | ||
| 11 | 24 | 8 | 0 | 16 | 1 | 474 | 616 | −142 | 18 | ||
| 12 | 24 | 8 | 0 | 16 | 1 | 453 | 624 | −171 | 18 | ||
| 13 | 24 | 8 | 0 | 16 | 1 | 500 | 714 | −214 | 18 | ||
| 14 | 24 | 7 | 0 | 17 | 1 | 446 | 695 | −249 | 16 | ||
| 15 | 24 | 7 | 0 | 17 | 1 | 460 | 748 | −288 | 16 | ||
| 16 | 24 | 3 | 0 | 21 | 1 | 340 | 710 | −370 | 8 |
Updated to match(es) played on 5 September 2021. Source: 2021 NRL Ladder
(M) Minor premiers; (P) Premiers; (W) Wooden spoon
(M) Minor premiers; (P) Premiers; (W) Wooden spoon
Ladder progression
- Numbers highlighted in green indicate that the team finished the round inside the top 8.
- 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 24 | 26 | 28 | 30 | 32 | 34 | 36 | 38 | 40 | 42 | 42 | 44 | |
| 2 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 26 | 28 | 30 | 32 | 34 | 34 | 36 | 38 | 40 | 42 | 44 | |
| 3 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 24 | 26 | 28 | 30 | 32 | 34 | 36 | 38 | 38 | 40 | 42 | |
| 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 22 | 24 | 26 | 26 | 28 | 30 | 32 | 34 | |
| 5 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 22 | 24 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 30 | 32 | 32 | 34 | |
| 6 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 24 | 24 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 30 | 32 | 32 | |
| 7 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 24 | 26 | 26 | |
| 8 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 22 | |
| 9 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 22 | |
| 10 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 22 | 22 | |
| 11 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | |
| 12 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | |
| 13 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | |
| 14 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 16 | |
| 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 16 | |
| 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 8 |
Finals series
Due to the imposition of lockdown measures in New South Wales due to a COVID-19 outbreak, all finals matches were played at neutral venues in Queensland.
| Home | Score | Away | Match Information | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date and Time (Local) | Venue | Referee | Crowd | |||||
| QUALIFYING & ELIMINATION FINALS | ||||||||
| 40 – 12 | 10 September 2021, 7:50 pm | Sunshine Coast Stadium | Grant Atkins | 9,120 | ||||
| 25 – 24 | 11 September 2021, 5:40 pm | Queensland Country Bank Stadium | Adam Gee | 18,244 | ||||
| 10 – 16 | 11 September 2021, 7:50 pm | Gerard Sutton | ||||||
| 28 – 20 | 12 September 2021, 4:05 pm | Browne Park | Ashley Klein | 5,087 | ||||
| SEMI FINALS | ||||||||
| 42 – 6 | 17 September 2021, 7:50 pm | BB Print Stadium | Gerard Sutton | 5,824 | ||||
| 8 – 6 | 18 September 2021, 7:50 pm | BB Print Stadium | Ashley Klein | 6,011 | ||||
| PRELIMINARY FINALS | ||||||||
| 36 – 16 | 24 September 2021, 8:05 pm | Suncorp Stadium | Ashley Klein | 26,249 | ||||
| 6 – 10 | 25 September 2021, 4:00 pm | Suncorp Stadium | Gerard Sutton | 29,011 | ||||
Bracket
| Qualifying and elimination finals | Semi-finals | Preliminary finals | Grand final | ||||||||||||||||
| 10 September – Sunshine Coast | |||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | 40 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | 12 | 17 September – Mackay | |||||||||||||||||
| 42 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 11 September – Townsville | 6 | 25 September – Brisbane | |||||||||||||||||
| 5 | 25 | 6 | |||||||||||||||||
| 8 | 24 | 10 | 3 October – Brisbane | ||||||||||||||||
| 14 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 12 September – Rockhampton | 24 September – Brisbane | 12 | |||||||||||||||||
| 6 | 28 | 36 | |||||||||||||||||
| 7 | 20 | 18 September – Mackay | 16 | ||||||||||||||||
| 8 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 11 September – Townsville | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | 16 | ||||||||||||||||||
Grand Final
2021 NRL Grand Final
| Penrith Panthers |
14 – 12 | |
|---|---|---|
| Tries: 2 Burton Crichton Goals: 3 Cleary |
1st: 8–6 2nd: 6–6 |
Tries: 2 Walker Johnston Goals: 2 Reynolds |
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane Attendance: 39,322 Referee: Gerard Sutton Touch judges: Dave Munro, Todd Smith Clive Churchill Medal: Nathan Cleary (Penrith) |
Player statistics and records
The following statistics are as of the conclusion of Round 25.
|
Top 5 point scorers
Top 5 try scorers
|
Top 5 goal scorers
Top 5 tacklers
|
2021 Transfers
Players
Source:[16]
Loan moves
| Player | Home club | → Loan club | Dates | Pld | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jamayne Taunoa-Brown | 12 July – 25 July (Rounds 18 – 19) | 2 | [18] | ||
| Corey Horsburgh | 10 August – 23 August (Rounds 22 – 23) | 1 | [19] | ||
| Ryan James | 10 August – 23 August (Rounds 22 – 23) | 1 | [19] | ||
| Freddy Lussick | 24 August – 6 September (Rounds 24 – 25) | 2 | [20] |
Coaches
| Coach | 2020 Club | 2021 Club |
|---|---|---|
| Kevin Walters | ||
| Trent Barrett | N/A | |
| Nathan Brown | N/A | |
| Anthony Griffin | N/A |