1908 – Rugby league in Australia was born. There were only 9 teams in the competition, and 234 players. The first club formed was Glebe, followed by Souths, Newtown, Easts, Norths, Balmain, Wests, Newcastle and Cumberland. These teams played a total of 60 games. The premiers were South Sydney Rabbitohs. The top try scorer was Horrie Miller with 15 tries, and he was also the top point scorer with 47 points. The first Kangaroo tour also occurred in 1908.
1909 – Some members of the The Rugby Union Wallabies agreed to play Rugby League.
1910 – The England Team tour Australia. The Presidents Cup was introduced for junior representative teams.
1911 – Rugby League played their first game at the SCG (Sydney Cricket Ground). Dally Messenger scored 72 points in a three-match series against QLD.
1912 – Kangaroo’s win their first Ashes competition against England.
1913 – Rugby League was first played in Sydney schools.
1916 – Rugby League games were suspended due to World War 1. It resumed again in 1919.
1919 – The first Australian Tour to New Zealand occurs.
1920 – The first edition of The Rugby League News was published.
1922 – First Queensland win over New South Wales.
1924 – The first radio broadcast of a Rugby League game was aired.
1928 – City vs Country have their first official match. The first night match at Sydney Showgrounds was also held.
1929 – Glebe leave the competition.
1942 – Rugby League games were again suspended due to war, this time for World War 2. Games resumed in 1945.
1947 – Clive Churchill signs with South Sydney Rabbitohs.
1950 – Australia wins their first Ashes after 30 years.
1951 – Giltinan Shield is created in the honour of one of the Rugby League founders, J.J. Giltinan who had passed away in 1950.
1957 – Australia hosts the Rugby League World Cup for the first time. The First game of rugby leave Sevens tournament is also played.
1961 – The first televised game of Rugby League is aired. It was Balmain Tigers v North Sydney Bears.
1965 – The highest record attendance for a Grand Final of 78,056 people is recorded. St George Dragons win their 10th consecutive Premiership.
1967 – A Live telecast of the South Sydney Rabbitohs vs Canterbury Bulldogs Grand Final was aired on all four television channels .
1974 – Home and away football introduced. Big League Magazine is replaced by The Rugby League News.
1977 – The first drawn Grand Final occurs. The game was St George Dragons vs Parramatta Eels.
1979 – The first Rugby League night match at the SCG is played.
1980 – The first First State of Origin game is played at Lang Park. Queensland wins 20-10.
1982 – Winfield sponsor the NSWRL.
1986 – Peter Sterling wins inaugural Clive Churchill Medal for best player in the Grand Final.
1988 – Rugby League leaves the SCG for the Sydney Football Stadium.
1989 – Tina Turner signs an advertising campaign for Rugby League. This becomes the most famous advertising campaign for the sport.
1990 – Salary cap is introduced by NSWRL.
1991 – Winfield cease their sponsorship due to “The Tobacco Advertising Prohibition Bill”.
1995-97 – The Super League war.
1998 -The National Rugby League (NRL) is formed.
1999 – The first Grand Final played at Stadium Australia. South Sydney Rabbitohs are ousted from the competition.
2001 – Telstra becomes the major sponsor of the NRL
2002 – South Sydney Rabibitohs are reinstated into the national competition. The Canterbury Bulldogs are found to be rorting the salary cap, this scandal sees them penalised 17 competition points and fined $500,000.
2003 – The Hoodoo Gurus perform That’s My Team for the new NRL ad campaign. The first NRL computer game is launched.
2005 – The NRL record the games highest ever crowd average for the regular season with an average of 16,468 people attending each game that season.
2006 – For the first time in the games 98 year history there no New South Wales based teams in the Grand Final. Brisbance Broncos defeat Melbourne Storm 15-8 and win their sixth Grand Final.
2007 – The NRL team now consists of 16 clubs after the introduction of the Gold Coast Titans.
2008 – The centenary of rugby league. NZ win the RLWC for the first time by defeating Australia in the final at Brisbane.
2009 – Two referees are introduced for NRL matches.
2010 – Melbourne Storm have their 2007 and 2009 premierships withdrawn after the discovery of them rorting the salary cap during those seasons
2012 – Rugby League Central opens, providing a home for all the game’s administration under the one roof. Rugby League Museum opens.
2013 – Australia reclaim the Rugby League World Cup with a 32-4 win over New Zealand in the final.
2014 – South Sydney win their 21st premiership.
2015 – North Queensland Cowboys defeat Brisbane Broncos 17-16 in the first all Queensland Grand Final.
2016 – Cronulla Sharks win their first premiership. Parramatta Eels are found to be rorting the salary cap; this is despite winning the wooden spoon whilst doing so.
2017 – Australia wins both men’s and women’s Rugby League World Cup (RLWC) titles.
2020 – The regular season took place from 12-23 March but was suspended from 24 March to 27 May because of Covid. It then restarted without crowds from 28 May to 25 October.
2023 – Penrith Panthers win their 3rd consecutive Premiership.
