2018 NRL season

The 2018 NRL season was the 111th season of professional rugby league in Australia and the 21st season run by the National Rugby League. The main competition, known as the 2018 Telstra Premiership due to sponsorship from Telstra, featured 16 teams playing 25 weekly rounds of matches from March until September, resulting in the top eight teams playing a series of finals matches to determine which two teams reached the 2018 NRL Grand Final.

2018 National Rugby League
DurationMarch 8 – September 30, 2018
Teams16
Premiers Sydney Roosters (14th title)
Minor premiers Sydney Roosters (20th title)
Matches played201
Points scored8,152
Average attendance16,205
Attendance3,257,235
Top points scorer(s) Latrell Mitchell (248)
Player of the year Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (Dally M Medal)
Top try-scorer(s) David Fusitu'a (23)

Teams

The lineup of teams remained unchanged for the 12th consecutive year.

Colours Club Season Home ground(s) Head coach Captain(s)
Brisbane Broncos 31st season Suncorp Stadium Wayne Bennett Darius Boyd
Canberra Raiders 37th season GIO Stadium Canberra Ricky Stuart Jarrod Croker
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 84th season ANZ Stadium & Belmore Sports Ground Dean Pay[1] Josh Jackson[2]
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 52nd season Southern Cross Group Stadium Shane Flanagan Paul Gallen & Wade Graham[3]
Gold Coast Titans 12th season Cbus Super Stadium Garth Brennan[4] Ryan James
Manly Warringah Sea Eagles 69th season Lottoland Trent Barrett Daly Cherry-Evans
Melbourne Storm 21st season AAMI Park Craig Bellamy Cameron Smith
Newcastle Knights 31st season McDonald Jones Stadium Nathan Brown Jamie Buhrer & Mitchell Pearce[5]
New Zealand Warriors 24th season Mt. Smart Stadium Stephen Kearney Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
North Queensland Cowboys 24th season 1300SMILES Stadium Paul Green Johnathan Thurston & Matt Scott
Parramatta Eels 72nd season ANZ Stadium Brad Arthur Tim Mannah, Beau Scott & Clint Gutherson[6]
Penrith Panthers 52nd season Panthers Stadium Anthony GriffinCameron Ciraldo (interim)[7] Peter Wallace[8]James Maloney
South Sydney Rabbitohs 109th season ANZ Stadium Anthony Seibold[9] Greg Inglis
St. George Illawarra Dragons 20th season UOW Jubilee Oval & WIN Stadium Paul McGregor Gareth Widdop
Sydney Roosters 111th season Allianz Stadium Trent Robinson Jake Friend & Boyd Cordner
Wests Tigers 19th season Leichhardt Oval, Campbelltown Stadium & ANZ Stadium Ivan Cleary Chris Lawrence, Benji Marshall, Elijah Taylor, Josh Reynolds & Russell Packer[10]

Pre-season

The 2018 pre-season featured the 2018 World Club Challenge match with the NRL premiers Melbourne Storm defeating the Super League champions Leeds Rhinos.

Regular season

With the City vs. Country representative game having been scrapped, the NRL scheduled 6 games to take place in regional areas of New South Wales and Queensland as a replacement: Tamworth, Bathurst & Mudgee, and Toowoomba, Gladstone & Cairns.

The overall structure of the season's draw was also revised. The second game of the 2018 State of Origin series was played as a stand-alone fixture on a Sunday to avoid conflict with the regular season. Due to this the competition was shortened to 25 rounds and each team got 1 bye as opposed to 2 in previous years.[11]

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 SGI
22
NQL
4
WTI
2*
GCT
12
NEW
5
NZL
9
MEL
14
SOU
4
CBY
2
MAN
14
SYD
6
PAR
8
X MEL
16
CRO
4
CAN
4
GCT
34
NZL
20
PEN
32
CRO
2
CBY
14
NQL
4
SOU
20
SYD
14
MAN
32
SGI
30
Canberra Raiders GCT
2
NEW
2
NZL
1
MAN
16
CBY
16
PAR
16
SOU
20
NQL
10
GCT
14
CRO
8
SGI
7
MAN
1
X PEN
1
WTI
36
BRI
4
CBY
4
NQL
26
CRO
4
MEL
34
PEN
9
WTI
2
SYD
2
SOU
12
NZL
4
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs MEL
18
SYD
18
PEN
2
SOU
4
CAN
16
NQL
17
SYD
6
PEN
8
BRI
2
PAR
8
CRO
6
WTI
4
X SGI
2
GCT
22
NEW
20
CAN
4
SOU
18
PAR
6
WTI
12
BRI
14
MAN
12
NZL
1
SGI
38
CRO
12
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks NQL
6
SGI
4
PAR
10
MEL
10
SYD
18
SGI
20
PEN
4
GCT
1
PAR
2
CAN
8
CBY
6
NEW
38
SOU
8
WTI
8
BRI
4
NZL
3
X PEN
12
CAN
4
BRI
2
MAN
1*
MEL
3
NQL
12
NEW
26
CBY
12
SYD
9
PEN
1
MEL
16
Gold Coast Titans CAN
2
NZL
12
SGI
46
BRI
12
MAN
12
PEN
23
NQL
12
CRO
1
CAN
14
MEL
14
NEW
7
SYD
20
X SOU
2
CBY
22
WTI
18
BRI
34
SYD
8
NEW
6
NZL
24
PAR
16
PEN
1*
MAN
8
MEL
2
NQL
4
Manly Warringah Sea Eagles NEW
1*
PAR
54
SOU
28
CAN
16
GCT
12
WTI
26
PAR
34
NEW
6
SYD
2
BRI
14
MEL
20
CAN
1
NQL
14
NZL
20
SGI
24
PEN
8
X MEL
1
SYD
32
PEN
4
CRO
1*
CBY
12
GCT
8
WTI
2
BRI
32
Melbourne Storm CBY
18
WTI
2
NQL
16
CRO
10
WTI
1
NEW
26
BRI
14
NZL
40
SGI
20
GCT
14
MAN
20
NQL
1
X BRI
16
NEW
18
SYD
1
SGI
22
MAN
1
NZL
6
CAN
34
SOU
10
CRO
3
PAR
16
GCT
2
PEN
6
SOU
1
X CRO
16
SYD
15
Newcastle Knights MAN
1*
CAN
2
SYD
30
SGI
18
BRI
5
MEL
26
WTI
2
MAN
6
SOU
18
PEN
11
GCT
7
CRO
38
PAR
26
SYD
2
MEL
18
CBY
20
X PAR
2
GCT
6
NQL
2
WTI
9
NZL
16
PEN
8
CRO
26
SGI
10
New Zealand Warriors SOU
12
GCT
12
CAN
1
SYD
24
NQL
10
BRI
9
SGI
8
MEL
40
WTI
22
SYD
32
PAR
10
SOU
20
X MAN
20
NQL
7
CRO
3
PEN
32
BRI
20
MEL
6
GCT
24
SGI
6
NEW
16
CBY
1
PEN
20
CAN
4
PEN
15
North Queensland Cowboys CRO
6
BRI
4
MEL
16
PEN
19
NZL
10
CBY
17
GCT
12
CAN
10
PEN
6
WTI
8
SOU
1
MEL
1
MAN
14
PAR
6
NZL
7
SOU
1
X CAN
26
SGI
14
NEW
2
SYD
6
BRI
4
CRO
12
PAR
38
GCT
4
Parramatta Eels PEN
10
MAN
54
CRO
10
WTI
10
PEN
6
CAN
16
MAN
34
WTI
2
CRO
2
CBY
8
NZL
10
BRI
8
NEW
26
NQL
6
SOU
18
SGI
2
X NEW
2
CBY
6
SOU
6
GCT
16
SGI
36
MEL
16
NQL
38
SYD
34
Penrith Panthers PAR
10
SOU
4
CBY
2
NQL
19
PAR
6
GCT
23
CRO
4
CBY
8
NQL
6
NEW
11
WTI
14
SGI
26
X CAN
1
SYD
26
MAN
8
NZL
32
CRO
12
BRI
32
MAN
4
CAN
9
GCT
1*
NEW
8
NZL
20
MEL
6
NZL
15
CRO
1
South Sydney Rabbitohs NZL
12
PEN
4
MAN
28
CBY
4
SGI
4
SYD
12
CAN
20
BRI
4
NEW
18
SGI
14
NQL
1
NZL
20
CRO
8
GCT
2
PAR
18
NQL
1
X CBY
18
WTI
16
PAR
6
MEL
10
SYD
4
BRI
20
CAN
12
WTI
41
MEL
1
SGI
1
SYD
8
St. George Illawarra Dragons BRI
22
CRO
4
GCT
46
NEW
18
SOU
4
CRO
20
NZL
8
SYD
16
MEL
20
SOU
14
CAN
7
PEN
26
X CBY
2
MAN
24
PAR
2
MEL
22
WTI
4
NQL
14
SYD
18
NZL
6
PAR
36
WTI
10
CBY
38
NEW
10
BRI
30
SOU
1
Sydney Roosters WTI
2
CBY
18
NEW
30
NZL
24
CRO
18
SOU
12
CBY
6
SGI
16
MAN
2
NZL
32
BRI
6
GCT
20
WTI
2
NEW
2
PEN
26
MEL
1
X GCT
8
MAN
32
SGI
18
NQL
6
SOU
4
CAN
2
BRI
14
PAR
34
CRO
9
X SOU
8
MEL
15
Wests Tigers SYD
2
MEL
2
BRI
2*
PAR
10
MEL
1
MAN
26
NEW
2
PAR
2
NZL
22
NQL
8
PEN
14
CBY
4
SYD
2
CRO
8
CAN
36
GCT
18
X SGI
4
SOU
16
CBY
12
NEW
9
CAN
2
SGI
10
MAN
2
SOU
41
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 – Opposition's 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 Sydney Roosters 2416081542361+18134
2 Melbourne Storm 2416081536363+17334
3 South Sydney Rabbitohs 2416081582437+14534
4 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 2416081519423+9634
5 Penrith Panthers 2415091517461+5632
6 Brisbane Broncos 2415091556500+5632
7 St. George Illawarra Dragons 2415091519472+4732
8 New Zealand Warriors 2415091472447+2532
9 Wests Tigers 24120121377460−8326
10 Canberra Raiders 24100141563540+2322
11 Newcastle Knights 2490151414607−19320
12 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 2480161428474−4618
13 North Queensland Cowboys 2480161449521−7218
14 Gold Coast Titans 2480161472582−11018
15 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 2470171500622−12216
16 Parramatta Eels 2460181374550−17614

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 Sydney024466881012121416182020222426283032323234
2 Melbourne2244468101012121416182022242628303030323434
3 South Sydney002446881012141618202224262828303232323234
4 Cronulla-Sutherland002444681012141616181820222426262628303234
5 Penrith244681010121214161820222222242424262830303032
6 Brisbane024446681010121416161820222224262626283032
7 St. George Illawarra2468101212141616181820222426262628282828303032
8 New Zealand2468101012121414161618202222222424242628283032
9 Wests244681010101012121414141414161820202224242626
10 Canberra000024468881012121414161818181818202222
11 Newcastle2444668101010101012121212141618181818202020
12 Canterbury-Bankstown00222444466688810101010121414161818
13 North Queensland2222224466668888101010121214141618
14 Gold Coast22246666668810101214141414161616181818
15 Manly-Warringah02244444468888810121212121416161616
16 Parramatta00000024444446668810101214141414

Finals series

Home Score Away Match Information
Date and Time (Local) Venue Referees Crowd
QUALIFYING & ELIMINATION FINALS
Melbourne Storm 29 28 South Sydney Rabbitohs 7 September 2018, 7:50 pm AAMI Park Ashley Klein
Adam Gee
17,306
Penrith Panthers 27 12 New Zealand Warriors 8 September 2018, 5:40 pm ANZ Stadium Matt Cecchin
Henry Perenara
17,168
Sydney Roosters 21 12 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 8 September 2018, 7:50 pm Allianz Stadium Gerard Sutton
Ben Cummins
24,588
Brisbane Broncos 18 48 St. George Illawarra Dragons 9 September 2018, 4:10 pm Suncorp Stadium Grant Atkins
Chris Sutton
47,296
SEMI FINALS
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 21 20 Penrith Panthers 14 September 2018, 7:50 pm Allianz Stadium Ashley Klein
Adam Gee
19,211
South Sydney Rabbitohs 13 12 St. George Illawarra Dragons 15 September 2018, 7:50 pm ANZ Stadium Gerard Sutton
Ben Cummins
48,188
PRELIMINARY FINALS
Melbourne Storm 22 6 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 21 September 2018, 7:55 pm AAMI Park Gerard Sutton
Ben Cummins
26,621
Sydney Roosters 12 4 South Sydney Rabbitohs 22 September 2018, 7:50 pm Allianz Stadium Ashley Klein
Adam Gee
44,380

† Match decided in extra time.

Chart

Grand final

Sunday, 30 September
7:35pm (AEST)
Sydney Roosters 21 6 Melbourne Storm
Tries:
Daniel Tupou (8') 1
Latrell Mitchell (15') 1
Joseph Manu (37') 1
Goals:
Latrell Mitchell 4/6
(4' pen, 16', 31' pen, 79' pen)
Field Goals:
Luke Keary (69') 1
[12]
1st: 18 - 0
2nd: 3 - 6
Tries:
Josh Addo-Carr (63') 1
Goals:
Cameron Smith 1/1
(64')
Sin Bin:
Cameron Munster 2
(30', 78')

Player statistics and records

  • Jamayne Isaako broke the record for the most points scored in a rookie season with 239, which was set by Mick Cronin in 1977 who scored 225 points.
  • Gavin Cooper became the first forward in the 111 year history of the NRL to score a try in nine consecutive games, beating the previous record of eight set by Frank Burge in 1918.
  • Cameron Smith became the first hooker in NRL history to score 200 points in a season.

The following statistics are as of the conclusion of Round 25.

2018 Transfers

Players

Player 2017 Club 2018 Club
Jai Arrow Brisbane Broncos Gold Coast Titans
Adam Blair Brisbane Broncos New Zealand Warriors
Herman Ese'ese Brisbane Broncos Newcastle Knights
Ben Hunt Brisbane Broncos St. George Illawarra Dragons
Benji Marshall Brisbane Broncos Wests Tigers
David Mead Brisbane Broncos Super League: Catalans Dragons
Tautau Moga Brisbane Broncos Newcastle Knights
Travis Waddell Brisbane Broncos Souths Logan Magpies (Intrust Super Cup)
Kurt Baptiste Canberra Raiders Sydney Roosters
Jeff Lima Canberra Raiders Retirement
Clay Priest Canberra Raiders Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
Dave Taylor Canberra Raiders Central Queensland Capras (Intrust Super Cup)
James Graham Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs St. George Illawarra Dragons
Sam Kasiano Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Melbourne Storm
Brenko Lee Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Gold Coast Titans
Josh Reynolds Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Wests Tigers
Chase Stanley Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Toronto Wolfpack
Gerard Beale Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks New Zealand Warriors
Jack Bird Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Brisbane Broncos
Fa'amanu Brown Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
Adam Clydsdale Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Retirement
Chris Heighington Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Newcastle Knights
Jeremy Latimore Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks St. George Illawarra Dragons
James Maloney Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Penrith Panthers
Daniel Mortimer Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Leigh Centurions
Sam Tagataese Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Brisbane Broncos
Tony Williams Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Parramatta Eels
Joe Greenwood Gold Coast Titans Super League: Wigan Warriors
Jarryd Hayne Gold Coast Titans Parramatta Eels
Chris McQueen Gold Coast Titans Wests Tigers
Agnatius Paasi Gold Coast Titans New Zealand Warriors
Eddy Pettybourne Gold Coast Titans Toulouse Olympique
Leivaha Pulu Gold Coast Titans New Zealand Warriors
Tyrone Roberts Gold Coast Titans Super League: Warrington Wolves
Dan Sarginson Gold Coast Titans Super League: Wigan Warriors
Daniel Vidot Gold Coast Titans Retirement
William Zillman Gold Coast Titans Retirement
Pita Godinet Manly Warringah Sea Eagles Wests Tigers
Blake Green Manly Warringah Sea Eagles New Zealand Warriors
Jarrad Kennedy Manly Warringah Sea Eagles N/A
Brenton Lawrence Manly Warringah Sea Eagles Retirement
Darcy Lussick Manly Warringah Sea Eagles Toronto Wolfpack
Cooper Cronk Melbourne Storm Sydney Roosters
Slade Griffin Melbourne Storm Newcastle Knights
Tohu Harris Melbourne Storm New Zealand Warriors
Jordan McLean Melbourne Storm North Queensland Cowboys
Nate Myles Melbourne Storm Retirement
Mark Nicholls Melbourne Storm South Sydney Rabbitohs
Robbie Rochow Melbourne Storm Wests Tigers
Brendan Elliot Newcastle Knights Gold Coast Titans
Dane Gagai Newcastle Knights South Sydney Rabbitohs
Trent Hodkinson Newcastle Knights Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
Sam Mataora Newcastle Knights Retirement
Peter Mata'utia Newcastle Knights Leigh Centurions
Mickey Paea Newcastle Knights Super League: Hull F.C.
Pauli Pauli Newcastle Knights Super League: Wakefield Trinity
Tyler Randell Newcastle Knights Super League: Wakefield Trinity
Josh Starling Newcastle Knights Retirement
Jack Stockwell Newcastle Knights Gold Coast Titans
Anthony Tupou Newcastle Knights Retirement
Joe Wardle Newcastle Knights Super League: Castleford Tigers
Kieran Foran New Zealand Warriors Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
Charlie Gubb New Zealand Warriors Canberra Raiders
Ryan Hoffman New Zealand Warriors Melbourne Storm
Jacob Lillyman New Zealand Warriors Newcastle Knights
Ben Matulino New Zealand Warriors Wests Tigers
Bodene Thompson New Zealand Warriors Leigh Centurions
Blake Leary North Queensland Cowboys Burleigh Bears (Intrust Super Cup)
Ray Thompson North Queensland Cowboys Retirement
Frank Pritchard Parramatta Eels Retirement
Semi Radradra Parramatta Eels RC Toulonnais (French rugby union)
Jeff Robson Parramatta Eels Retirement
Sitaleki Akauola Penrith Panthers Super League: Warrington Wolves
Tim Browne Penrith Panthers Retirement
Bryce Cartwright Penrith Panthers Gold Coast Titans
Leilani Latu Penrith Panthers Gold Coast Titans
Matt Moylan Penrith Panthers Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
Michael Oldfield Penrith Panthers Canberra Raiders
Mitch Rein Penrith Panthers Gold Coast Titans
Bryson Goodwin South Sydney Rabbitohs Super League: Warrington Wolves
Aaron Gray South Sydney Rabbitohs Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
Luke Kelly South Sydney Rabbitohs Retirement
Dave Tyrrell South Sydney Rabbitohs Eastern Suburbs Tigers (Intrust Super Cup)
Josh Dugan St. George Illawarra Dragons Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
Kalifa Faifai Loa St. George Illawarra Dragons Townsville Blackhawks (Intrust Super Cup)
Siliva Havili St. George Illawarra Dragons Canberra Raiders
Jake Marketo St. George Illawarra Dragons Timișoara Saracens (Romanian rugby union)
Will Matthews St. George Illawarra Dragons Gold Coast Titans
Josh McCrone St. George Illawarra Dragons Toronto Wolfpack
Russell Packer St. George Illawarra Dragons Wests Tigers
Joel Thompson St. George Illawarra Dragons Manly Warringah Sea Eagles
Kane Evans Sydney Roosters Parramatta Eels
Michael Gordon Sydney Roosters Gold Coast Titans
Aidan Guerra Sydney Roosters Newcastle Knights
Shaun Kenny-Dowall Sydney Roosters Newcastle Knights
Mitchell Pearce Sydney Roosters Newcastle Knights
Connor Watson Sydney Roosters Newcastle Knights
Matt Ballin Wests Tigers Retirement
Joel Edwards Wests Tigers Limoux Grizzlies (Elite One Championship)
Jamal Idris Wests Tigers Retirement
Kyle Lovett Wests Tigers Leigh Centurions
Mitchell Moses Wests Tigers Parramatta Eels
Ava Seumanufagai Wests Tigers Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
James Tedesco Wests Tigers Sydney Roosters
Aaron Woods Wests Tigers Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
Mahe Fonua Super League: Hull F.C. Wests Tigers
Mitchell Allgood Super League: Wakefield Trinity St. George Illawarra Dragons
Sam Williams Super League: Wakefield Trinity Canberra Raiders
Peta Hiku Super League: Warrington Wolves New Zealand Warriors
Corey Thompson Super League: Widnes Vikings Wests Tigers
Anthony Gelling Super League: Wigan Warriors New Zealand Warriors
Frank-Paul Nu'uausala Super League: Wigan Warriors Sydney Roosters
Reece Robinson New South Wales Waratahs (Super Rugby) Sydney Roosters
Sandor Earl Suspension[13] Melbourne Storm

Source:[14]

Coaches

Coach 2017 Club 2018 Club
Michael Maguire South Sydney Rabbitohs New Zealand
Brad Fittler Lebanon New South Wales

References

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