\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFind out more <\/a><\/p>\nBroken down, the NRL earned AU$520 million from media, merchandise, and betting rights \u2013 up 2% year-over-year (YoY) \u2013 while bringing in AU$286.7 million via sponsorship, ticket sales, and government funding for rugby league programs \u2013 an increase of 41% YoY.<\/p>\n
The ARLC also announced a record operating surplus of AU$64.8 million (a 4% increase), with the governing body\u2019s net assets now worth AU$387.3 million (a rise of 20%).<\/p>\n
ARLC chairman Peter V\u2019landys said: \u201cFinancially, the game has never been stronger. Consistent annual increases in revenue and surpluses have compounded over consecutive years, enabling increased funding for players, clubs, states, and grassroots, while also increasing our capacity to invest further into new revenue-generating assets.\u201d<\/p>\n
The figures come after a successful year for the NRL, capped off with the final, which averaged 4.55 million Australian viewers \u2013 an increase of 34.6% on the previous season-ending game.<\/p>\n
The game, which ended with Brisbane Broncos lifting the trophy after a dramatic 26-22 victory over Melbourne Storm, also drew higher numbers in New Zealand, delivering an average audience of 181,000 \u2013 up 15% YoY.<\/p>\n
Across the board, 2025 was one of the NRL\u2019s strongest broadcast seasons, with the combined viewership average for regular season and finals games reaching 614,000 per match, up 11.5% year-on-year.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, across the 2025 campaign, 4.98 million fans attended games (up 3.5% YoY), while 9.6 million followed the league via social media. There was also a total of 1.12 million participants in rugby league grassroots programs through the year.<\/p>\n
NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo added: \u201cMore people are watching rugby league than ever before. More people are playing rugby league than ever before.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhichever metric you choose, our overall results reflect those core strengths.\u201d<\/p>\n
The results come as the ARLC prepares to enter negotiations over a new broadcast deal for the NRL to start in 2028, while also expanding from 17 to 19 teams, with teams from Perth and Papua New Guinea set to join the league in 2027 and 2028, respectively.<\/p>\n
The expansion is set to boost future rights fees with more games on offer for broadcasters to air and commercial opportunities.<\/p>\n
Nine is currently the exclusive free-to-air home of the NRL, the NRL Grand Final, and the iconic State of Origin series between New South Wales Blues and Queensland Maroons, as part of a deal running through 2027.<\/p>\n
That agreement, worth a total of A$1.7 billion ($1.05 billion) over the length of the contract, sees Foxtel hold the main rights to the league, airing all eight games each round, with five exclusive games each weekend, across its linear channel and Kayo Sports streaming platform.<\/p>\n
The 2026 NRL season will kick off with a Las Vegas showcase on March 1 featuring four NRL teams (Newcastle Knights, North Queensland Cowboys, Canterbury Bulldogs, and St George Illawarra Dragons) and two teams from England\u2019s Super League (Hull KR and Leeds Rhinos).<\/p>\n
The four NRL teams will play their opening round games in Las Vegas\u2019 Allegiant Stadium, with Newcastle Knights taking on North Queensland Cowboys, while Canterbury Bulldogs will play St George Illawarra Dragons.<\/p>\n
The Super League teams will similarly play each other on the same day.<\/p>\n
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