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)
← 2017
2019 →

Teams edit

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

ColoursClubSeason [citation needed]Home ground(s)Head coachCaptain(s) [citation needed]
Brisbane Broncos31st seasonSuncorp StadiumWayne BennettDarius Boyd
Canberra Raiders37th seasonGIO Stadium CanberraRicky StuartJarrod Croker
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs84th seasonANZ Stadium & Belmore Sports GroundDean Pay[1]Josh Jackson[2]
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks52nd seasonSouthern Cross Group StadiumShane FlanaganPaul Gallen & Wade Graham[3]
Gold Coast Titans12th seasonCbus Super StadiumGarth Brennan[4]Ryan James
Manly Warringah Sea Eagles69th seasonLottolandTrent BarrettDaly Cherry-Evans
Melbourne Storm21st seasonAAMI ParkCraig BellamyCameron Smith
Newcastle Knights31st seasonMcDonald Jones StadiumNathan BrownJamie Buhrer & Mitchell Pearce[5]
New Zealand Warriors24th seasonMt. Smart StadiumStephen KearneyRoger Tuivasa-Sheck
North Queensland Cowboys24th season1300SMILES StadiumPaul GreenJohnathan Thurston & Matt Scott
Parramatta Eels72nd seasonANZ StadiumBrad ArthurTim Mannah, Beau Scott & Clint Gutherson[6]
Penrith Panthers52nd seasonPanthers StadiumAnthony GriffinCameron Ciraldo (interim)[7]Peter Wallace[8]James Maloney
South Sydney Rabbitohs109th seasonANZ StadiumAnthony Seibold[9]Greg Inglis
St. George Illawarra Dragons20th seasonUOW Jubilee Oval & WIN StadiumPaul McGregorGareth Widdop
Sydney Roosters111th seasonAllianz StadiumTrent RobinsonJake Friend & Boyd Cordner
Wests Tigers19th seasonLeichhardt Oval, Campbelltown Stadium & ANZ StadiumIvan ClearyChris Lawrence, Benji Marshall, Elijah Taylor, Josh Reynolds & Russell Packer[10]

Pre-season edit

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 edit

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]

[citation needed]

Team12345678910111213141516171819202122232425F1F2F3GF
Brisbane BroncosSGI
22
NQL
4
WTI
2*
GCT
12
NEW
5
NZL
9
MEL
14
SOU
4
CBY
2
MAN
14
SYD
6
PAR
8
XMEL
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 RaidersGCT
2
NEW
2
NZL
1
MAN
16
CBY
16
PAR
16
SOU
20
NQL
10
GCT
14
CRO
8
SGI
7
MAN
1
XPEN
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 BulldogsMEL
18
SYD
18
PEN
2
SOU
4
CAN
16
NQL
17
SYD
6
PEN
8
BRI
2
PAR
8
CRO
6
WTI
4
XSGI
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 SharksNQL
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
XPEN
12
CAN
4
BRI
2
MAN
1*
MEL
3
NQL
12
NEW
26
CBY
12
SYD
9
PEN
1
MEL
16
Gold Coast TitansCAN
2
NZL
12
SGI
46
BRI
12
MAN
12
PEN
23
NQL
12
CRO
1
CAN
14
MEL
14
NEW
7
SYD
20
XSOU
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 EaglesNEW
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
XMEL
1
SYD
32
PEN
4
CRO
1*
CBY
12
GCT
8
WTI
2
BRI
32
Melbourne StormCBY
18
WTI
2
NQL
16
CRO
10
WTI
1
NEW
26
BRI
14
NZL
40
SGI
20
GCT
14
MAN
20
NQL
1
XBRI
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
XCRO
16
SYD
15
Newcastle KnightsMAN
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
XPAR
2
GCT
6
NQL
2
WTI
9
NZL
16
PEN
8
CRO
26
SGI
10
New Zealand WarriorsSOU
12
GCT
12
CAN
1
SYD
24
NQL
10
BRI
9
SGI
8
MEL
40
WTI
22
SYD
32
PAR
10
SOU
20
XMAN
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 CowboysCRO
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
XCAN
26
SGI
14
NEW
2
SYD
6
BRI
4
CRO
12
PAR
38
GCT
4
Parramatta EelsPEN
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
XNEW
2
CBY
6
SOU
6
GCT
16
SGI
36
MEL
16
NQL
38
SYD
34
Penrith PanthersPAR
10
SOU
4
CBY
2
NQL
19
PAR
6
GCT
23
CRO
4
CBY
8
NQL
6
NEW
11
WTI
14
SGI
26
XCAN
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 RabbitohsNZL
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
XCBY
18
WTI
16
PAR
6
MEL
10
SYD
4
BRI
20
CAN
12
WTI
41
MEL
1
SGI
1
SYD
8
St. George Illawarra DragonsBRI
22
CRO
4
GCT
46
NEW
18
SOU
4
CRO
20
NZL
8
SYD
16
MEL
20
SOU
14
CAN
7
PEN
26
XCBY
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 RoostersWTI
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
XGCT
8
MAN
32
SGI
18
NQL
6
SOU
4
CAN
2
BRI
14
PAR
34
CRO
9
XSOU
8
MEL
15
Wests TigersSYD
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
XSGI
4
SOU
16
CBY
12
NEW
9
CAN
2
SGI
10
MAN
2
SOU
41
Team12345678910111213141516171819202122232425F1F2F3GF

Bold – Opposition's Home game
X – Bye
* – Golden point game
Opponent for round listed above margin

Ladder edit

PosTeamPldWDLBPFPAPDPts
1 Sydney Roosters2416081542361+18134
2 Melbourne Storm2416081536363+17334
3 South Sydney Rabbitohs2416081582437+14534
4 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks2416081519423+9634
5 Penrith Panthers2415091517461+5632
6 Brisbane Broncos2415091556500+5632
7 St. George Illawarra Dragons2415091519472+4732
8 New Zealand Warriors2415091472447+2532
9 Wests Tigers24120121377460−8326
10 Canberra Raiders24100141563540+2322
11 Newcastle Knights2490151414607−19320
12 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs2480161428474−4618
13 North Queensland Cowboys2480161449521−7218
14 Gold Coast Titans2480161472582−11018
15 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles2470171500622−12216
16 Parramatta Eels2460181374550−17614

Ladder progression edit

  • 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.
Team12345678910111213141516171819202122232425
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 edit

HomeScoreAwayMatch Information
Date and Time (Local)VenueRefereesCrowd
QUALIFYING & ELIMINATION FINALS
Melbourne Storm29 – 28 South Sydney Rabbitohs7 September 2018, 7:50 pmAAMI ParkAshley Klein
Adam Gee
17,306
Penrith Panthers27 – 12 New Zealand Warriors8 September 2018, 5:40 pmANZ StadiumMatt Cecchin
Henry Perenara
17,168
Sydney Roosters21 – 12 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks8 September 2018, 7:50 pmAllianz StadiumGerard Sutton
Ben Cummins
24,588
Brisbane Broncos18 – 48 St. George Illawarra Dragons9 September 2018, 4:10 pmSuncorp StadiumGrant Atkins
Chris Sutton
47,296
SEMI FINALS
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks21 – 20 Penrith Panthers14 September 2018, 7:50 pmAllianz StadiumAshley Klein
Adam Gee
19,211
South Sydney Rabbitohs13 – 12 St. George Illawarra Dragons15 September 2018, 7:50 pmANZ StadiumGerard Sutton
Ben Cummins
48,188
PRELIMINARY FINALS
Melbourne Storm22 – 6 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks21 September 2018, 7:55 pmAAMI ParkGerard Sutton
Ben Cummins
26,621
Sydney Roosters12 – 4 South Sydney Rabbitohs22 September 2018, 7:50 pmAllianz StadiumAshley Klein
Adam Gee
44,380

† Match decided in extra time.

Chart edit

Grand final edit

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 edit

  • 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 edit

Players edit

Player2017 Club2018 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 BroncosSouths Logan Magpies (Intrust Super Cup)
Kurt Baptiste Canberra Raiders Sydney Roosters
Jeff Lima Canberra RaidersRetirement
Clay Priest Canberra Raiders Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
Dave Taylor Canberra RaidersCentral 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 SharksRetirement
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 TitansRetirement
William Zillman Gold Coast TitansRetirement
Pita Godinet Manly Warringah Sea Eagles Wests Tigers
Blake Green Manly Warringah Sea Eagles New Zealand Warriors
Jarrad Kennedy Manly Warringah Sea EaglesN/A
Brenton Lawrence Manly Warringah Sea EaglesRetirement
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 StormRetirement
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 KnightsRetirement
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 KnightsRetirement
Jack Stockwell Newcastle Knights Gold Coast Titans
Anthony Tupou Newcastle KnightsRetirement
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 CowboysBurleigh Bears (Intrust Super Cup)
Ray Thompson North Queensland CowboysRetirement
Frank Pritchard Parramatta EelsRetirement
Semi Radradra Parramatta EelsRC Toulonnais (French rugby union)
Jeff Robson Parramatta EelsRetirement
Sitaleki Akauola Penrith Panthers Super League: Warrington Wolves
Tim Browne Penrith PanthersRetirement
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 RabbitohsRetirement
Dave Tyrrell South Sydney RabbitohsEastern Suburbs Tigers (Intrust Super Cup)
Josh Dugan St. George Illawarra Dragons Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
Kalifa Faifai Loa St. George Illawarra DragonsTownsville Blackhawks (Intrust Super Cup)
Siliva Havili St. George Illawarra Dragons Canberra Raiders
Jake Marketo St. George Illawarra DragonsTimișoara 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 TigersRetirement
Joel Edwards Wests Tigers Limoux Grizzlies (Elite One Championship)
Jamal Idris Wests TigersRetirement
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 RobinsonNew South Wales Waratahs (Super Rugby) Sydney Roosters
Sandor EarlSuspension[13] Melbourne Storm

Source:[14]

Coaches edit

Coach2017 Club2018 Club
Michael Maguire South Sydney Rabbitohs New Zealand
Brad Fittler Lebanon New South Wales

References edit

  1. ^ "Bulldogs appoint Dean Pay as coach". NRL.com. 28 September 2017.
  2. ^ "Jackson named Bulldogs captain". NRL.com. 24 January 2018.
  3. ^ "Sharks to go with Co-Captains in 2018". Sharks.com.au. 11 February 2018.
  4. ^ "Garth Brennan named new Titans coach". NRL.com. 19 October 2017.
  5. ^ "Knights announce 2018 co-captains". NewcastleKnights.com.au. 2 March 2018.
  6. ^ "Gutherson handed Eels co-captaincy". NRL.com. 21 April 2018.
  7. ^ "Panthers part ways with coach Anthony Griffin four weeks out from finals". NRL.com. 6 August 2018.
  8. ^ "Panthers name Wallace as 2018 captain". NRL.com. 11 January 2018.
  9. ^ "Rabbitohs name Seibold as head coach". NRL.com. 7 September 2017.
  10. ^ "Wests Tigers name five co-captains for 2018". NRL.com. 14 February 2018.
  11. ^ "2018 NRL Telstra Premiership season schedule". NRL.com. 19 October 2017.
  12. ^ "Cronk, Keary guide Roosters to grand final glory". NRL.com. 30 September 2018.
  13. ^ "Sandor Earl suspended until 2017". NRL.com. 14 October 2015.
  14. ^ "NRL Signings Tracker: Player movements and contracts". NRL.com.