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NRL State Championship
NRL State Championship
NRL State Championship
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NRL State Championship
SportRugby league
Instituted2014
Countries Australia
 New Zealand
 Papua New Guinea
Winners NZ Warriors (2025)
Websitewww.NRL.com
Broadcast partner
Related competitionNew South Wales Cup
Queensland Cup
National Rugby League

The NRL State Championship is a rugby league match contested by the premiers of the two elite second-tier competitions in Australia, the New South Wales Cup and the Queensland Cup. The match has been played as a curtain-raiser to the NRL Grand Final at Stadium Australia since it was introduced by the National Rugby League (NRL) in 2014. The match acts as Super Bowl-type to determine the National Reserve Grade Champions.

History

[edit]

The origins of the NRL State Championship can be traced back to an idea from the Queensland media during the 1984 Brisbane Rugby League season when two club sides had agreed to play a one-off match.[citation needed] This was when the competitions of the Sydney Rugby League premiership and the Brisbane Rugby League premiership operated independently of each other with the only exception being State of Origin time, when players crossed paths. While the New South Wales media's general consensus was always that Sydney-based NSWRL was the premier and stronger of the two major rugby league competition, all seemed to be set for the one-off match before the NSWRL hierarchy stepped in and put a stop to the proposed match.[citation needed]

The 1984 Brisbane Rugby League Wynnum-Manly Seagulls team was unquestionably Queensland's best, the team defeated a Southern Suburbs Districts Magpies side coached by Wayne Bennett and boasting names such as Gary Belcher, Mal Meninga, Peter Jackson, Bob Lindner in the 1984 Brisbane Rugby League Grand Final by a record 42–8 scoreline. Many supporters north of the border believe they were also better than the 1984 Sydney Rugby League champion team the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs. The Brisbane media were so confident about the strength of this super Wynnum side that they suggested a challenge match between the Seagulls and the Sydney Premiers Canterbury Bankstown.[citation needed]

It was an idea liked by the QRL, but if the suggestion is that the NSWRL were the roadblock, Canterbury prop Peter Tunks said the Bulldogs players and officials were just as keen to make the game happen as their northern rivals. "There was talk in the media about it and we were keen to play it because they obviously had a pretty good side with Wally, Gene Miles, Greg Dowling but we loved playing anybody back in those days", Tunks said. "We knew that it was a decent comp in Brisbane but we obviously didn't think it was as strong as the Sydney comp because this was the be-all and end-all. At Canterbury, we really loved a challenge and we would have loved the opportunity of going up against a team full of great players like they had. It's like anything, to be the best you have to beat the best and that was our attitude but unfortunately it didn't come off. I don't know where we were supposed to play but it would have been good fun."[1][2]

The NRL State Championship is marketed as "The best New South Wales club versus the best Queensland club". However, in both the New South Wales and Queensland Cups there are or were clubs based outside their respective states:

In 2014 the Northern Pride representing the Queensland Cup defeated the Penrith Panthers representing the New South Wales Cup in the first NRL State Championship Grand Final. The match has been played every subsequent year, with the exception of 2020 when it was not held on account of both competitions being cancelled due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and in 2021 with the remainder of the New South Wales Cup being cancelled also due to the COVID-19 lockdown in Sydney.

Results

[edit]

The NRL State Championship match is a curtain-raiser to the final match on NRL Grand Final day, with the winner crowned the NRL State Champions. Between 2014 and 2017 the match was played after the now-defunct NRL Youth Grand Final and before the NRL Grand Final.[3][4] In 2018 the match was played after the NRL Women's Grand Final and before the NRL Men's Grand Final. Since 2019 it has been played before the NRL Women's Grand Final and the NRL Men's Grand Final.
In 2020 the NRL State Championship match was not played due to the cancellation of the state premierships after Round 1 caused by the Coronavirus pandemic, and wasn't played in 2021 due the COVID-19 lockdown in Sydney.
The NRL State Championship match made its return in 2022.

NRL State Championship winners

[edit]
NRL
Season 		NRL State Championship Player of the Match
Winners Score Runners-up Venue
2014 Northern Pride 32–28 Penrith Panthers Stadium Australia Javid Bowen
2015 Ipswich Jets 26–12 Newcastle Knights Stadium Australia Matt Parcell
2016 Illawarra Cutters 54–12 Burleigh Bears Stadium Australia Drew Hutchison
2017 Penrith Panthers 42–18 PNG Hunters Stadium Australia Kaide Ellis
2018 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 42–18 Redcliffe Dolphins Stadium Australia Josh Cleeland
2019 Newtown Jets 20–16 Burleigh Bears Stadium Australia Toby Rudolf
2020 Match was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in Australia.[5]
2021 Match was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in New South Wales.
2022 Penrith Panthers 44–10 Norths Devils Stadium Australia J'maine Hopgood
2023 South Sydney Rabbitohs 42–22 Brisbane Tigers Stadium Australia Tyrone Munro
2024 Norths Devils 20–18 Newtown Jets Stadium Australia Oryn Keeley
2025 NZ Warriors 50–20 Burleigh Bears Stadium Australia Tanah Boyd[6]

State Championship Teams

[edit]
Rugby League Team City/Town Suburb/Suburbs District/Region/State/Territory Nation
Penrith Panthers Sydney Penrith New South Wales Australia
Northern Pride Cairns Barlow Park Queensland Australia
Ipswich Jets Ipswich North Ipswich Queensland Australia
Illawarra Cutters Wollongong Wollongong New South Wales Australia
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Sydney Belmore New South Wales Australia
Newtown Jets Sydney Marrickville New South Wales Australia
Burleigh Bears Gold Coast Miami Queensland Australia
Newcastle Knights Newcastle New Lambton New South Wales Australia
PNG Hunters Port Moresby Port Moresby National Capital District PNG
Redcliffe Dolphins Moreton Bay Redcliffe Queensland Australia
Norths Devils Brisbane Nundah Queensland Australia
Brisbane Tigers Brisbane Coorparoo Queensland Australia
South Sydney Rabbitohs Sydney Redfern New South Wales Australia
NZ Warriors Auckland Penrose Auckland NZ

State Championship Team Performance/s

[edit]
Rugby League Team Games
Played 		Games
Won 		Games
Lost 		Years
Played 		Years
Won 		Years
Lost
Penrith Panthers 3 2 1 2014, 2017, 2022 2017, 2022 2014
NZ Warriors 1 1 0 2025 2025
South Sydney Rabbitohs 1 1 0 2023 2023
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 1 1 0 2018 2018
Illawarra Cutters 1 1 0 2016 2016
Ipswich Jets 1 1 0 2015 2015
Northern Pride 1 1 0 2014 2014
Norths Devils 2 1 1 2022, 2024 2024 2022
Newtown Jets 2 1 1 2019, 2024 2019 2024
Newcastle Knights 1 0 1 2015 2015
Papua New Guinea Hunters 1 0 1 2017 2017
Redcliffe Dolphins 1 0 1 2018 2018
Brisbane Tigers 1 0 1 2023 2023
Burleigh Bears 3 0 3 2016, 2019, 2025 2025 2016, 2019, 2025

Media coverage

[edit]

Live television coverage for the NRL State Championship is broadcast by Australia's Fox Sports and Nine (which includes Nine's regional affiliates NBN, WIN and IMP until 2015 and mid 2016)[7] while live radio coverage is broadcast by Australia's ABC Grandstand around Australia via both the ABC Radio Mobile App (Digital Radio Stadion) and their network of FM and AM Local Radio Stations.[8]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

NRL State Championship

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
The NRL State Championship is an annual competition that pits the premiers of the Cup against the champions of the in a single decisive match to crown a national second-tier title. Established in its modern form in 2014, the event serves as a curtain-raiser to the at Stadium in , highlighting emerging talent from reserve-grade pathways across and . The championship traces its origins to 1918, when early interstate club matches between New South Wales Rugby League premiers and Brisbane Rugby League leaders began as a means to determine supremacy between the states' top clubs. These contests, such as South Sydney's 28-10 victory over Merthyr on 31 August 1918 at the Brisbane Cricket Ground, were attended by thousands and continued sporadically through the 1920s before pausing until a revival in the mid-1970s via mid-week cups. The contemporary iteration, formalized by the in 2014, builds on this legacy by integrating the winners of the —a second-grade competition featuring feeder clubs for NRL teams—and the Intrust Super Cup (now ), which operates similarly in . In format, the State Championship is a standalone fixture scheduled ahead of the NRL Women's Grand Final and the main NRL decider, typically drawing crowds of over 80,000 as part of the weekend festivities. It provides a platform for pathway players, with notable performances often leading to NRL promotions; for instance, the 2025 edition saw the ' reserve-grade side defeat the 50-20 to claim their maiden title after winning the . Past champions include the (2019), (2022), (2023), Norths Devils (2024), and (2025), underscoring its role in developing rugby league's next generation while celebrating state-based excellence.

Overview and Format

Competition Overview

The NRL State Championship is an annual single-match competition contested between the premiers of the Cup () and the (also known as the Cup) to crown a national reserve-grade champion. This event determines the top performer among Australia's elite second-tier professional teams, emphasizing competition at the level below the top-flight Premiership. Established in 2014 by the (NRL), the championship was introduced to bridge the gap between the state-based second-tier leagues governed by the (NSWRL) and the Queensland Rugby League (QRL), thereby enhancing interstate rivalry and integrating regional competitions into the national framework. It serves as a curtain-raiser to the , providing high-profile exposure for reserve-grade players. Integral to the NRL ecosystem, the State Championship plays a key role in talent development by offering state-based players a competitive platform to demonstrate their abilities against peers from the rival state, attracting attention from NRL club scouts and facilitating pathways to the elite Premiership. This focus on progression underscores its contribution to building depth and quality across the sport's professional structure. Eligibility is restricted to the premiership-winning teams from the and , comprising affiliated feeder clubs that represent NRL franchises or function as standalone entities within the NSWRL and QRL jurisdictions. These participants embody the reserve-grade arms of the broader pathway system.

Match Format and Venue

The NRL State Championship is contested in a single knockout format, featuring one match between the premiers of the Cup and the (also known as the Hostplus Cup), with no additional series or involved. This winner-takes-all structure determines the national second-tier champion based solely on the result of this contest. The match is scheduled annually as a curtain-raiser during the weekend at Accor Stadium in . Since 2019, it has specifically preceded the , typically kicking off in the early afternoon to build excitement for the day's events. The fixture has been exclusively hosted at Accor Stadium—formerly known as and ANZ Stadium—since the championship's inception in , providing a high-profile stage aligned with the NRL's premier occasion. The game follows standard NRL regulations, played over 80 minutes divided into two 40-minute halves, with teams of 13 players each on the field. A award is presented to recognize the standout individual performance, often highlighting contributions that significantly influence the outcome.

Historical Development

Origins and Inception

The origins of the NRL State Championship can be traced back to 1918, when early interstate club matches between New South Wales Rugby League (NSWRL) premiers and Brisbane Rugby League (BRL) leaders began as a means to determine supremacy between the states' top clubs. The first such contest occurred on 31 August 1918 at the Brisbane Cricket Ground, where South Sydney defeated Merthyr 28-10 in front of 7,000 spectators. Subsequent matches included Balmain's 30-0 victory over Western Suburbs on 7 August 1920 at the Brisbane Exhibition Ground, and North Sydney's 24-18 win against Queensland on 2 July 1921 at Davies Park. These games, attended by thousands, continued sporadically through the 1920s before pausing until revivals in the mid-1970s via mid-week cups. A notable proposal in 1984 revived interest in an interstate club match, pitting the premiers of the Sydney and Brisbane competitions against each other. Following Wynnum Manly's dominant performance in the Brisbane Rugby League Grand Final that year, a Brisbane journalist suggested a one-off showdown with Sydney premiers Canterbury-Bankstown to settle which was the superior club side. Both clubs expressed interest, along with sponsors and officials, but the New South Wales Rugby League (NSWRL) rejected the proposal, citing concerns over exacerbating interstate rivalries. The concept lay dormant for decades but saw revival in the 2010s as the (NRL) aimed to foster greater national unity across its reserve grade pathways. This push occurred against the backdrop of established second-tier competitions: the , launched in 1996 to serve as Queensland's premier development league beyond the Brisbane Rugby League, and the , introduced in 2003 as the NSWRL's top reserve grade competition, evolving from earlier formats like the Jersey Flegg Cup. These state-based leagues had grown independently, prompting the NRL to seek a mechanism for integrating them under a unified national framework. The championship was officially established and launched in 2014, with its inaugural match featuring the Northern Pride (Queensland Cup premiers) against the Penrith Panthers (NSW Cup premiers) at ANZ Stadium in Sydney. This one-off fixture was designed to crown a national reserve grade champion, driven by objectives to bolster talent development pathways for emerging players and enhance fan engagement through a high-stakes interstate clash. Initially, the competition was administered by the NRL in partnership with the NSWRL and Queensland Rugby League (QRL), ensuring collaborative oversight between the national body and state governing organizations.

Key Milestones and Interruptions

In 2019, the NRL State Championship underwent a key scheduling expansion by being incorporated into the weekend as the second match in a historic triple-header, following the Grand Final and preceding the men's at ANZ Stadium in . This integration, which drew on the prestige of the season's culminating event, featured the defeating the 20-16 in a dramatic last-minute finish, thereby boosting the competition's visibility and alignment with the NRL's flagship fixtures. The momentum was abruptly halted by the , leading to the outright cancellation of the 2020 edition amid widespread lockdowns and restrictions across that suspended state-based competitions. Similarly, the 2021 match was abandoned due to ongoing measures, including the suspension of major and leagues, which prevented any state premiers from advancing to a national decider and marked the only consecutive interruptions in the competition's history. The championship resumed in 2022 without further disruptions, signaling a post-pandemic recovery with the securing a dominant 44-10 victory over the Norths Devils at Accor Stadium. This return drew an attendance of 11,115, a notable increase that reflected renewed fan enthusiasm and the event's reintegration into the NRL calendar as a standalone fixture following the grand final. A landmark development occurred in 2025 when the ' reserve team claimed the title with a commanding 50-20 win over the at Accor Stadium, becoming the first winner not affiliated with a or club. This achievement highlighted the NRL's growing Pacific footprint, as the Warriors' success demonstrated the viability of international expansion in the reserve-grade pathway. Throughout its evolution, administrative refinements have focused on player eligibility, limiting participation to registered players from NRL club reserve teams in the New South Wales Cup and to maintain competitive integrity and direct feeder alignment with the top-tier league. These tweaks, implemented to standardize rosters and exclude non-affiliated squads, have reinforced the championship's role as a bridge between state development and professional NRL opportunities.

Results and Records

Annual Match Results

The NRL State Championship grand final, pitting the premiers of the New South Wales Cup against the , has been held annually as a curtain-raiser to the since 2014, except in 2020 and 2021 when the competition was cancelled due to the that also disrupted the underlying state leagues. All matches have taken place at Accor Stadium (formerly ANZ Stadium) in , New South Wales. The results are summarized in the table below.
YearWinnerScoreRunner-upVenue
2014Northern Pride32–28Penrith PanthersAccor Stadium, Sydney
2015Ipswich Jets26–12Newcastle KnightsAccor Stadium, Sydney
2016Illawarra Cutters54–12Burleigh BearsAccor Stadium, Sydney
201742–18Papua New Guinea HuntersAccor Stadium, Sydney
2018Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs42–18Accor Stadium, Sydney
201920–16Accor Stadium, Sydney
202244–10Norths DevilsAccor Stadium, Sydney
202342–22Accor Stadium, Sydney
2024Norths Devils20–18Accor Stadium, Sydney
202550–20Accor Stadium, Sydney
In the 2014 inaugural match, the Northern Pride overcame a deficit with a dramatic three-try burst in the final 15 minutes to claim victory, marking Queensland's first title in the competition. The 2015 contest saw the control possession and territory throughout, leading to a comfortable win powered by strong forward play from Rod Griffin, who scored a decisive try late in the game. The 2016 featured a lopsided high-scoring affair where the Cutters ran in nine tries, including a from Sitili Tupouniua, overwhelming the in a display of attacking dominance. Penrith's 2017 triumph highlighted their backline speed, with and combining for multiple tries in a clinical 42–18 rout of the PNG Hunters. The 2018 Bulldogs victory was driven by forward Nu Brown, who earned honors for his two tries and defensive efforts in a 42–18 win that showcased Canterbury's set completion superiority over the . Newtown's 2019 win was a thriller, as they trailed 16–2 before mounting a comeback capped by Jackson Ferris's try in the dying seconds for a 20–16 victory, with coach Todd Payten crediting their resilience. The 2022 delivered a commanding performance, scoring eight tries including a from Thomas Jenkins to dismantle the Norths Devils 44–10 and secure back-to-back titles for . South Sydney's 2023 success marked their first championship, with a rampant eight-try haul led by Taane Milne's overpowering the 42–22 in a one-sided encounter. The 2024 match was a tense arm-wrestle decided by Oryn Keeley's late double, including a match-winning try with five minutes remaining, as the Norths Devils edged the 20–18 for Queensland's third title. In 2025, the produced a dominant display, racing to a 30–6 lead en route to a 50–20 thrashing of the , highlighted by their clinical finishing and defensive solidity.

Winners and Performance Statistics

The NRL State Championship, contested annually since 2014 (with interruptions in 2020 and 2021 due to the ), has seen 10 editions completed as of 2025. New South Wales-affiliated teams hold the majority of titles with seven wins, while teams have secured three, and the claimed the most recent in 2025. The following table lists all winners by year, including final scores:
YearWinnerScoreRunner-upVenue
2014Northern Pride (QLD)32–28Penrith Panthers (NSW)
2015 (QLD)26–12 (NSW)
2016 Cutters (NSW)54–12 (QLD)
2017 (NSW)42–18 (QLD)
2018 (NSW)42–18 (QLD)
2019 (NSW)20–16 (QLD)
2022 (NSW)44–10Norths Devils (QLD)
2023South Sydney Rabbitohs (NSW)42–22Brisbane Tigers (QLD)
2024Norths Devils (QLD)20–18 (NSW)
2025 (NSW)50–20 (QLD)
Penrith Panthers are the only team with multiple titles (2017 and 2022). Performance statistics highlight the competition's competitiveness, though New South Wales dominance is evident in the win tally. The highest score recorded is Illawarra Cutters' 54–12 victory in 2016, showcasing offensive prowess in a one-sided affair. No single player has multiple Player of the Match awards based on documented records, with awards recognizing standout individual contributions in each final. Aggregate across the 10 matches include an average winning margin of approximately 20 points, reflecting lopsided outcomes in several contests while others remained close (e.g., margins of 2 and 4 points in 2024 and 2019, respectively). No team has achieved consecutive wins, with the longest streak being a single victory per team except for Penrith's non-consecutive successes. Total points scored in finals average around 50 per match, underscoring the high-scoring nature of the fixture. Player of the Match awards, often highlighting decisive performers, have been documented as follows for recent editions:
  • 2019: Toby Rudolf (Newtown Jets), recognized for his strong forward play in a tight win.
  • 2022: J'maine Hopgood (Penrith Panthers), honored in his final game for the club before moving to Parramatta.
  • 2023: Tyrone Munro (South Sydney Rabbitohs), who scored a hat-trick in the 42–22 triumph.
  • 2024: Oryn Keeley (Norths Devils), scoring the winning tries in a 20–18 thriller.
  • 2025: Tanah Boyd (New Zealand Warriors), with four try assists, a try, and seven goals from nine attempts.
Earlier awards (2014–2018) lack consistent public documentation in official reports, though the competition continues to emphasize individual excellence alongside team success.

Participating Teams

Affiliated Competitions

The (NSW Cup), established in 2003 as a dedicated pathway competition for Sydney-based (NRL) clubs, operates as the premier open-age men's tournament in . It features 13 teams, including reserves from NRL franchises and select independent clubs, competing in a 26-round regular season followed by a five-team finals series culminating in a . The competition emphasizes player development, with NRL-contracted athletes regularly participating to gain match experience. The , currently branded as the Hostplus Cup, was founded in 1996 to serve and regional clubs, filling the gap left by the discontinued Winfield State League amid anti-tobacco sponsorship laws. Structured similarly to the , it includes 15 teams—predominantly from , with one from and one from —in a 23-round regular season plus finals, fostering talent progression to the NRL. The grand final determines the state premier, who advances directly to the national showdown. Both leagues embody an affiliation model where the majority of teams function as reserve-grade feeders for NRL clubs, enabling seamless integration of players; for instance, the ' NSW Cup side directly supports the NRL team's roster needs. However, independent entities persist, such as the Northern Pride in , which operates without a direct NRL parent club while contributing to broader talent pipelines. Qualification for the NRL State Championship is straightforward: the grand final winners from each state competition receive automatic entry as equal participants, with no seeding, byes, or additional criteria applied.

Notable Teams and Players

The Northern Pride claimed the inaugural NRL State Championship in 2014, defeating the 32-28 and marking a strong Queensland representation in the competition's early years. The emerged as consistent performers, securing victories in 2017 against the PNG Hunters (42-18) and in 2022 over the Norths Devils (44-10), while also finishing as runners-up in 2014. The have been perennial contenders from , reaching the final three times as runners-up—in 2016 (losing 54-12 to ), 2019 (20-16 to ), and 2025 (50-20 to )—highlighting their resilience despite no championship wins. In 2016, the Illawarra Cutters, serving as reserves for the , achieved a dominant 54-12 victory over the to claim the title, becoming the first New South Wales-based team to win the championship and showcasing the depth of NRL feeder systems. The competition has expanded beyond traditional Australian states, incorporating international elements through teams like the PNG Hunters, who reached the 2017 final as runners-up after losing 42-18 to Penrith, and the , who secured their maiden title in 2025 with a 50-20 win over Burleigh, broadening the event's scope. Key players have leveraged State Championship success for NRL breakthroughs, exemplified by , who captained Penrith to the 2022 title—scoring two tries in the 44-10 win—and debuted for the in 2023, later earning Indigenous All Stars selection.

Significance and Coverage

Role in Australian

The NRL State Championship serves as an essential talent development mechanism within Australian , acting as a showcase for reserve-grade players from the New South Wales Cup and Cup to demonstrate their readiness for the top-flight NRL. By pitting state premiers against each other, the competition identifies and accelerates the progression of emerging athletes, with many participants earning call-ups to NRL squads shortly thereafter. For example, the ' reserve-grade team's 2025 victory exemplified this pathway, as several squad members, including key contributors like , had already debuted or were fast-tracked into the NRL first-grade lineup following strong performances in lower-tier competitions feeding into the championship. This event also intensifies the historic interstate rivalry between and , extending the competitive spirit of the to reserve-grade levels and fostering state pride among up-and-coming players. Contested annually between the premiers of each state's elite second-tier leagues, it reinforces regional identities and motivates talent retention within state systems, much like Origin does for elite representatives, while providing a platform for reserve players to embody that same passion. In recent years, the championship has contributed to the broader growth of 's national footprint, with attendance figures reflecting increasing interest in reserve-grade interstate contests. The 2025 match at Accor Stadium drew 12,113 spectators as a curtain-raiser to day, building on prior events like the 2023 clash (approximately 13,000 attendees) and the 2022 final (11,115 fans), helping sustain engagement in developmental amid the NRL's overall record-breaking crowds exceeding 4 million for the 2025 season.

Media Broadcasting

The NRL State Championship has been broadcast live on Australian primarily through (now part of ) since its inception in 2014, providing comprehensive coverage including match telecasts and commentary. This pay TV platform has remained a key outlet for dedicated audiences, offering in-depth analysis and replays via associated services like . Free-to-air television coverage on the began alongside the inaugural match in 2014 and has continued annually, with the event integrated into weekend programming from that point onward, serving as a curtain-raiser to heighten anticipation for the NRL decider. In 2025, the match was aired live on Channel 9 and streamed on 9Now, accessible to a broad national audience. Radio broadcasts of the NRL State Championship have been provided by ABC Grandstand (now ABC Sport) since 2014, delivering live play-by-play commentary and expert insights to listeners across Australia. Additional radio options, such as SEN, have supplemented coverage in recent years, particularly during Grand Final week. Digital platforms have expanded access to the championship, with highlights and extended clips available on NRL.com and the official NRL YouTube channel following each match. Internationally, coverage is limited but available through the subscription-based Watch NRL service, which streams the event live and on-demand for viewers outside Australia, New Zealand, and Pacific Islands territories. Following the competition's resumption in 2022 after a COVID-19 hiatus, broadcasting has trended toward enhanced pre-match analysis on both television and digital outlets, focusing on team preparations and historical context to engage viewers ahead of the live action.

References

  1. https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/sport/574829/what-is-the-nrl-state-championship-and-why-are-the-nz-warriors-playing-in-it-on-grand-final-day
  2. https://www.rabbitohs.com.au/news/everything-you-need-to-know
  3. https://www.nrl.com/draw/nrl-state-championship/2025/nrl-state-championship/warriors-v-bears/
  4. https://www.theroar.com.au/2023/10/04/more-interesting-than-internationals-the-nrl-state-championship-is-a-lot-older-than-you-think/
  5. https://www.nrl.com/news/topic/state-competitions/
  6. https://www.nrl.com/news/2025/10/05/nrl-state-championship-nz-warriors-v-burleigh-bears/
  7. https://www.nrl.com/draw/nrl-state-championship/2019/state-championship-final/jets-v-bears/
  8. https://www.nrl.com/draw/nrl-state-championship/2022/nrl-state-championship/panthers-v-devils/
  9. https://www.nrl.com/news/2024/10/06/late-keeley-double-propels-devils-to-state-championship-title/
  10. https://www.nrl.com/siteassets/documents/nrl-annual-report-2014.pdf
  11. https://www.qrl.com.au/news/2019/10/01/nrl-state-championship-teams-burleigh-v-newtown/
  12. https://www.nrl.com/news/2019/09/28/nrl-grand-final-schedule-everything-you-need-to-know/
  13. https://www.nrl.com/operations/the-game/
  14. https://www.nrl.com/news/2014/10/01/the-greatest-game-never-played/
  15. https://pythagonrl.com/2019/01/28/a-complete-history-of-the-queensland-cup/
  16. https://www.nswrl.com.au/about/history-and-records/nsw-cup/
  17. https://www.nrl.com/news/2014/10/05/pride-storm-home-to-clinch-state-championship/
  18. https://www.qrl.com.au/news/2014/10/05/northern-pride-simply-the-best/
  19. https://www.nrl.com/news/2019/10/06/jets-stun-bears-with-last-minute-winner/
  20. https://www.nrl.com/news/2020/03/27/nrl-states-cancel-state-wide-competitions-and-representative-programs/
  21. https://www.nswrl.com.au/news/2021/08/10/nswrl-makes-difficult-decision-to-abandon-major-competitions/
  22. https://www.warriors.kiwi/news/2025/10/05/match-report-putting-an-exclamation-mark-on-superb-campaign/
  23. https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/nrl-2025-tanah-boyd-nrl-state-championship-state-cup-new-zealand-warriors-vs-burleigh-bears-jett-cleary-score-result/news-story/c939ecb8f83c59de6f595868f61bc987
  24. https://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/competitions/state-championship/summary.html
  25. https://www.nswrl.com.au/news/2022/10/02/state-championship-live-blog--panthers-v-devils/
  26. https://www.qrl.com.au/news/2023/10/01/rabbitohs-prove-too-strong-for-tigers-in-nrl-state-championship/
  27. https://www.qrl.com.au/news/2024/10/07/nrl-state-championship-oryn-keeley/
  28. https://www.nswrl.com.au/news/2025/10/05/as-it-happened-warriors-too-strong-for-bears-in-state-championship/
  29. https://www.nswrl.com.au/competitions/the-knock-on-effect-nsw-cup/
  30. https://www.qrl.com.au/about/about-us/
  31. https://www.qrl.com.au/draw/
  32. https://www.qrl.com.au/news/2025/09/23/team-lists-hostplus-cup-grand-final/
  33. https://www.nswrl.com.au/clubs/
  34. https://www.nrl.com/news/topic/hostplus-cup/
  35. https://www.nrl.com/draw/nrl-state-championship/2017/state-championship-final/panthers-v-hunters/
  36. https://www.nrl.com/draw/nrl-state-championship/2016/state-championship-final/dragons-v-bears/
  37. https://www.nrl.com/news/2016/10/02/class-of-cutters-impossible-to-stop/
  38. https://www.penrithpanthers.com.au/news/2022/10/02/panthers-down-devils-to-claim-nrl-state-champions/
  39. https://www.qrl.com.au/maroons-history/former-origin-greats/jmaine-hopgood/
  40. https://afltables.com/rl/crowds/2025.html
  41. https://kayosports.com.au/?pg=nrl
  42. https://www.nrl.com/news/2025/09/18/grand-final-week-2025-everything-you-need-to-know/
  43. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIK-K7v-yJA
  44. https://www.nrl.com/about-us/watch-nrl/
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