NRL is the most popular rugby league competition in the world and the 24th edition promises to be one of the most exciting yet. It’s all set to run for eight months, from the opening game in March to the Grand final in October. Find out how to watch every game live or on demand right here.
Must See NRL 2021 TV
2021 will see the NRL returning to the usual 25-round season after last year’s shortened format. This means that teams will play both home and away matches in Australia and New Zealand, which is great news for everyone involved, especially the fans.
Penrith Panthers were the real standout team last year. They will be out to go one better in 2021 by becoming NRL champions for the first time since 2003, and go into the season as early favourites. Some of the usual players like Melbourne Storm and Sydney Roosters are also sure to be in the mix when the Finals comes around in September and October.
State Of Origin will go back to its usual mid-season slot of June and July. The Maroons caused one of the biggest upsets in Origin history with their 2-1 series win of the Blues last year, meaning NSW will be itching for a bit of payback. It all promises to be explosive!
How to Watch or Stream the NRL LIVE
There are several options for watching the NRL in Australia, including the official free to air broadcaster, Network Nine. The Nine Network will once again be televising the entire Grand Final live. Nine will also be showing the State of Origin series, with the first set to get underway on Wednesday, June 9th, and the NRL Grand Final on Sunday, October 3rd.
The NRL Live on Aussie TV
If you enjoy Rugby League action then the Fox League channel (Foxtel/Kayo Sports) is the place for you, televising the NRL season in its entirety LIVE and in HD with no ad-breaks during play before the grand final, and broadcasting over 40 games in 4K Ultra HD. This includes full match replays, and the convenience of streaming the NRL live with the Foxtel Go app (data charges may apply).
The Fox League channel can be accessed a variety of ways including at home with a Foxtel subscription, the Sports HD Pack and a set-top box. Other options for watching the NRL on Fox League include online with Foxtel Now, and via the Kayo Sports streaming service.
Watching the NRL Live Online
If you’re a resident of Australia and don’t have access to Fox League you may wish to review the Foxtel now free trial, which is good for 10 days and offers fans an opportunity to watch the NRL online without set-up or equipment fees. Fox League is available with the Sports Pack, which offers instant access to over 50 Sports shown Live and on demand.
Foxtel Now can be renewed month-to-month and is accessible through a variety of internet connected devices. Eligible platforms include PC, Mac, iOS or Android mobile devices, as well as Telstra TV, the Google Chromecast, Playstation 4 and more.
You can also watch the NRL online with a Kayo Sports subscription. Kayo is available as a stand alone, no lock in subscription or as part of a cut price annual plan with Kayo from Telstra.
Watch the NRL LIVE – 10 Day FREE trial
Streaming the NRL Live and Free
Kayo Sports also have a 14 day trial offering. With the Kayo trial you will have access to these exact same LIVE Rugby League matches as Foxtel, that’s every game of every round LIVE with no ad breaks during play, so you can stream the NRL free using compatible mobile devices. Compatible devices include select PC and Macs, iOS and Android phones and tablets, Apple and Telstra TV, Google Chromecast, as well as Safari, Firefox, Chrome and Microsoft Edge, with new apps and platforms arriving soon.
Kayo will also provide on demand replays of the matches they televise, should you need to catch-up on that week’s action. Additionally, Kayo offers an array of unique features such as Split-View, No Spoilers and Interactive Graphics. With over 50 sports shown live and on-demand, you never need to miss a key moment of the action found in their sport on TV guide.
Stream the NRL LIVE Online – 14 Day FREE trial
NRL 2021 LIVE TV Schedule (Sydney time)
Three games each week will be broadcast on Free to Air with Network Nine. You can watch all eight games from every round live with Foxtel and Kayo Sports.
| Date | Event | Time | Channel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thu, Mar 11 | Storm vs Rabbitohs | LIVE: 8.05pm | Nine / Foxtel / Kayo |
| Fri, Mar 12 | Knights vs Bulldogs | LIVE:6.00pm | Foxtel / Kayo |
| Fri, Mar 12 | Broncos vs Eels | LIVE: 8.05pm | Nine / Foxtel / Kayo |
| Sat, Mar 13 | Warriors vs Titans | LIVE: 3.00pm | Foxtel / Kayo |
| Sat, Mar 13 | Roosters vs Sea Eagles | LIVE: 5.30pm | Foxtel / Kayo |
| Sat, Mar 13 | Panthers vs Cowboys | LIVE: 7.35pm | Foxtel / Kayo |
| Sun, Mar 14 | Raiders vs Tigers | LIVE: 4.05pm | Nine / Foxtel / Kayo |
| Sun, Mar 14 | Dragons vs Sharks | LIVE: 6.15pm | Foxtel / Kayo |
Watch the NRL Live while Overseas
Watch NRL, the streaming service from Fox Sports, allows Rugby League fans outside of Australia to watch every minute of every game LIVE and ad-free, as well as providing access to all of the most important NRL shows. The service can be accessed weekly ($20), monthly ($39) or yearly ($199), or you can simply buy a finals series pass meaning you can tailor your subscription to suit your needs. If you only need access during the finals series, the finals series pass is a great value option.
Watch NRL overseas: Weekly, monthly and annual options available
Subscribe now and start watching instantly. All 2021 NRL Premiership matches and the State Of Origin available Live and On Demand.
NRL on Free to Air in Australia
Once again here in 2021, the NRL Premiership season will consist of twenty-five rounds. The majority of games will be played from Thursday to Sunday, with Wednesday and Monday matches reserved for special occasions, and rounds 12 and 16 shortened to accommodate the 2021 State of Origin.
The Free to Air NRL coverage on Nine Network will include live telecasts of the games on Thursday and Friday nights, as well as Sunday afternoon. Likewise, the last five Saturday night games will be shown on Network Nine in the lead-up to the Finals series.
NRL on Channel 9 vs Foxtel/Kayo TV Guide
| Day / Time / Event | Channel |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | Nine / Foxtel / Kayo |
| Friday Evening | Foxtel / Kayo |
| Friday Night | Nine / Foxtel / Kayo |
| Saturday Afternoon | Foxtel / Kayo |
| Saturday Evening | Foxtel / Kayo |
| Saturday Night | Foxtel / Kayo |
| Sunday Game 1 | Nine / Foxtel / Kayo |
| Sunday Game 2 | Foxtel / Kayo |
Must see NRL Rivalries on Aussie TV
There will be a number of fascinating contests during the 2021 Telstra NRL Premiership season, highlighted of course in the regular season by local derbies. Chief among them is the much-anticipated Queensland Derby between the Brisbane Broncos and North Queensland Cowboys, while the Western Derby, which sees the Parramatta Eels battle the Penrith Panthers, will warrant plenty of interest too. Also not to be overlooked are the annual Ron Coote Cup clashes between the South Sydney Rabbitohs and current the Sydney Roosters. Regarded as one of the most brutal rivalries in the NRL, these teams have had more Grand Final meetings than any other two clubs in League history.
NRL Regional Broadcast Times
Use this City and State chart to determine what time the match will start in your location, so whether enjoying the games at home or watching on mobile, you won’t miss a key minute. For example, based on their differences, games that kick off at 8.00pm in Melbourne will be broadcast at 7.30pm in Adelaide and at 5.00pm in Perth.
Sydney, NSW: 7.00pm
Melbourne, VIC: 7.00pm
Hobart, TAS: 7.00pm
Canberra, ACT: 7.00pm
Brisbane, QLD: 7.00pm
Adelaide, SA: 6.30pm
Darwin, NT: 6.30pm
Perth, WA: 5.00pm
List of NRL TV Shows in Australia
Looking for even more live NRL TV broadcasts and programs to keep you up to date during the 2021 season? Enjoy the off-field action with the wide-range of NRL shows offered by Channel Nine, Foxtel and Kayo. A list that includes features such as: The Sunday Footy Show, NRL 360, Big League Wrap, Sunday Night with Matty Johns plus more. Review the table below for details of the most popular NRL TV series, and stay on top of your favourite team and players even after the final whistle is blown.
| Show | Description | Channel | Live TV Times |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Sunday Footy Show | Get your fix of news, analysis and high profile guests on footy’s biggest panel show | Nine/9Gem | Sundays at 11.00am Sydney time |
| 100% Footy | Join Phil Gould, Paul Gallen and James Bracey as they discuss the game’s biggest issues | Nine/9Gem | Mondays at 10.00pm Sydney time |
| Thursday Night Golden Point | Check out the biggest stories from the biggest games immediately following Thursday Night Footy | Nine | Immediately following Macca’s Thursday Night Footy |
| Friday Night Knock Off | Join some of the games’ best known names as they discuss Friday night’s results and more | Nine | Immediately following VB Friday Night Footy |
| Sunday Kick Off | Get the latest news and NRL updates ahead of Sunday Footy | Nine/9Gem | Sunday at 3.00pm Sydney time |
| NRL 360 | Join Paul Kent and Ben Iken for a look at the NRL from all angles | Kayo/Foxtel | Monday-Wednesday at 6.30pm Sydney time |
| Queenslanders Only | Join Hannah Hollis and her rotating panel of League Legends for a parochial look at all things Queensland footy | Kayo/Foxtel | Tuesdays at 8.00pm Sydney time |
| League Life | Australia’s first all-female panel show sees discussion on the hottest topics in the NRL | Kayo/Foxtel | Wednesdays at 7.30pm Sydney time |
| Sunday Night with Matty Johns | Enjoy a mix of banter and analysis that only Matty Johns and his team can provide every Sunday night | Kayo/Foxtel | Sundays at 8.00pm Sydney time |
| Big League Wrap | Get a comprehensive wrap of the weekend’s matches, hosted by award-winning presenter Yvonne Sampson | Kayo/Foxtel | Mondays at 7.30pm Sydney time |
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