NRL is the most popular rugby league competition in the world and the 23rd edition of this promises to be one of the most exciting yet. Entering the 2020 season Sydney are the defending champions for the second year in a row and will be difficult to stop in their quest for a three-peat, but they have plenty of challengers. Using the options listed here you can catch all the action at home on TV, or stream the matches live with a mobile device.
Must See NRL 2020 TV
Despite trailing the Storm throughout the year and finishing the regular season in second place, few were surprised when the Sydney Roosters rolled through the finals series to earn a second consecutive NRL Premiership last year. The Grand Final was a more spirited affair than many anticipated, with the Raiders putting in a gallant showing in their first ever appearance on the biggest stage, but the Roosters proved too strong and were able to make it two from two courtesy of a 73rd minute try by 2019 Dally M Medallist James Tedesco.
Heading into 2020, they are once again viewed as the team to beat and will be tipped by many to make it a third successive Premiership year, but it’s a long season and there are a number of teams lining up to knock them off their perch. The ever-competitive Storm and the impressive Raiders are perhaps the most likely of those challengers, but the likes of the Parramatta Eels, Manly Sea Eagles, South Sydney Rabbitohs will all feel that they deserve to be in the conversation as well. If history repeats itself, there’s also likely to be more than one surprise team, and you won’t have to miss a key match using the options listed in this guide.
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 an average of three live matches each premiership week, but does not have TV rights every contest or full match replays which are exclusive to Foxtel and Kayo Sports. Other highlights on Nine include the State of Origin series, with the first match hosted at the Adelaide Oval on Wednesday, the 3rd of June, and the NRL Grand Final which will be held this season on Sunday the 4th of October.
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 2020 LIVE TV Schedule (Sydney time)
Among the action this week being broadcast Live on the Fox League channel (Foxtel/Kayo) with no ad-breaks during play, that will either be limited by geography or not available on the NRL Free to Air provider (Network Nine), includes:
| Date | Event | Time | Channel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thu, Aug 13 | Roosters vs Storm | LIVE: 7.50pm | Kayo / Foxtel / Nine |
| Fri, Aug 14 | Warriors vs Panthers | LIVE: 6.00pm | Kayo / Foxtel |
| Fri, Aug 14 | Eels vs Dragons | LIVE: 7.55pm | Kayo / Foxtel / Nine |
| Sat, Aug 15 | Sharks vs Titans | LIVE: 3.00pm | Kayo / Foxtel |
| Sat, Aug 15 | Cowboys vs Rabbitohs | LIVE: 5.30pm | Kayo / Foxtel |
| Sat, Aug 15 | Raiders vs Broncos | LIVE: 7.35pm | Kayo / Foxtel |
| Sun, Aug 16 | Knights vs Sea Eagles | LIVE: 2.00pm | Kayo / Foxtel |
| Sun, Aug 16 | Tigers vs Bulldogs | LIVE: 4.05pm | Kayo / Foxtel / Nine |
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.
Currently abroad? Catch all the NRL Telstra Premiership action with the Watch NRL App!
Stream each and every match of the 2020 NRL Telstra Premiership live and on demand on your devices using the Watch NRL app. Subscription starts at $20/week, cancel anytime. Only available for subscribers outside of Australia.
NRL on Free to Air in Australia
Once again here in 2020, 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 2020 State of Origin. Friday will see multiple evening/night double headers, and the first Monday match will take place over Easter, on the 13th of April.
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 2020 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 Premier’s 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 2020 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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