The 2021 NRL season was the 114th of professional rugby league in Australia and the 24th season run by the National Rugby League.
Regular season All times are in AEDT (UTC+11:00) up until the 4th of April and AEST (UTC+10:00) from then on.
Round 1 HomeScoreAwayMatch informationDate and timeVenueRefereesAttendance Melbourne Storm26 – 18 South Sydney RabbitohsThursday, 11 March, 8:05pmAAMI ParkGrant Atkins11,812 Newcastle Knights32 – 16 Canterbury-Bankstown BulldogsFriday, 12 March, 6:00pmMcDonald Jones StadiumBen Cummins19,555 Brisbane Broncos16 – 24 Parramatta EelsFriday, 12 March, 8:05pmSuncorp StadiumAdam Gee28,313 New Zealand Warriors19 – 6 Gold Coast TitansSaturday, 13 March, 3:00pmCentral Coast StadiumAshley Klein3,711 Sydney Roosters46 – 4 Manly Warringah Sea EaglesSaturday, 13 March, 5:30pmSydney Cricket GroundChris Sutton15,097 Penrith Panthers24 – 0 North Queensland CowboysSaturday, 13 March, 7:35pmPanthers StadiumMatt Cecchin14,077 Canberra Raiders30 – 12 Wests TigersSunday, 14 March, 4:05pmGIO StadiumGerard Sutton15,680 St. George Illawarra Dragons18 – 32 Cronulla-Sutherland SharksSunday, 14 March, 6:15pmNetstrata Jubilee StadiumPeter Gough7,636Source: Cronulla won their first Round 1 game since 2013. The Roosters winning margin is the biggest win in a Round 1 game since 2002.
Round 2 HomeScoreAwayMatch informationDate and timeVenueRefereesAttendance Parramatta Eels16 – 12 Melbourne StormThursday, 18 March, 8:05pmBankwest StadiumAshley Klein10,416 New Zealand Warriors16 – 20 Newcastle KnightsFriday, 19 March, 6:00pmCentral Coast StadiumGrant Atkins4,551 Gold Coast Titans28 – 16 Brisbane BroncosFriday, 19 March, 8:05pmCbus Super StadiumMatt Cecchin17,822 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs0 – 28 Penrith PanthersSaturday, 20 March, 3:00pmBankwest StadiumPeter Gough5,062 Manly Warringah Sea Eagles12 – 26 South Sydney RabbitohsSaturday, 20 March, 5:30pmLottolandGerard Sutton3,218 North Queensland Cowboys18 – 25 St. George Illawarra DragonsSaturday, 20 March, 7:35pmQueensland Country Bank StadiumBen Cummins15,120 Wests Tigers6 – 40 Sydney RoostersSunday, 21 March, 4:05pmCampbelltown StadiumAdam Gee6,107 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks10 – 12 Canberra RaidersSunday, 21 March, 6:15pmNetstrata Jubilee StadiumChris Sutton3,145Source: Penrith became the first NRL side ever to hold teams to 0 points in the first 2 rounds in a season. Heavy rain and flooding impacted attendances at games held in Sydney and Gosford.
Round 3 HomeScoreAwayMatch informationDate and timeVenueRefereesAttendance Penrith Panthers12 – 10 Melbourne StormThursday, 25 March, 8:05pmBlueBet StadiumGrant Atkins14,077 St. George Illawarra Dragons38 – 12 Manly Warringah Sea EaglesFriday, 26 March, 6:00pmWIN StadiumChris Sutton9,253 South Sydney Rabbitohs26 – 16 Sydney RoostersFriday, 26 March, 8:05pmStadium AustraliaAshley Klein22,838 Canberra Raiders31 – 34 New Zealand WarriorsSaturday, 27 March, 3:00pmGIO StadiumHenry Perenara13,456 Brisbane Broncos24 – 0 Canterbury-Bankstown BulldogsSaturday, 27 March, 5:30pmSuncorp StadiumBen Cummins22,509 Parramatta Eels28 – 4 Cronulla-Sutherland SharksSaturday, 27 March, 7:35pmBankwest StadiumAdam Gee19,236 Newcastle Knights20 – 24 Wests TigersSunday, 28 March, 4:05pmMcDonald Jones StadiumGerard Sutton20,239 North Queensland Cowboys8 – 44 Gold Coast TitansSunday, 28 March, 6:15pmQueensland Country Bank StadiumPeter Gough12,627Source: The Brisbane Broncos ended their 13-game losing streak in their win against Canterbury. The Gold Coast Titans recorded their largest ever score. In the same game, North Queensland suffered their biggest home defeat since Round 14, 2007. New Zealand recorded their biggest ever comeback after trailing Canberra 31–10 at the 48 minute mark.
Round 4 HomeScoreAwayMatch informationDate and timeVenueRefereesAttendance Manly Warringah Sea Eagles6 – 46 Penrith PanthersThursday, 1 April, 8:05pmLottolandMatt Cecchin6,017 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs0 – 38 South Sydney RabbitohsFriday, 2 April, 4:05pmStadium AustraliaGrant Atkins23,340 Melbourne Storm40 – 6 Brisbane BroncosFriday, 2 April, 8:05pmAAMI ParkGerard Sutton 14,135 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks48 – 10 North Queensland CowboysSaturday, 3 April, 5:15pmNetstrata Jubilee StadiumChris Sutton5,119 Gold Coast Titans4 – 20 Canberra RaidersSaturday, 3 April, 7:45pmAdam Gee5,117 Newcastle Knights13 – 22 St. George Illawarra DragonsSunday, 4 April, 4:05pmMcDonald Jones StadiumPeter Gough 21,770 Sydney Roosters32 – 12 New Zealand WarriorsSunday, 4 April, 6:15pmSydney Cricket GroundBen Cummins12,210 Wests Tigers22 – 36 Parramatta EelsMonday, 5 April, 4:00pmStadium Australia Ashley Klein29,056Source: Penrith tied the NRL record for the longest away winning streak. Manly suffered their biggest ever loss at Brookvale Oval, surpassing a 39–0 loss to St George in Round 6, 1963. Canterbury became just the second side in NRL history (alongside Cronulla in 2014) to fail to score a point in three consecutive matches. They also lost their first four games to start the season for the first time since 1971. The Cronulla vs North Queensland and Gold Coast vs Canberra games were both moved to Netstrata Jubilee Stadium from the Sunshine Coast Stadium and Cbus Super Stadium respectively, due to COVID concerns in South East Queensland. In addition, the starting times of both games were altered. Cronulla's 48 Points against the Cowboys was their most of all time against the Cowboys.
Round 5 HomeScoreAwayMatch informationDate and timeVenueRefereesAttendance South Sydney Rabbitohs35 – 6 Brisbane BroncosThursday, 8 April, 7:50pmStadium AustraliaBen Cummins9,142 New Zealand Warriors12 – 13 Manly Warringah Sea EaglesFriday, 9 April, 6:00pmCentral Coast StadiumChris Butler4,982 Penrith Panthers30 – 10 Canberra RaidersFriday, 9 April, 7:55pmBlueBet StadiumGerard Sutton20,890 Gold Coast Titans42 – 16 Newcastle KnightsSaturday, 10 April, 3:00pmCbus Super StadiumAshley Klein12,492 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs18 – 52 Melbourne StormSaturday, 10 April, 5:30pmStadium AustraliaChris Sutton5,104 Sydney Roosters26 – 18 Cronulla-Sutherland SharksSaturday, 10 April, 7:35pmSydney Cricket GroundAdam Gee10,739 Wests Tigers30 – 34 North Queensland CowboysSunday, 11 April, 4:05pmLeichhardt OvalMatt Cecchin9,433 Parramatta Eels12 – 26 St. George Illawarra DragonsSunday, 11 April, 6:15pmBankwest StadiumGrant Atkins24,384Source: A moments silence was held prior to all matches in this round as a tribute to Tommy Raudonikis, who died a day before the first game of the round. South Sydney's 143 points scored in the first 5 rounds is their most all-time. Penrith's 5 wins from 5 is the best start to a season in club history. Penrith became the first team in NRL history to win 20 straight regular season games. Canterbury recorded their worst start to a season since 1964. John Morris coached his last game for the Cronulla Sharks after not being offered an extended contract.
Round 6 HomeScoreAwayMatch informationDate and timeVenueRefereesAttendance Brisbane Broncos12 – 20 Penrith PanthersThursday, 15 April, 7:50pmSuncorp StadiumGrant Atkins21,224 Newcastle Knights26 – 22 Cronulla-Sutherland SharksFriday, 16 April, 6:00pmMcDonald Jones StadiumMatt Cecchin17,039 Melbourne Storm20 – 4 Sydney RoostersFriday, 16 April, 7:55pmAAMI ParkAdam Gee15,087 Manly Warringah Sea Eagles36 – 0 Gold Coast TitansSaturday, 17 April, 3:00pmGlen Willow Regional Sports StadiumChris Butler6,380 South Sydney Rabbitohs18 – 14 Wests TigersSaturday, 17 April, 5:30pmStadium AustraliaGerard Sutton16,134 Canberra Raiders10 – 35 Parramatta EelsSaturday, 17 April, 7:35pmGIO StadiumBen Cummins20,089 St. George Illawarra Dragons14 – 20 New Zealand WarriorsSunday, 18 April, 2:00pmNetstrata Jubilee StadiumChris Sutton11,222 North Queensland Cowboys30–18 Canterbury-Bankstown BulldogsSunday, 18 April, 4:05pmQueensland Country Bank StadiumAshley Klein11,965Source: Penrith became the first team to win 21 straight regular season games. Penrith won 11 straight away games, the most in NRL history. Jack Hetherington of Canterbury was sent off at the 55th minute mark in the Bulldogs game against North Queensland. The Eels won in Canberra for the first time since 2006.
Round 7 (ANZAC Round) HomeScoreAwayMatch informationDate and timeVenueRefereesAttendance Penrith Panthers24 – 6 Newcastle KnightsThursday, 22 April, 7:50pm BlueBet StadiumGerard Sutton16,110 Gold Coast Titans30 – 40 South Sydney RabbitohsFriday, 23 April, 6:00pmCbus Super StadiumChris Sutton17,383 Parramatta Eels46 – 6 Brisbane BroncosFriday, 23 April, 7:55pmTIO StadiumGrant Atkins12,056 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks12 – 18 Canterbury-Bankstown BulldogsSaturday, 24 April, 5:30pmNetstrata Jubilee StadiumChris Butler7,420 North Queensland Cowboys26 – 24 Canberra RaidersSaturday, 24 April, 7:35pmQueensland Country Bank StadiumPeter Gough13,791 Wests Tigers6 – 40 Manly Warringah Sea EaglesSunday, 25 April, 1:45pmBankwest StadiumAdam Gee14,095 Sydney Roosters34 – 10 St. George Illawarra DragonsSunday, 25 April, 4:05pmSydney Cricket GroundAshley Klein37,620 Melbourne Storm42 – 20 New Zealand WarriorsSunday, 25 April, 6:15pmAAMI ParkMatt Cecchin20,320Source: The crowd of 12,056 for the Parramatta vs Brisbane match at TIO Stadium is the highest club rugby league match attendance in Darwin's history. Canterbury became the first team to use the 18th man since it was introduced several weeks earlier, after having two players ruled out with concussion during their game against Cronulla. The crowd of 37,620 is the highest crowd for an NRL game during the pandemic and the highest since the 2019 NRL Grand Final. Penrith became the first team to win 22 straight regular season games.
Round 8 HomeScoreAwayMatch informationDate and timeVenueRefereesAttendance Canberra Raiders20 – 34 South Sydney RabbitohsThursday, 29 April, 7:50pmGIO StadiumBen Cummins14,260 Melbourne Storm40 – 14 Cronulla-Sutherland SharksFriday, 30 April, 6:00pmAAMI ParkGerard Sutton10,069 Brisbane Broncos36 – 28 Gold Coast TitansFriday, 30 April, 7:55pmSuncorp StadiumAdam Gee21,322 Penrith Panthers28 – 16 Manly Warringah Sea EaglesSaturday, 1 May, 3:00pmCarrington ParkAshley Klein5,798 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs10 – 32 Parramatta EelsSaturday, 1 May, 5:30pmStadium AustraliaPeter Gough13,273 Newcastle Knights4 – 38 Sydney RoostersSaturday, 1 May, 7:35pmMcDonald Jones StadiumMatt Cecchin22,172 New Zealand Warriors24 – 20 North Queensland CowboysSunday, 2 May, 2:00pmCentral Coast StadiumChris Butler3,692 St. George Illawarra Dragons8 – 16 Wests TigersSunday, 2 May, 4:05pmWIN StadiumChris Sutton12,323Source: Brisbane recorded their biggest ever comeback after being down 22–0 during the 1st half of their game against the Gold Coast Titans. Penrith became the 4th ever NRL team since the NRL era (1998) to be undefeated after the first 8 games in the season.
Round 9 HomeScoreAwayMatch informationDate and timeVenueRefereesAttendance South Sydney Rabbitohs0 – 50 Melbourne StormThursday, 6 May, 7:50pmStadium AustraliaGrant Atkins7,501 Penrith Panthers48 – 0 Cronulla-Sutherland SharksFriday, 7 May, 6:00pmBlueBet StadiumChris Butler16,110 Parramatta Eels31 – 18 Sydney RoostersFriday, 7 May, 7:55pmBankwest StadiumMatt Cecchin25,118 Canberra Raiders16 – 24 Newcastle KnightsSaturday, 8 May, 3:00pmMcDonalds ParkAdam Gee6,642 Wests Tigers28 – 36 Gold Coast TitansSaturday, 8 May, 5:30pmCampbelltown StadiumAshley Klein8,411 North Queensland Cowboys19 – 18 Brisbane BroncosSaturday, 8 May, 7:35pmQueensland Country Bank StadiumChris Sutton22,222 Manly Warringah Sea Eagles38 – 32 New Zealand WarriorsSunday, 9 May, 2:00pmLottolandPeter Gough6,726 St. George Illawarra Dragons32 – 12 Canterbury-Bankstown BulldogsSunday, 9 May, 4:05pmNetstrata Jubilee StadiumBen Cummins7,253Source: South Sydney recorded their worst loss since Round 16, 2006.
Round 10 (Magic Round)