The league is heading into a crucial round of negotiations with major television networks and streaming platforms at a time when its balance sheet looks stronger than ever. Over the 12 months to 30 September, total revenue climbed to $845.6 million and reflected the code’s growing appeal with fans, commercial partners and governments that back rugby league programs around the country.
That jump represents about $100.7 million in extra income year on year, with roughly $10 million more coming from broadcast partners and corporate wagering and around $83.7 million generated through sponsorships, match-day tickets and government funding. With that extra cash, the league lifted its distributions to clubs, players, state bodies and grassroots development by about $85.2 million and still booked a net profit of $64.9 million, edging up from $62.3 million the previous year. Net assets also rose about 20% to $387.3 million and were helped in part by hotel properties held on the books.
Not every line item is public. The governing body did not break out how much federal funding is tied to the planned Papua New Guinea expansion side or its related development programs, and it kept the financial details around the Perth-based expansion team and executive pay confidential. Even so, the pattern of steady revenue growth over multiple years suggests the organisation sees itself in its strongest financial position and is preparing to invest more in new income-producing assets and markets.
In professional sport, those numbers sit within a bigger ecosystem where broadcast money is still king. For Australia’s largest winter codes, most revenue flows from pay TV and streaming operators along with free-to-air broadcasters and the size of the media deals can vary sharply between codes. The NRL’s current rights agreement covering domestic and New Zealand markets is believed to be worth more than $1.7 billion through to its 2027 expiry and is significant yet notably below the $4.5 billion seven-year media rights pact secured by the rival national football competition. That gap reflects differences in format and commercialisation, since one extra team, longer games, more scoring and more ad breaks can translate into roughly double the advertising take for broadcasters in that other code.
Audience performance looks like the NRL’s strongest card as the next negotiations approach. The competition drew almost 5 million fans to games in 2025, up about 3.6%, and participation in rugby league programs reached around 1.1 million people, a rise of 7.5%. While average season TV audiences were not detailed, the league reported grand final viewing figures jumping by almost 35%. That kind of momentum matters because it can offset softer advertising market conditions and support arguments for higher broadcast fees, even in a more cautious media spending environment.
Future growth seems to hinge on expansion and scheduling as much as on current popularity. The league plans to add a Perth-based team in 2027 and a Papua New Guinea side, which will create more matches to package into a rights deal, fresh sponsorship inventory and new time zones that may suit broadcasters looking to extend live content windows. If fan interest keeps rising and the additional teams deliver on their commercial potential, the NRL looks like it could close in on or pass the $1 billion revenue mark over the next few years, although that outcome still depends on how much broadcasters are ultimately willing to pay for the next contract cycle.
