2016 NRL season


The 2016 NRL season was the 109th season of professional rugby league in Australia and the 19th season run by the National Rugby League. The season started in New Zealand with the annual Auckland Nines, and was followed by the All Stars Match, which was played at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, and the World Club Series. The season concluded on October 2 with the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks winning their first ever premiership after 50 seasons, having entered the competition in 1967. The season was also noteworthy as it was the first time that all three Queensland based teams made the finals.

Teams

The lineup of teams remained unchanged for the 10th consecutive year. The NRL's salary cap for the clubs' top 25 players was $A6.3M for 2016.
ColoursClubSeason Home groundHead coachCaptain
Brisbane Broncos29th seasonSuncorp StadiumWayne BennettCorey Parker
Canberra Raiders35th seasonGIO Stadium CanberraRicky StuartJarrod Croker
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs82nd seasonANZ Stadium & Belmore Sports GroundDes HaslerJames Graham
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks50th seasonSouthern Cross Group StadiumShane FlanaganPaul Gallen
Gold Coast Titans10th seasonCbus Super StadiumNeil HenryNathan Friend & William Zillman
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles67th seasonBrookvale OvalTrent BarrettJamie Lyon
Melbourne Storm19th seasonAAMI ParkCraig BellamyCameron Smith
Newcastle Knights29th seasonHunter StadiumNathan BrownJeremy Smith, Trent Hodkinson & Tariq Sims
New Zealand Warriors22nd seasonMt. Smart StadiumAndrew McFaddenRyan Hoffman
North Queensland Cowboys22nd season1300SMILES StadiumPaul GreenJohnathan Thurston & Matt Scott
Parramatta Eels70th seasonPirtek Stadium & ANZ StadiumBrad ArthurTim Mannah & Kieran Foran
Penrith Panthers50th seasonPepper StadiumAnthony GriffinMatt Moylan
South Sydney Rabbitohs107th seasonANZ StadiumMichael MaguireGreg Inglis
St. George Illawarra Dragons18th seasonUOW Jubilee Oval & WIN StadiumPaul McGregorBen Creagh & Gareth Widdop
Sydney Roosters109th seasonAllianz StadiumTrent RobinsonJake Friend
Wests Tigers16th seasonCampbelltown Stadium & Leichhardt Oval & ANZ StadiumJason TaylorAaron Woods

Pre-season

The 2016 pre-season featured the third edition of the Auckland Nines competition, held over a weekend at Auckland's Eden Park in which the Parramatta Eels defeated the New Zealand Warriors in the final. The All Stars match was held on February 13 at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane. The 2016 World Club Series took place in England with the NRL premiers North Queensland Cowboys defeating the Super League champions Leeds Rhinos in the World Club Challenge match.

Parramatta Eels salary cap breach

The Parramatta Eels were faced with starting the season on -4 points due to salary cap indiscretions in 2015, however the NRL was satisfied with governance changes at the Eels and no points were deducted.
However, on 3 May 2016, after further salary cap breaches were exposed by the NRL, CEO Todd Greenberg announced the preliminary penalties of the club being fined $1 million, deducted twelve competition points, stripped of its 2016 Auckland Nines title and they were barred from receiving any further competition points until they fell under the salary cap, which they were reported to have exceeded by $570,000. Five officials were also suspended indefinitely. On 12 May the NRL reported that Parramatta had fallen back under the salary cap for 2016 and were able to play for competition points again for their next scheduled game.
On 9 July, after over 2 months of club officials contesting the preliminary penalties, Parramatta were handed their punishment with the addition of their for/against points tally accumulated from rounds 1-9 being deducted.

Regular season

Team1234567891011121314151617181920212223242526F1F2F3GF
Brisbane BroncosPAR
13
NZL
15
PEN
1
NQL
1*
GCT
8
SGI
26
NEW
53
SOU
22
CRO
2
MAN
24
NQL
1
WTI
1
NZL
18
CAN
8
XCBY
26
MEL
42
XSOU
20
PEN
19
SYD
16
SGI
4
PAR
22
CBY
10
MEL
10
SYD
10
GCT
16
NQL
6*
Canberra RaidersPEN
8
SYD
1
NEW
0*
GCT
4
CBY
14
PAR
30
CRO
24
WTI
54
PEN
1
SGI
4*
NZL
26
CBY
12
MAN
12
BRI
8
XGCT
8
NEW
4*
NQL
14
XNZL
4*
SOU
50
CRO
16
MEL
14
PAR
10
MAN
14
WTI
42
CRO
2
PEN
10
MEL
2
Canterbury-Bankstown BulldogsMAN
22
PEN
2
PAR
14
SOU
30
CAN
14
MEL
6
NZL
4
GCT
1*
PAR
8
WTI
32
SYD
12
CAN
12
CRO
2
SGI
18
XBRI
26
SYD
4
WTI
10
XNQL
36
SGI
3
NEW
14
MAN
4*
BRI
10
NQL
8
SOU
18
PEN
16
Cronulla-Sutherland SharksNQL
6
SGI
28
MAN
10
MEL
8
WTI
8
GCT
5
CAN
24
PEN
2
BRI
2
NEW
62
MAN
8
XCBY
2
NQL
3
XNZL
1*
PAR
10
PEN
16
SYD
12
NEW
32
GCT
0*
CAN
16
SGI
14
SOU
6
SYD
25
MEL
20
CAN
2
XNQL
12
MEL
2
Gold Coast TitansNEW
18
MEL
18
WTI
12
CAN
4
BRI
8
CRO
5
SGI
5
CBY
1*
MEL
38
SYD
20
PEN
4
XSOU
1*
PAR
10
MAN
20
CAN
8
NZL
9
XSGI
20
PAR
20
CRO
0*
NZL
10
WTI
1
NEW
20
PEN
1
NQL
16
BRI
16
Manly-Warringah Sea EaglesCBY
22
WTI
14
CRO
10
SYD
2
SOU
4
NZL
16
PAR
12
NEW
16
NQL
16
BRI
24
CRO
8
XCAN
12
PEN
7
GCT
20
NQL
4
SGI
30
XNZL
1*
SOU
8
NEW
20
PAR
1
CBY
4*
MEL
20
CAN
14
PEN
30
Melbourne StormSGI
2
GCT
18
NZL
7
CRO
8
NEW
4
CBY
6
WTI
1*
NZL
42
GCT
38
NQL
1
PAR
12
XPEN
18
SYD
46
SGI
10
WTI
9
BRI
42
XNEW
4
SYD
16
NQL
8
SOU
1*
CAN
14
MAN
20
BRI
10
CRO
20
NQL
6
XCAN
2
CRO
2
Newcastle KnightsGCT
18
SOU
42
CAN
0*
NZL
22
MEL
4
WTI
2
BRI
53
MAN
16
SYD
38
CRO
62
WTI
8
PAR
2
NQL
30
NZL
36
XSGI
12
CAN
4*
XMEL
4
CRO
32
MAN
20
CBY
14
PEN
36
GCT
20
SOU
22
SGI
2
New Zealand WarriorsWTI
8
BRI
15
MEL
7
NEW
22
SYD
4*
MAN
16
CBY
4
MEL
42
SGI
16
PEN
12
CAN
26
XBRI
18
NEW
36
SYD
2
CRO
1*
GCT
9
XMAN
1*
CAN
4*
PEN
4*
GCT
10
SOU
19
NQL
28
WTI
12
PAR
22
North Queensland CowboysCRO
6
PAR
4
SYD
40
BRI
1*
SGI
36
PEN
5
SOU
26
PAR
16
MAN
16
MEL
1
BRI
1
SGI
4
NEW
30
CRO
3
XMAN
4
SOU
20
CAN
14
XCBY
36
MEL
8
WTI
12
SYD
12
NZL
28
CBY
8
GCT
16
MEL
6
BRI
6*
CRO
12
Parramatta EelsBRI
13
NQL
4
CBY
14
WTI
8
PEN
2
CAN
30
MAN
12
NQL
16
CBY
8
SOU
2
MEL
12
NEW
2
XGCT
10
SOU
18
XCRO
10
SYD
4
PEN
4
GCT
20
WTI
15
MAN
1
BRI
22
CAN
10
SGI
12
NZL
22
Penrith PanthersCAN
8
CBY
2
BRI
1
SGI
2
PAR
2
NQL
5
SYD
4
CRO
2
CAN
1
NZL
12
GCT
4
XMEL
18
MAN
7
XSOU
2
WTI
8
CRO
16
PAR
4
BRI
19
NZL
4*
SYD
20
NEW
36
WTI
30
GCT
1
MAN
30
CBY
16
CAN
10
South Sydney RabbitohsSYD
32
NEW
42
SGI
2
CBY
30
MAN
4
SYD
7
NQL
26
BRI
22
WTI
8
PAR
2
SGI
10
XGCT
1*
WTI
16
PAR
18
PEN
2
NQL
20
XBRI
20
MAN
8
CAN
50
MEL
1*
NZL
19
CRO
6
NEW
22
CBY
18
St. George Illawarra DragonsMEL
2
CRO
28
SOU
2
PEN
2
NQL
36
BRI
26
GCT
5
SYD
2
NZL
16
CAN
4*
SOU
10
NQL
4
XCBY
18
MEL
10
NEW
12
MAN
30
XGCT
20
WTI
13
CBY
3
BRI
4
CRO
14
SYD
36
PAR
12
NEW
2
Sydney RoostersSOU
32
CAN
1
NQL
40
MAN
2
NZL
4*
SOU
7
PEN
4
SGI
2
NEW
38
GCT
20
CBY
12
XWTI
14
MEL
46
NZL
2
XCBY
4
PAR
4
CRO
12
MEL
16
BRI
16
PEN
20
NQL
12
SGI
36
CRO
25
BRI
10
Wests TigersNZL
8
MAN
14
GCT
12
PAR
8
CRO
8
NEW
2
MEL
1*
CAN
54
SOU
8
CBY
32
NEW
8
BRI
1
SYD
14
SOU
16
XMEL
9
PEN
8
CBY
10
XSGI
13
PAR
15
NQL
12
GCT
1
PEN
30
NZL
12
CAN
42
Team1234567891011121314151617181920212223242526F1F2F3GF

Bold – Opposition's Home game
X – Bye
* – Golden point game

Opponent for round listed above margin

Ladder

Ladder progression

Team1234567891011121314151617181920212223242526
1 Melbourne2466881012141618202224242628303234363838404042
2 Canberra245577799911131515171921232527293133353739
3 Cronulla-Sutherland 0224681012141618202224262830323436373737373939
4 North Queensland2244681012141416161818202224242628282828303234
5 Brisbane24468101214141616161618202020222424242628303234
6 Penrith0022446681010121214161818182022222426283032
7 Canterbury-Bankstown244668810101214141416182022242626283032323232
8 Gold Coast224666666810121414161616182022232325272727
9 Wests24444444668101012141416161820222424242626
10 New Zealand00024466888101214161618202020222424242424
11 St. George Illawarra0024446881010121414161818202020202022222224
12 South Sydney244466666810121212121212141414141416182022
13 Manly-Warringah00244668888101010101012141618202020202020
14 Parramatta*0246681010120024681010121212121414141618
15 Sydney0000022244468881010101010121214161616
16 Newcastle00111333333333555777777777

Finals series

A new format of extra time was introduced for the finals series where two additional 5-minute periods are played and if the scores are still tied afterwards, the next team to score wins.
The 2016 Finals series is notable as the first time three Queensland teams have all made the finals in one season.
Canberra also broke a long preliminary final drought reaching their first grand final qualifier in 19 years.
† Match decided in extra time.

Chart

Grand final

Regular season player statistics

The following statistics are at the conclusion of Round 26.
Top 5 point scorers
PointsPlayerTriesGoalsField Goals
276 Jarrod Croker171040
185 Johnathan Thurston2881
185 James Maloney5813
176 Cameron Smith2832
162 Michael Gordon5710

Top 5 try scorers
TriesPlayer
22 Suliasi Vunivalu
20 Jordan Rapana
19 Bevan French
19 Valentine Holmes
17 Jarrod Croker

Top 5 goal scorers
GoalsPlayer
104 Jarrod Croker
88 Johnathan Thurston
83 Cameron Smith
81 James Maloney
71 Michael Gordon

Top 5 tacklers
TacklesPlayer
1279 Jake Friend
1042 Simon Mannering
1022 Mitch Rein
960 Cameron Smith
941 Elliott Whitehead

Transfers

Players

Player2015 Club2016 Club
Dale Copley Brisbane Broncos Sydney Roosters
Mitchell Dodds Brisbane Broncos Super League: Warrington Wolves
Justin Hodges Brisbane BroncosRetirement
David Stagg Brisbane BroncosRetirement
Daniel Vidot Brisbane Broncos Super League: Salford Red Devils
Joel Edwards Canberra Raiders Wests Tigers
Josh McCrone Canberra Raiders St. George Illawarra Dragons
Frank-Paul Nu'uausala Canberra Raiders Super League: Wigan Warriors
David Shillington Canberra Raiders Gold Coast Titans
Dane Tilse Canberra Raiders Super League: Hull Kingston Rovers
Sisa Waqa Canberra RaidersFC Grenoble
Trent Hodkinson Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Newcastle Knights
Antonio Kaufusi Canterbury-Bankstown BulldogsRetirement
Tim Lafai Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs St. George Illawarra Dragons
Frank Pritchard Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Super League: Hull F.C.
Corey Thompson Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Super League: Widnes Vikings
Tinirau Arona Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Super League: Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
Blake Ayshford Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks New Zealand Warriors
Michael Gordon Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Parramatta Eels
Jeff Robson Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks New Zealand Warriors
Anthony Tupou Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Super League: Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
Kalifa Faifai Loa Gold Coast Titans St. George Illawarra Dragons
Beau Falloon Gold Coast Titans Super League: Leeds Rhinos
Kevin Gordon Gold Coast TitansRetirement
Nate Myles Gold Coast Titans Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
Ben Ridge Gold Coast TitansRetirement
James Roberts Gold Coast Titans Brisbane Broncos
Aidan Sezer Gold Coast Titans Canberra Raiders
Dave Taylor Gold Coast Titans Super League: Catalans Dragons
Brad Tighe Gold Coast TitansRetirement
Matthew White Gold Coast Titans Melbourne Storm
Matt Ballin Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles Wests Tigers
Cheyse Blair Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles Melbourne Storm
Luke Burgess Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles Super League: Salford Red Devils
Kieran Foran Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles Parramatta Eels
James Hasson Manly-Warringah Sea EaglesN/A
Peta Hiku Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles Penrith Panthers
Justin Horo Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles Super League: Catalans Dragons
Dunamis Lui Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles St. George Illawarra Dragons
Willie Mason Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles Super League: Catalans Dragons
Feleti Mateo Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles Super League: Salford Red Devils
Jesse Sene-Lefao Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
Tom Symonds Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles Super League: Huddersfield Giants
David Williams Manly-Warringah Sea EaglesRetirement
Matt Duffie Melbourne StormAuckland Blues
Mahe Fonua Melbourne Storm Super League: Hull F.C.
Ryan Hinchcliffe Melbourne Storm Super League: Huddersfield Giants
Tom Learoyd-Lahrs Melbourne StormRetirement
Kurt Mann Melbourne Storm St. George Illawarra Dragons
Dayne Weston Melbourne Storm Leigh Centurions
Adam Clydsdale Newcastle Knights Canberra Raiders
David Fa'alogo Newcastle KnightsRetirement
Kurt Gidley Newcastle Knights Super League: Warrington Wolves
Chris Houston Newcastle Knights Super League: Widnes Vikings
Joseph Leilua Newcastle Knights Canberra Raiders
James McManus Newcastle KnightsRetirement
Clint Newton Newcastle KnightsRetirement
Tyrone Roberts Newcastle Knights Gold Coast Titans
Beau Scott Newcastle Knights Parramatta Eels
Nathan Friend New Zealand Warriors Gold Coast Titans
Konrad Hurrell New Zealand Warriors Gold Coast Titans
Sebastine Ikahihifo New Zealand Warriors Super League: Huddersfield Giants
Dominique Peyroux New Zealand Warriors Super League: St. Helens
Sam Rapira New Zealand Warriors Super League: Huddersfield Giants
Sam Tomkins New Zealand Warriors Super League: Wigan Warriors
Chad Townsend New Zealand Warriors Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
Glenn Hall North Queensland CowboysRetirement
Robert Lui North Queensland Cowboys Super League: Salford Red Devils
Matthew Wright North Queensland Cowboys Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
Beau Champion Parramatta EelsRetirement
Richie Fa'aoso Parramatta EelsRetirement
Will Hopoate Parramatta Eels Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
Darcy Lussick Parramatta Eels Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
Ryan Morgan Parramatta Eels Melbourne Storm
Pauli Pauli Parramatta Eels Newcastle Knights
Joseph Paulo Parramatta Eels Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
Reece Robinson Parramatta EelsNew South Wales Waratahs
Chris Sandow Parramatta Eels Super League: Warrington Wolves
Anthony Watmough Parramatta EelsRetirement
Lewis Brown Penrith Panthers Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
Jamal Idris Penrith PanthersHiatus
Brent Kite Penrith PanthersRetirement
Apisai Koroisau Penrith Panthers Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
Sika Manu Penrith Panthers Super League: Hull F.C.
Nigel Plum Penrith PanthersRetirement
James Segeyaro Penrith Panthers Super League: Leeds Rhinos
David Simmons Penrith PanthersRetirement
Elijah Taylor Penrith Panthers Wests Tigers
Tim Grant South Sydney Rabbitohs Wests Tigers
Ben Lowe South Sydney RabbitohsRetirement
Issac Luke South Sydney Rabbitohs New Zealand Warriors
Chris McQueen South Sydney Rabbitohs Gold Coast Titans
Daryl Millard South Sydney RabbitohsRetirement
Joel Reddy South Sydney RabbitohsRetirement
Glenn Stewart South Sydney Rabbitohs Super League: Catalans Dragons
Dylan Walker South Sydney Rabbitohs Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
Dylan Farrell St. George Illawarra DragonsRetirement
Mark Ioane St. George Illawarra Dragons London Broncos
Heath L'Estrange St. George Illawarra DragonsRetirement
Peter Mata'utia St. George Illawarra Dragons Newcastle Knights
Trent Merrin St. George Illawarra Dragons Penrith Panthers
George Rose St. George Illawarra DragonsRetirement
Michael Jennings Sydney Roosters Parramatta Eels
James Maloney Sydney Roosters Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
Willie Manu Sydney RoostersRetirement
Suaia Matagi Sydney Roosters Penrith Panthers
Matt McIlwrick Sydney Roosters Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck Sydney Roosters New Zealand Warriors
Jack Buchanan Wests Tigers Super League: Widnes Vikings
Josh Drinkwater Wests Tigers Leigh Centurions
Keith Galloway Wests Tigers Super League: Leeds Rhinos
Pat Richards Wests Tigers Super League: Catalans Dragons
Martin Taupau Wests Tigers Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
Ian Henderson Super League: Catalans Dragons Sydney Roosters
Jeff Lima Super League: Catalans Dragons Canberra Raiders
Michael Oldfield Super League: Catalans Dragons South Sydney Rabbitohs
Zeb Taia Super League: Catalans Dragons Gold Coast Titans
Elliott Whitehead Super League: Catalans Dragons Canberra Raiders
Mickey Paea Super League: Hull F.C. Newcastle Knights
Jordan Rankin Super League: Hull F.C. Wests Tigers
Tyrone McCarthy Super League: Hull Kingston Rovers St. George Illawarra Dragons
Adam Quinlan Super League: St. Helens St. George Illawarra Dragons
Pita Godinet Super League: Wakefield Trinity Wildcats Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
Joe Burgess Super League: Wigan Warriors Sydney Roosters
Dane Nielsen Bradford Bulls South Sydney Rabbitohs
Sam BurgessBath South Sydney Rabbitohs
Russell PackerImprisonment St. George Illawarra Dragons

Source:

Coaches

Attendances

Total and average home attendances:
TeamGamesTotalAverage
Brisbane12404,30633,692
Melbourne12216,94418,079
North Queensland12200,58216,715
Wests Tigers12184,67415,390
Canterbury12182,41915,202
Cronulla12174,94114,578
Newcastle12173,48414,457
Manly12173,17114,431
Souths12171,97314,331
New Zealand12171,62014,302
Parramatta12167,14413,929
Gold Coast Titans12165,67113,806
St George Illawarra12163,58813,632
Penrith12153,82012,818
Canberra12146,19512,183
Sydney Roosters12122,82010,235