ARL Premiership
The ARL Premiership was Australias first grade rugby league competition between 1995 and 1997. It replaced the previous competition, the NSW Premiership.
| Sport | Rugby league |
|---|---|
| Instituted | 1995 |
| Inaugural season | 1995 |
| Ceased | 1997 |
| Replaced by | National Rugby League |
| Number of teams | 10 |
| Country | .svg.png){kind=small} |
| Broadcast partner | Nine Network C7 Sport |
History
During the Super League war of the mid-1990s the Australian Rugby League took over control of Australias first grade competition from the New South Wales RFL who had run the Premiership since its inception in 1908. As the NSW Premiership expanded to Queensland and Canberra, the NSW RFL relinquished control to the ARL.
Although they only won one ARL premiership in 1996, the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles dominated the competition in its three years under the ARL name, winning each minor premiership (1995-1997), and appearing in all three Grand Finals. In 1997 there were two first grade competitions with the Super League rivaling the Premiership.
Premiers
| Season | Grand Finals | Minor Premiers | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Premiers | Score | Runners-up | ||
| 1995 |  |
17–4 |  |
|
| 1996 | |
20–8 |  |
|
| 1997 |  |
22–16 | |
|