NewsBite

NRL 2025

This Month

Robyn Denholm, chair of Elon Musk’s Tesla.

Tesla chief is a world away from Musk’s meltdowns

The company’s investors are asking: Where is Robyn Denholm? At the footy!

Cameron Munster takes on Nathan Cleary in Wednesday night’s decider.

Queensland’s Origin win biggest streaming event in Australian history

The NSW v Queensland game three decider broke a record held by the Matildas for the number of people watching through their TV app.

Tonga players celebrate a try in their upset win over New Zealand to reach the Pacific Championships final.

Beijing fires back in Pacific rugby wars

The Chinese government and rugby officials have ramped up their presence since a major deal was signed for a new Papua New Guinea rugby league team.

June

Cash Converters executive deputy chairman Peter Cumins.

No ill will as Cash Converters boss signs on to NRL’s Bears

Businessman Peter Cumins, whose initial bid for the Western Bears was torpedoed, says all he ever wanted was an NRL team in WA.

Former treasurer Joe Hockey will join the board of the Perth Bears.

Joe Hockey to join Perth Bears NRL board

The former federal treasurer is one member of a seven-person board for the new NRL side, which will play its first match in 2027.

Advertisement
Bears CEO Anthony De Ceglie at North Sydney Oval.

Bears and De Ceglie look for mining friends in NRL push

New Perth Bears boss Anthony De Ceglie reckons he will find some corporate support from WA’s mining sector.

Andrew Demetriou is launching Sanctum inside Pullman Melbourne on the Park in August.

Former AFL boss launches Melbourne’s newest private club

Andrew Demetriou has had a vision for this members’ club since leaving the AFL in 2014. For $4500 a year you can experience it too.

Mal Meninga has been interviewed for the Perth Bears’ coaching job.

Mal Meninga named inaugural coach of the Perth Bears

The rugby league great will leave his role as head coach of the Kangaroos to lead the new West Australian club in the 2027 season

May

The English Premier League has become too expensive for Australian media companies.

Premier League turns into Optus’ biggest headache

The telecoms giant has broadcast the English Premier League for nearly a decade. That could all change in a matter of months, but it all depends on price.

Anthony De Ceglie, centre, Kerry Stokes, left, and Peter V’landys.

Stokes wishes right-hand man well after surprise jump to NRL

Channel Seven news boss Anthony De Ceglie has been named as chief executive of rugby league’s newest club in the AFL state of Western Australia.

Sydney Roosters fans can channel their cosmetic surgery spends into the club’s coffers.

Sydney Roosters penile property play, backed by flash clients

The NRL club has you covered for all your aesthetic needs, as well as physical wellbeing.

Your guide to Australia’s sports rights deals

Inside the broadcast agreements that shape the business of sport.

Roger Cook has taken a personal interest in securing an NRL team for Perth.

Deal done: Bears heading west as NRL’s newest club

WA Premier Roger Cook has confirmed a Perth NRL team will enter the competition as early as 2027.

April

The new logo of the Bears, who are attempting to become the NRL’s 18th team.

Clubs offered $500k sweetener to get Perth NRL team over the line

Rugby league’s governing body has agreed to a revised bid to revive the North Sydney Bears as the NRL’s 19th team, in Perth, from 2027. But the other clubs need to sign off.

March

NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo speaks during a panel event at the Financial Review Business Summit.

NRL chief says streamers are ‘apex predators’ looking at sports rights

The NRL will soon kick off a process to sell its broadcast rights post-2027. Its CEO, Andrew Abdo, says global streamers are adding to the competitive tension.

Advertisement
Cyclone Alfred.

AFL postponed, cruises diverted as cyclone bears down

An ultra-rare tropical cyclone is zeroing in on heavily populated regions of Queensland and NSW, with threats of destructive winds and major flooding.

February

Danny Townsend is the Australian sports administrator who has found himself at the top of Saudi Arabia’s international ambitions for the sector.

The Australian at the heart of Saudi’s billion-dollar push to dominate global sport

Danny Townsend ran Sydney FC and then the A-League. Now he’s in the box seat to observe Saudi Arabia’s ambitions to dominate world sport. Will his gamble pay off?

Anthony Seibold

Matt Comyn has a super skill, just ask Anthony Seibold

Manly Sea Eagles head coach Anthony Seibold has forged a close relationship with the Commonwealth Bank CEO. It is a friendship where they learn from each other’s worlds.

Original URL: https://www.afr.com/topic/nrl-2025-6h23