NRL Confirms Grand Final to Stay in Sydney

This deal keeps the NRL’s biggest event in its birthplace and home, where it has been played every year since the birth of rugby league in Australia in 1908—except for the Covid-affected 2021 season.

With the 2025 NRL season shaping up as one of the most competitive in years and the NRLW continuing its rapid growth, fans from across Australia and New Zealand will head to Sydney for the Grand Final over the October long weekend.

Following an exciting season launch in Las Vegas, the NRL is expected to deliver more thrills in 2025. The Penrith Panthers will chase a fifth straight title, a feat last achieved by St George in the 1950s and 60s.

As the NRL expands its audience in the US and Asia-Pacific, Sydney and NSW remains the heart of rugby league. The Grand Final will showcase the city to a growing international fan base.

The NSW Government also recently announced its new events framework, listing the NRL Grand Final as a ‘Foundation Event’—one of the state’s most significant events for its economic, social, and cultural impact. Premier of NSW Chris Minns said his state is where the game belongs.

“NSW is the home of rugby league and Sydney is unquestionably the greatest rugby league city in the world, so there really is no better place to be hosting the NRL’s showpiece event," the Premier says.

“The NRL Grand Final is one of our nation’s greatest annual sporting events and with NSW representing more than half of the clubs across both the NRL and NRLW competitions, this is great news for the thousands of fans who will come together to celebrate in our city.” 

Minister for Jobs and Tourism and Minister for Sport Steve Kamper said it's set to be another huge crowd for the NRL grand final.

“The NRL has done a fantastic job in promoting and expanding the game to new markets across the US and Asia-Pacific," Steve says. 

"As such, we need to make sure we cement Sydney’s legacy as the home of rugby league and build on its reputation in these markets as one of the world’s great cities for major sporting events.

“As we’ve seen with the Las Vegas effect, rugby league fans from all over Australia and the world will flock to Sydney for the NRL and NRLW Grand Finals and I can’t wait to see Accor Stadium abuzz with the atmosphere of 82,500 rugby league fans on Grand Final day.

“Not only is this a big win for sport fans but it is fantastic news for pubs, hotels, restaurants and retailers in NSW who can now start to plan for this iconic event.”

National Rugby League CEO Andrew Abdo thanked the state Government for their commitment to the game.

“We are pleased to confirm that Sydney will host the NRL and NRLW Telstra Grand Finals for season 2025," Andrew says. 

“Thank you to the NSW Government for the ongoing support of Rugby League and to Premier Chris Minns and Minister Steve Kamper who have worked with us to reach an agreement for this year’s Grand Final.”