After a disrupted 2020 season due to the Covid-19 pandemic, round 1 of the 2021 NRL season kicks off tonight when the reigning premiers Storm taking on the Rabbitohs live from 7pm AEDT. With two of the heavyweight of the game squaring off, the game is already being put forward as a grand final preview.
The official media partners of the NRL for 2021 are Nine, Foxtel, and Kayo.
Channel Nine is coming toward the end of its deal to broadcast the NRL, with the contract coming up in 2022. This year Nine will televise three matches per round – Thursday and Friday nights, plus Sunday afternoon – plus coverage of the grand final and the State of Origin series.
Last year Foxtel signed a five year extension on its contract, meaning it will continue to air the NRL until the end of 2027. Foxtel will continue to show all eight games live every round.
Kayo, which is owned by Foxtel, will replace the Telstra Live Pass in the NRL Official App. It will give fans access to all of the content created by NRL Digital, including news, video panel shows, match highlights, and team lists, while being able to stream games on their TV or device. People who had a Telstra Live Pass prior to December 22 last year can qualify for a discount of $20 a month for 12 months on a Kayo Sports subscription. This makes the total annual savings if you want Kayo Sports $240.
Channel Nine Schedule and Commentary Team
Hosting and commentating the games for Nine are James Bracey, Ray Warren, Phil Gould, Andrew Johns, Billy Slater, Brad Fittler, Allana Ferguson, Johnathan Thurston, Danika Mason, Erin Molan, Paul Vautin, Darren Lockyer, Peter Psaltis, Ruan Sims, Peter Sterling, Billy Slater, and Mat Thompson.
On Sports Sunday, Host James Bracey is joined by Sydney Morning Herald columnist Peter FitzSimons, with special guests including US entertainment correspondent Brad Blanks.
On The Sunday NRL Footy Show, host Erin Molan will cover all the action so far, with Peter Sterling, Paul Gallen, and Brad Fittler, plus special guests including Panthers captain Isaah Yeo, and Rabbitohs star Cameron Murray. journalists Andrew Webster, Michael Chammas and David Riccio join Sterlo for Inside The 10.
Phil Gould returns for the new season of 100% Footy with Paul Gallen, journalist Danny Weidler and host James Bracey.
On 2GB and 4BC radio, from 6.00pm-7.00pm AEDT Monday to Thursday, host Mark Levy talks with the biggest names in the world of Australian sport, including regular weekly guests: Billy Slater, Paul Gallen, Brad Fittler, and Ken Sutcliffe.
Fox League Schedule and Commentary Team
The 2021 lineup for Fox League for the year will led out of the sheds again by Matty Johns and Yvonne Sampson alongside Mal Meninga, and fellow premiership winners Cooper Cronk, Michael Ennis, Gorden Tallis, Greg Alexander and Braith Anasta.
In 2021, Fox League will feature Yvonne Sampson on Thursday Night League and Super Saturday, Jess Yates on Friday Night Football, Hannah Hollis on Sunday Ticket and Lara Pitt working across game day and magazine programming throughout the season.
When the ball is in play commentators Andrew Voss, Dan Ginnane, Warren Smith, Matt Russell and Brenton Speed will call every second of every game each week.
Returning in 2021 will be NRL 360, The Late Show with Matty Johns, Sunday Night with Matty Johns, Big League Wrap and The Fan.
The week of Fox League begins on Monday night with news from every angle when Ben Ikin and Paul Kent lead off three consecutive nights of NRL 360, with top rugby league journalists Phil “Buzz” Rothfield and James Hooper.
Now in Rabbitohs colours, Benji Marshall returns with James Graham on NRL 360 to provide the players perspective every Tuesday night in 2021.
Face-to-face with Matty Johns will lead Wednesday nights with Matty Johns sitting down with the biggest names in sport and society following NRL 360 with Lara Pitt joining the show for Legends Night featuring Geoff Toovey, Benny Elias and Mark “Spud” Carroll.
The formidable combination of Matty Johns, Gorden Tallis and Fletch and Hindy will be ready to roll again on The Late Show with Matty Johns.
Premiering after every Super Saturday Andrew Voss and Lara Pitt are back with, The Fan, when they have some fun looking at rugby league through the historical and quirky lens of the game’s biggest fanatics.
Sunday Night with Matty Johns, is back in 2021. Matty Johns will be joined by Bryan Fletcher, Nathan Hindmarshand Emma Freedman to wrap up the round’s action.
The week wraps up with Big League Wrap with Yvonne Sampson, Mick Ennis and James Hooper dissecting all the biggest news and talking points following the weekend’s round of football.
Also set to join the Fox League team in 2021 will be newcomer Jake Duke alongside Megan Barnard and Matt Russell on NRL Tonight.
Highlights of NRL season 2021
Round 7 will be ANZAC Weekend Round, featuring matches in Sydney, Melbourne, Gold Coast, Townsville, and Darwin.
Round 12 will be the Indigenous Round, played from May 27-30, featuring matches in Sydney, Townsville, Brisbane, Perth, Newcastle, and Coffs Harbour.
Round 22 will be the Women In League Round, from August 12-15. The NRL is set to celebrate the contribution of women across all eight games.
The Premiership finals series are set for September 10 – October 3, with the Grand Final to be played Sunday, October 3.
Game one of the State of Origin will be played June 9 at the MCG. Game two will be played June 27 at Suncorp Stadium. Game three will be played July 14 at Stadium Australia.