Sport Guide

How to Watch NRL in Australia 2026

StreamWise··8 min read
ℹ️Quick Answer
9Now is FREE and has FULL NRL coverage — every Premiership game, the Grand Final, and State of Origin, all live. You do not need to pay anything to watch NRL in Australia.

The NRL is one of the few major Australian sports where you can watch every single game for free. Here is a complete breakdown of your options for 2026.

2026 NRL Season Calendar

EventDatesWhere to WatchCoverage
NRL Premiership5 Mar – 27 Sep 20269Now / KayoFULL
NRL Finals Series4 Sep – 27 Sep 20269Now / KayoFULL
NRL Grand Final27 Sep 20269NowFULL
NRL Grand Final27 Sep 2026KayoDELAYED
State of OriginJun – Jul 20269NowFULL
State of OriginJun – Jul 2026KayoDELAYED
Women's State of OriginApr – May 20269NowFULL

9Now vs Kayo Sports

9Now

Best ValueFREE

Full NRL coverage including Grand Final and State of Origin — completely free

Pros

  • +Completely free — no subscription needed
  • +Every NRL Premiership game live
  • +Grand Final live
  • +State of Origin live
  • +Women's State of Origin live

Cons

  • -Ad-supported
  • -NRL only — no AFL, cricket, F1, etc.
  • -No 4K or multi-screen options

Kayo Sports

$29.99/mo

Full NRL Premiership plus 50+ other sports

Pros

  • +Full Premiership and Finals coverage
  • +Also includes AFL, Cricket, F1, NBA, NFL
  • +7-day free trial
  • +Premium plan has 4K + 3 screens

Cons

  • -$29.99–$45.99/month
  • -Grand Final is DELAYED (not live)
  • -State of Origin is DELAYED (not live)

State of Origin Coverage

This is the biggest difference between the two services. State of Origin and the Grand Final are only available LIVE on 9Now. Kayo Sports broadcasts them on delay — meaning you will not see them in real time.

⚠️Heads Up
If live State of Origin and Grand Final coverage matters to you, 9Now is the only option. Kayo Sports delays these marquee events.

Live vs delayed coverage comparison

Event9NowKayo Sports
NRL PremiershipFull (Live)Full (Live)
NRL FinalsFull (Live)Full (Live)
NRL Grand FinalFull (Live)Delayed
State of OriginFull (Live)Delayed
Women's State of OriginFull (Live)Delayed

Cost Comparison

ServiceMonthly CostSeason Cost (7 months)Annual Cost
9NowFREEFREEFREE
Kayo Standard$29.99$209.93$359.88
Kayo Premium$45.99$321.93$551.88
💰Money Saver
If NRL is your primary sport, you can save $360/year by using 9Now instead of Kayo — and you get better coverage of the biggest events (Grand Final and Origin are live on 9Now, delayed on Kayo).

The only reason to pay for Kayo as an NRL fan is if you also watch other sports like AFL, Cricket, or F1. In that case, use StreamWise to figure out the cheapest combination of services for all your sports.

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. 9Now streams every NRL Premiership game live and free, including the Finals Series, Grand Final, and State of Origin. It is the best free option for NRL fans.

Want to find the cheapest way to watch all your sports? StreamWise calculates the optimal subscription plan for you.

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