Why would I pay for Kayo if 9Now is free?

Kayo offers the full NRL Premiership and Finals but provides additional sports like AFL, Cricket, F1, NBA, and more. If you only watch NRL, 9Now is all you need. If you follow multiple sports, Kayo is better value.

Can I watch the NRL Grand Final on Kayo?

Kayo broadcasts the Grand Final on a delayed basis — not live. For live Grand Final coverage, use 9Now (free).

Is State of Origin live on Kayo?

No. State of Origin is delayed on Kayo Sports. For live State of Origin, watch on 9Now for free.

When does the 2026 NRL season start?

The 2026 NRL Premiership season begins on 5 March 2026, with the Finals Series running through September and the Grand Final on 27 September 2026.

Sport Guide

How to Watch NRL in Australia 2026

StreamWise·10 February 2026·8 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

Event	Dates	Where to Watch	Coverage
NRL Premiership	5 Mar – 27 Sep 2026	9Now / Kayo	FULL
NRL Finals Series	4 Sep – 27 Sep 2026	9Now / Kayo	FULL
NRL Grand Final	27 Sep 2026	9Now	FULL
NRL Grand Final	27 Sep 2026	Kayo	DELAYED
State of Origin	Jun – Jul 2026	9Now	FULL
State of Origin	Jun – Jul 2026	Kayo	DELAYED
Women's State of Origin	Apr – May 2026	9Now	FULL

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

Event	9Now	Kayo Sports
NRL Premiership	Full (Live)	Full (Live)
NRL Finals	Full (Live)	Full (Live)
NRL Grand Final	Full (Live)	Delayed
State of Origin	Full (Live)	Delayed
Women's State of Origin	Full (Live)	Delayed

Cost Comparison

Service	Monthly Cost	Season Cost (7 months)	Annual Cost
9Now	FREE	FREE	FREE
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

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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