The National Rugby League (NRL) regular season usually begins in the first week of March, finishing in the first weekend of September before the finals series. Generally, there are 204 games played over 27 rounds, with each of the 17 teams playing 24 matches each. Since 2017, the schedule has generally featured one Thursday night game (7:55pm (all times AEDT/AEST)), two Friday games (6:00pm and 7:55pm), three Saturday games (3:00pm, 5:30pm and 7:35pm) and two Sunday games (2:00pm, 4:05pm and/or 6:30pm). In addition to these regularly scheduled games, there are occasionally games at other times, such as Easter Weekend, ANZAC Day and the King's Birthday.
Also in place are TV agreements as to who shows these games. All matches are shown live on Fox League and the Thursday night, Friday night and Sunday afternoon (4:05pm) are simulcast with Channel 9. Channel 9 also show the Good Friday and ANZAC Day games on top of the usual matches.
Each team plays half of their matches at home and half away, playing nine teams just once and eight teams twice. Who each team plays, when and where is mainly determined on club requests as to which matchups attracts the best crowds and television ratings.
The winning team at the end of the regular season is crowned the minor premier, and has received the J. J. Giltinan Shield since 1997.
Game times
Matches, as of 2020, are played as follows (all times AEDT/AEST)
Thursday night: 7:55pm
Friday evening: 6:00pm
Friday night: 7:55pm
Saturday afternoon: 3:00pm
Saturday evening: 5:30pm
Saturday night: 7:30pm
Sunday afternoon: 2:00pm (only during AEST) Sunday afternoon: 4:05pm Sunday evening: 6:30pm (only during AEDT)
On ANZAC Day, two matches are played:
St. George Illawarra Dragons vs Sydney Roosters: 4:05pm (Sydney Football Stadium) Melbourne Storm vs New Zealand Warriors: 7:50pm (Melbourne Rectangular Stadium)
On Easter Weekend:
Good Friday — the 6pm match is moved to 4:05pm, where the South Sydney Rabbitohs play the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in the annual Good Friday Game Easter Monday — the Parramatta Eels play the Wests Tigers at 4:05pm in the annual Easter Monday Game
On the King's Birthday holiday, the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs play the Parramatta Eels at 4:05pm in the King's Birthday match.