The 2009 National Rugby League season consisted of 26 weekly regular season rounds, starting on 13 March and ending on 6 September, followed by four weeks of play-offs which culminated in the grand final on 4 October.
Regular season
Round 1 Steve Price (New Zealand Warriors) played his 300th game in top grade rugby league in Australia. Hazem El Masri (Bulldogs) overtook Andrew Johns as the highest-scoring player in top grade rugby league in Australia. The Rabbitohs scored 50 or more for the first time since Round 17 1992 ending a 332-game drought, it was also the highest Round 1 score since 2002. Golden Point was used for the first time in the Dragons-Melbourne game with a Greg Inglis field goal proving the difference. HomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and Time (Local)VenueRefereesCrowd Melbourne Storm 17–16 St George Illawarra Dragons13 March 2009, 7:35 pmOlympic Park StadiumShayne Hayne Gavin Badger 14,870 Brisbane Broncos 19–18 North Queensland Cowboys13 March 2009, 7:35 pmSuncorp StadiumJared MaxwellTony De Las Heras45,022 New Zealand Warriors 26–18 Parramatta Eels14 March 2009, 5:30 pmMt Smart StadiumAshley KleinAlan Shortall17,447 Cronulla Sharks18–10 Penrith Panthers14 March 2009, 7:30 pmToyota StadiumJason RobinsonPhil Haines10,617 Bulldogs34–12 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles14 March 2009, 8:30 pmANZ StadiumBen CumminsBrett Suttor19,791 Gold Coast Titans34–20 Newcastle Knights15 March 2009, 1:00 pmSkilled ParkM CecchinChris James16,203 Sydney Roosters12–52 South Sydney Rabbitohs15 March 2009, 3:00 pmSydney Football StadiumTony De Las HerasSteve Lyons24,486 Wests Tigers34–26 Canberra Raiders16 March 2009, 7:00 pmCampbelltown StadiumJared MaxwellGerard Sutton17,392Source:
Round 2 The Bulldogs had their two competition points stripped as they breached NRL match rules by fielding 14 players during the scoring of the match-winning try. HomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and Time (Local)VenueRefereesCrowd South Sydney Rabbitohs8–14 Parramatta Eels20 March 2009, 7:35 pmANZ StadiumShayne HayneGavin Badger20,871 Brisbane Broncos16–14 Melbourne Storm20 March 2009, 7:35 pmSuncorp StadiumBen CumminsTony De Las Heras36,647 St George Illawarra Dragons16–10 Gold Coast Titans21 March 2009, 5:30 pmWIN StadiumAshley Klien Alan Shortall13,329 Penrith Panthers26–28 Bulldogs21 March 2009, 7:30 pmCUA StadiumMatt CecchinChris James16,846 North Queensland Cowboys42–14 Wests Tigers21 March 2009, 8:30 pmDairy Farmers StadiumJason RobinsonPhil Haines19,879 Canberra Raiders4–28 Sydney Roosters22 March 2009, 2:00 pmCanberra StadiumJared MaxwellGerard Sutton13,100 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles24–26 New Zealand Warriors22 March 2009, 3:00 pmBrookvale OvalShayne HayneGavin Badger16,307 Cronulla Sharks12–24 Newcastle Knights23 March 2009, 7:00 pmToyota StadiumBen CumminsBrett Suttor11,148Source:
Round 3 HomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and Time (Local)VenueRefereesCrowd Wests Tigers40–24 Sydney Roosters27 March 2009, 7:35 pmSydney Football StadiumTony ArcherGavin Badger14,426 Gold Coast Titans20–12 Bulldogs27 March 2009, 7:35 pmSkilled ParkJared MaxwellAlan Shortall19,854 New Zealand Warriors10–26 Brisbane Broncos28 March 2009, 7:30 pmMt Smart StadiumJason RobinsonMatt Cecchin24,538 Parramatta Eels18–16 Canberra Raiders28 March 2009, 7:30 pmParramatta StadiumSteve LyonsChris James11,110 North Queensland Cowboys12–26 Melbourne Storm28 March 2009, 8:30 pmDairy Farmers StadiumShayne HayneGerard Sutton21,489 South Sydney Rabbitohs22–12 Newcastle Knights29 March 2009, 2:00 pmBluetongue StadiumAshley KlienBrett Suttor15,227 St George Illawarra Dragons10–6 Cronulla Sharks29 March 2009, 3:00 pmWIN Jubilee OvalGavin BadgerTony De Las Heras20,847 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles10–12 Penrith Panthers30 March 2009, 7:00 pmBrookvale Oval Ben CumminsPhil Hains8,667Source:
Round 4 HomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and Time (Local)VenueRefereeCrowd Brisbane Broncos12–25 St George Illawarra Dragons3 April 2009, 6:35 pmSuncorp StadiumMatt CecchinShayne Hayne42,435 Sydney Roosters24–6 Parramatta Eels3 April 2009, 7:35 pmSydney Football StadiumTony ArcherSteve Lyons11,231 Penrith Panthers42–22 Wests Tigers4 April 2009, 5:30 pmCUA StadiumBen CumminsPhil Haines15,813 Melbourne Storm6–18 Gold Coast Titans4 April 2009, 7:30 pmOlympic Park StadiumAshley KleinBrett Suttor11,698 New Zealand Warriors16–22 South Sydney Rabbitohs5 April 2009, 2:00 pmMt Smart StadiumGavin BadgerTony De Las Heras19,386 Bulldogs24–12 Cronulla Sharks5 April 2009, 2:00 pmANZ StadiumJason RobinsonGerard Sutton15,520 Newcastle Knights26–12 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles5 April 2009, 3:00 pmEnergy Australia StadiumJared MaxwellAlan Shortall15,324 Canberra Raiders23–18 North Queensland Cowboys6 April 2009, 7:00 pmCanberra StadiumTony ArcherSteve Lyons12,193Source:
Round 5 HomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and Time (Local)VenueRefereeCrowd Sydney Roosters24–28 Brisbane Broncos10 April 2009, 7:35 pmSydney Football StadiumGavin BadgerMatt Cecchin18,464 Parramatta Eels8–22 St George Illawarra Dragons10 April 2009, 7:35 pmParramatta StadiumAshley KleinBrett Suttor19,017 Cronulla Sharks14–24 Canberra Raiders11 April 2009, 5:30 pmToyota StadiumBen CumminsAlan Shortall8,561 Melbourne Storm16–14 Penrith Panthers11 April 2009, 7:30 pmOlympic Park StadiumTony ArcherChris James10,110 North Queensland Cowboys10–14 Gold Coast Titans11 April 2009, 7:30 pmDairy Farmers StadiumPhil HainesJared Maxwell18,123 Newcastle Knights24–22 New Zealand Warriors12 April 2009, 2:00 pmEnergy Australia StadiumGavin BadgerSteve Lyons13,626 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles23–10 Wests Tigers12 April 2009, 3:00 pmBrookvale OvalTony De Las HerasShayne Hayne17,942 Bulldogs14–12 South Sydney Rabbitohs13 April 2009, 7:00 pmANZ StadiumAshley KleinBrett Suttor22,775Source:
Round 6 Golden Point was used again in the Warriors-Roosters game, with a Stacey Jones field goal proving the difference. HomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and Time (Local)VenueRefereeCrowd Penrith Panthers18–38 Brisbane Broncos17 April 2009, 7:35pmCUA StadiumTony De Las HerasShayne Hayne14,332 Gold Coast Titans16–10 Canberra Raiders17 April 2009, 7:35pmSkilled ParkTony ArcherSteve Lyons18,510 St George Illawarra Dragons18–24 Newcastle Knights18 April 2009, 5:30pmWIN Jubilee OvalJason RobinsonGerard Sutton14,477 South Sydney Rabbitohs8–24 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles18 April 2009, 7:30pmANZ StadiumMatt CecchinJared Maxwell14,225 New Zealand Warriors17–16 Sydney Roosters19 April 2009, 2:00pmMt Smart StadiumBen CumminsAlan Shortall16,309 Parramatta Eels18–48 Bulldogs19 April 2009, 3:00pmANZ StadiumGavin BadgerTony De Las Heras18,223 Cronulla Sharks10–34 North Queensland Cowboys19 April 2009, 6:15pmHindmarsh StadiumChris JamesAshley Klein8,547 Wests Tigers16–6 Melbourne Storm20 April 2009, 7:00pmLeichhardt OvalTony ArcherShayne Hayne12,646Source:
Round 7 HomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and Time (Local)VenueRefereeCrowd Brisbane Broncos40–8 Parramatta Eels24 April 2009, 7:35pmSuncorp StadiumJarred MaxwellBrett Suttor30,887 South Sydney Rabbitohs32–26 Cronulla Sharks24 April 2009, 7:35pmANZ StadiumBen CumminsAlan Shortall11,208 Sydney Roosters0–29 St George Illawarra Dragons25 April 2009, 3:00pmSydney Football StadiumShayne HayneTony De Las Haras28,926 Melbourne Storm14–14 New Zealand Warriors25 April 2009, 5:30pmOlympic Park StadiumTony ArcherMatt Cecchin15,200 North Queensland Cowboys26–12 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles25 April 2009, 7:30pmDairy Farmers StadiumGavin BadgerSteve Lyons16,153 Canberra Raiders20–30 Bulldogs26 April 2009, 2:00pmCanberra StadiumChris JamesAshley Klein10,241 Wests Tigers26–24 Newcastle Knights26 April 2009, 3:00pmCampbelltown StadiumJason RobinsonGerard Sutton17,898 Penrith Panthers34–20 Gold Coast Titans27 April 2009, 7:00pmCUA StadiumBen CumminsJared Maxwell9,760Source:
Round 8 Darren Lockyer (Brisbane Broncos) played his 300th game in top grade rugby league in Australia. HomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and Time (Local)VenueRefereeCrowd Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles8–22 Melbourne Storm1 May 2009, 7:35pmBrookvale OvalTony De Las HerasShayne Hayne10,752 Parramatta Eels28–18 North Queensland Cowboys1 May 2009, 7:35pmParramatta StadiumJason RobinsonGerard Sutton8,104 Gold Coast Titans22–14 South Sydney Rabbitohs2 May 2009, 3:00pmSkilled ParkChris JamesAshley Klein19,833 Cronulla Sharks12–19 Sydney Roosters2 May 2009, 5:30pmToyota StadiumGavin BadgerMatt Cecchin9,879 Newcastle Knights28–12 Brisbane Broncos2 May 2009, 7:30pmEnergy Australia StadiumTony ArcherPhil Haines18,154 Canberra Raiders10–18 Penrith Panthers2 May 2009, 7:30pmCanberra StadiumSteve LyonsBrett Suttor8,850 St George Illawarra Dragons12–11 New Zealand Warriors3 May 2009, 2:00pmWIN StadiumBen CumminsJason Robinson14,562 Bulldogs22–20 Wests Tigers3 May 2009, 3:00pmANZ StadiumTony De Las HerasJared Maxwell25,622Source:
Round 9 2 representative matches were played during this round, City vs Country Origin and the Australia vs New Zealand test match. HomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and TimeVenueRefereeCrowd North Queensland Cowboys24–20 St George Illawarra Dragons9 May 2009, 7:30pmDairy Farmers StadiumAshley KleinBrett Suttor16,031 Newcastle Knights23–18 Gold Coast Titans10 May 2009, 2:00pmEnergy Australia StadiumBen CumminsSteve Lyons11,258 Brisbane Broncos20–22 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles10 May 2009, 3:00pmSuncorp StadiumTony ArcherMatt Cecchin27,527 Sydney Roosters12-28 Melbourne Storm11 May 2009, 7:00pmBluetongue StadiumTony De Las HerasJason Robinson8,412BYE Round for: 8 teams - Bulldogs, Canberra Raiders, Cronulla Sharks, New Zealand Warriors, Parramatta Eels, Penrith Panthers, South Sydney Rabbitohs and Wests Tigers.Source:
Round 10: Heritage Round HomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and Time (Local)VenueRefereesCrowd Brisbane Broncos32–18 Gold Coast Titans15 May 2009, 7:35pmSuncorp StadiumGavin BadgerShane Hayne43,079 St George Illawarra Dragons20–18 Bulldogs15 May 2009, 7:35pmWIN Jubilee OvalTony ArcherAshley Klein18,415 Sydney Roosters6–38 Newcastle Knights16 May 2009, 5:30pmSydney Football StadiumChris JamesSteve Lyons8,611 Penrith Panthers26–22 Cronulla Sharks16 May 2009, 7:30pmCUA StadiumJared MaxwellGerard Sutton11,750 New Zealand Warriors12–34 North Queensland Cowboys17 May 2009, 12:00pmMt Smart StadiumBen CumminsAlan Shortall16,345 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles34–10 Parramatta Eels17 May 2009, 2:00pmBrookvale OvalGavin BadgerTony De Las Heras15,916 Wests Tigers22–23 South Sydney Rabbitohs17 May 2009, 3:00pmSydney Cricket GroundAshley KleinJason Robinson29,970 Melbourne Storm46–6 Canberra Raiders18 May 2009, 7:00pmOlympic Park StadiumTony ArcherBrett Suttor10,112Source:
Round 11 HomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and Time (Local)VenueRefereeCrowd Parramatta Eels16-16 South Sydney Rabbitohs22 May 2009, 7:35pmANZ StadiumGavin BadgerBrett Suttor10,670 Wests Tigers18-20 Brisbane Broncos22 May 2009, 7:35pmCampbelltown StadiumBen CumminsJared Maxwell9,675 Cronulla Sharks4-26 St George Illawarra Dragons23 May 2009, 5:30pmToyota StadiumTony De Las HerasJason Robinson15,201 Bulldogs26-10 Melbourne Storm23 May 2009, 7:30pmBluetongue StadiumShayne HayneGerard Sutton10,923 Penrith Panthers48-6 Sydney Roosters23 May 2009, 7:30pmCUA StadiumAshley KleinSteve Lyons8,515 Canberra Raiders38-12 New Zealand Warriors24 May 2009, 2:00pmCanberra StadiumJared MaxellBernard Sutton8,383 Gold Coast Titans18-17 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles24 May 2009, 3:00pmSkilled ParkTony ArcherMatt Cecchin16,126 North Queensland Cowboys36-10 Newcastle Knights25 May 2009, 7:00pmDairy Farmers StadiumBen CumminsAlan Shortall11,892Source:
Round 12