The 2023 New Zealand rugby league season was the 116th season of rugby league played in New Zealand. The main feature of the year was the National Competition, run by the New Zealand Rugby League.
National Premiership Select matches were broadcast live by Sky Sport.
Teams Six teams contested the National Premiership, all in a single division round robin followed by a final. TeamCity/RegionHome Grounds Akarana FalconsAucklandMount Smart Stadium, Auckland Sunnynook Park, Auckland Auckland VulcansAucklandCornwall Park, Auckland Canterbury BullsChristchurchNgā Puna Wai Sports Hub, Christchurch Counties Manukau StingraysSouth AucklandMassey Park, South Auckland Otago WhalersDunedinForsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin Waikato ManaHamiltonFMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton
Regular season
Round 1 HomeScoreAwayDate and timeVenue Auckland Vulcans48 – 22 Waikato2 September 2023 12:00 noonCornwall Park Canterbury Bulls0 – 44 Counties Manukau2 September 2023 2:00pmNgā Puna Wai Sports Hub Otago Whalers22 – 42 Akarana Falcons3 September 2023 12:00pmForsyth Barr Stadium
Round 2 HomeScoreAwayDate and timeVenue Akarana Falcons30 – 20 Waikato9 September 2023 2:00pmSunnynook Park Counties Manukau36 – 20 Otago Whalers10 September 2023 12:00pmMassey Park Canterbury Bulls8 – 56 Auckland Vulcans10 September 2023 2:00pmNgā Puna Wai Sports Hub
Round 3 HomeScoreAwayDate and timeVenue Auckland Vulcans22 – 20 Akarana Falcons16 September 2023 2:00pmCornwall Park Waikato10 – 62 Counties Manukau16 September 2023 2:00pmResthills Park Otago Whalers32 – 14 Canterbury Bulls17 September 2023 12:00pmForsyth Barr Stadium
Ladder +PosTeamPldWLPFPAPDPtsPool A1 Auckland Vulcans330126507662 Akarana Falcons32192642843 Waikato30352140 -880Pool B1 Counties Manukau3301423011262 Otago Whalers3127492 -1823 Canterbury Bulls30322132 -1100
Finals HomeScoreAwayDate and timeVenueSemi Finals Akarana Falcons8 – 26 Counties Manukau23 September 2023 12:00pmThe Trusts Arena Auckland Vulcans50 – 6 Otago Whalers23 September 2023 3:00pmThe Trusts ArenaRelegation Match Canterbury Bullsvs Waikato1 October 2023 12:00pmNavigation Homes StadiumGrand Final Counties Manukau4-70 Auckland Vulcans1 October 2023 2:00pmNavigation Homes Stadium
Chart
National Championship
North Island Championship HomeScoreAwayDate and timeVenue Coastline Mariners28 – 42 Northern Swords10 September 2023 12:00pmMitchell Park Northern Swords24 – 40 Bay of Plenty Lakers17 September 2023 1:00pmUnknown Bay of Plenty Lakers22 – 0 Coastline Mariners23 September 2023 12:00pmPuketawhero Park
South Island Championship Pool 1 HomeScoreAwayDate and timeVenue Hawke's Bay Unicorns36 – 6 Manawatu Mustangs10 September 2023 11:00amCoronation Park Hawke's Bay Unicorns18 – 42 Wellington Orcas10 September 2023 1:00pmCoronation Park Manawatu Mustangs16 – 32 Wellington Orcas10 September 2023 3:00pmCoronation Park
South Island Championship Pool 2 HomeScoreAwayDate and timeVenue Aoraki Eels46 – 16 West Coast Chargers16 September 2023 1:30pmAshbury Park West Coast Chargers24 – 20 Aoraki Eels23 September 2023 1:00pmWingham Park
Ladder PosTeamPldWLPFPAPDPtsPool A1 Bay of Plenty Lakers22062243842 Northern Swords2116668 -223 Coastline Mariners2022864 -360National Men's Championship (South Island)1 Wellington Orcas22074344042 Hawke's Bay Unicorns2115448623 Manawatu Mustangs2022268 -460National Men's Championship (South Island)1 Aoraki Eels21166402622 West Coast Chargers2114066 -2623 Southland Rams (withdrew)0000000
Finals HomeScoreAwayDate and timeVenueSemi Finals Bay of Plenty Lakers Wellington Orcas Aoraki EelsByeGrand Final Bay of Plenty Lakers62-16 Aoraki Eels7 October 2023Trusts Arena
Chart
Club Competitions
Auckland
The 2023 season was the 115th season of the Auckland Rugby League Premiership.
Other Competitions
Australian Competitions
The New Zealand Warriors played in their 29th professional first grade season in the Australian National Rugby League competition.
The Warriors finished 4th after the regular season with a 16–8 record for the season. In the Qualifying Final, the Warriors lost 32–6 to the Penrith Panthers. As a result, they faced the Newcastle Knights in the second week of the finals at home at Go Media Stadium and won 40–10. The side then travelled to play the Brisbane Broncos in the Preliminary Final, where they lost 42-12 and were eliminated from the competition a game short of the Grand Final.
See also
2023 PNGNRL season 2023 NRL season Super League XXVIII Elite One Championship 2022–2023
References