# 2002 NRL season

The 2002 NRL season was the 95th season of professional rugby league football in Australia and the fifth to be run by the National Rugby League. The season was affected by the competition-leading Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs' salary cap breach finding, which saw them relegated to the bottom of the NRL ladder. As a result, the New Zealand Warriors won their first minor premiership and made it to the grand final for the first time, playing against foundation club the Sydney Roosters who won the match and collected their first premiership in 27 years.

## Pre-season

In February 2002 the National Rugby League's Director of Legal and Business Affairs, David Gallop, was appointed chief executive officer of the NRL, succeeding David Moffett.
The legendary Broncos and Maroons halfback, Allan Langer, returned from England to play his final season of professional football with the Brisbane club. In doing so he became the NRL's oldest player for the 2002 season at 36 years and 60 days.

### The return of South Sydney

Following the club's departure from the NRL after the 1999 season, there was a continuing push from both fans and the wider rugby league community to reinstate the South Sydney Rabbitohs into the NRL competition. After two unsuccessful years of lobbying, South Sydney finally received a court ruling in their favour in 2001. On 15 March 2002, the South Sydney club opened the NRL season with a home match against long-time rivals, the Sydney Roosters, losing 40-6.
It turned out to be a tough year for the club, winning only five matches from 24 played, though would be spared the wooden spoon by the Bulldogs' salary cap scandal (see below).

## Teams

The number of teams contesting the Premiership increased for the 2002 season from 14 to 15 due to the re-inclusion of the South Sydney Rabbitohs. It was the first time the number of Premiership teams had increased since the 1995 ARL season when the introduction of the Auckland Warriors, North Queensland Cowboys, South Queensland Crushers and Western Reds saw the number of teams increase from 16 to 20.

## Regular season

In 2002, as in 2001, the NRL's advertising was handled by Saatchi & Saatchi Sydney. As in the previous season, there was no big budget season launch advertising campaign. The NRL focussed on stretching its marketing spending throughout the season with newspaper ads promoting individual rounds and clubs, and with simple TV ads to promote key games.
The Bulldogs won 17 games in a row and had an unbeaten run of 18 games, the most in the club's history. However they were deducted 37 premiership points for a gross salary cap breaches, the most points deducted in premiership history. That left the club with just four competition points attained from the two byes earlier in the season. Four more competition points followed since the salary cap scandal, all from wins in the last two rounds of the season.
The New Zealand Warriors won the club's first Minor Premiership in its 8-year history and also made it to their first Grand Final. The Warriors were not in first place almost during the entire season, only taking top spot on the ladder at the conclusion of Round 26.
John Hopoate ran 3,976 metres with the ball in 2002, more than any other player in the competition.
At the end of the season NRL referees' coach Peter Louis resigned from his position.
As of 2023, 2002 is the most recent season in which the Melbourne Storm did not qualify for the finals due to not winning enough games, though in 2010 they were sentenced to finish last due to salary cap breaches which prevented the club from earning any premiership points that season.

### Bulldogs salary cap breach

In mid-2002, the Canterbury club were found guilty of serious and systemic breaches of the salary cap. NRL Chief Executive David Gallop described the violation as "exceptional in both its size and its deliberate and ongoing nature". The club received a $500,000 fine, and was stripped of 37 of its 41 competition points accumulated up to Round 23. The latter action was particularly harmful, as the club were poised to take the Minor Premiership and had won 17 consecutive matches (the second highest in Australian club rugby league history at the time). The deduction of the 37 competition points meant that the Canterbury side would win the wooden spoon, as the South Sydney Rabbitohs had already accumulated 12 competition points by the end of Round 24.
The deduction of Canterbury's points also enabled the Canberra Raiders to make the finals with a points differential of -170, the poorest such record of any finalist in the competition's history, and the Raiders only won one game outside of Canberra for the entire season. It also enabled the New Zealand Warriors to secure their first minor premiership in the club's history.
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | F1 | F2 | F3 | GF |
| Brisbane Broncos | NQL +36 | CBY 0 | SYD +14 | CRO +2 | CAN +2 | PEN +4 | NEW +6 | SOU +26 | NTE +38 | X | SGI −8 | WTI +14 | PAR −4 | NQL +44 | X | NZL −10 | SGI +12 | PEN +18 | WTI +32 | PAR +20 | MEL +28 | SYD −10 | NZL −14 | NEW −30 | CAN +34 | CBY −7 | PAR +10 | X | SYD −4 | |
| Canberra Raiders | MEL −4 | SOU −8 | WTI +5 | NEW −46 | BRI −2 | NTE −24 | PAR −38 | CRO +26 | SGI 0 | SOU −6 | NQL +12 | NTE +12 | X | CRO −10 | CBY −40 | PEN +12 | SYD −30 | NEW +6 | NQL −16 | NZL +8 | X | WTI +20 | SYD −26 | CBY +4 | BRI −34 | MEL +9 | NZL −16 | | | |
| Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | WTI −6 | BRI 0 | SGI +19 | SOU +26 | MEL +16 | NZL +8 | CRO +20 | X | PEN +3 | CRO +26 | NTE +18 | SOU +10 | PEN +14 | X | CAN +40 | PAR +14 | NTE +20 | SGI +2 | SYD +12 | NEW +1 | NQL +8 | NZL −8 | PAR +18 | CAN −4 | MEL +8 | BRI +7 | | | | |
| Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | SGI +6 | MEL +6 | PEN +8 | BRI −2 | WTI +6 | NEW −44 | CBY −20 | CAN −26 | PAR −30 | CBY −26 | PEN −2 | NZL −22 | SGI +21 | CAN +10 | NQL +30 | X | NZL +12 | PAR +1 | NTE +22 | SOU +16 | SYD +14 | NEW +50 | WTI +16 | NQL +22 | X | SYD −12 | SYD −12 | SGI +16 | NZL −6 | |
| Melbourne Storm | CAN +4 | CRO −6 | NQL +28 | PAR +2 | CBY −16 | SGI +8 | NZL −10 | NEW −8 | SYD −28 | PAR −2 | NZL −16 | X | NEW −21 | SGI 0 | SOU +38 | NTE −14 | WTI +6 | SYD +38 | X | PEN −20 | BRI −28 | NQL +10 | PEN +32 | WTI −10 | CBY −8 | CAN −9 | | | | |
| Newcastle Knights | NTE +26 | NQL +32 | NZL +18 | CAN +46 | SYD +16 | CRO +44 | BRI −6 | MEL +8 | X | NZL −22 | SOU +26 | X | MEL +21 | PAR +14 | WTI −16 | SOU +18 | PAR +6 | CAN −6 | PEN +16 | CBY −1 | SGI +8 | CRO −50 | NTE +14 | BRI +30 | PEN +2 | SGI −18 | SGI −4 | SYD −26 | | |
| New Zealand Warriors | X | SYD +7 | NEW −18 | NQL +30 | NTE +58 | CBY −8 | MEL +10 | WTI +22 | SOU +7 | NEW +22 | MEL +16 | CRO +22 | NQL +28 | SOU +36 | SGI −10 | BRI +10 | CRO −12 | X | PAR +16 | CAN −8 | PEN +14 | CBY +8 | BRI +14 | SYD −44 | NTE −2 | WTI +16 | CAN +16 | X | CRO +6 | SYD −22 |
| North Queensland Cowboys | BRI −36 | NEW −32 | MEL −28 | NZL −30 | SOU +12 | SYD −46 | PEN +10 | PAR −1 | WTI +24 | PEN −30 | CAN −12 | SGI +8 | NZL −28 | BRI −44 | CRO −30 | SGI −27 | X | NTE −16 | CAN +16 | NTE +12 | CBY −8 | MEL −10 | X | CRO −22 | SOU +2 | PAR +9 | | | | |
| Northern Eagles | NEW −26 | X | SOU −24 | SYD +6 | NZL −58 | CAN +24 | WTI −18 | SGI +4 | BRI −38 | X | CBY −18 | CAN −12 | WTI +24 | SYD −27 | PEN +4 | MEL +14 | CBY −20 | NQL +16 | CRO −22 | NQL −12 | PAR +9 | SGI +2 | NEW −14 | PAR −13 | NZL +2 | PEN −40 | | | | |
| Parramatta Eels | PEN +58 | WTI −6 | X | MEL −2 | SGI 0 | SOU +8 | CAN +38 | NQL +1 | CRO +30 | MEL +2 | SYD −14 | X | BRI +4 | NEW −14 | SYD 0 | CBY −14 | NEW −6 | CRO −1 | NZL −16 | BRI −20 | NTE −9 | SOU +54 | CBY −18 | NTE +13 | WTI +12 | NQL −9 | BRI −10 | | | |
| Penrith Panthers | PAR −58 | SGI −8 | CRO −8 | WTI −16 | X | BRI −4 | NQL −10 | SYD −4 | CBY −3 | NQL +30 | CRO +2 | SYD +10 | CBY −14 | WTI +4 | NTE −4 | CAN −12 | SOU −7 | BRI −18 | NEW −16 | MEL +20 | NZL −14 | X | MEL −32 | SOU +16 | NEW −2 | NTE +40 | | | | |
| South Sydney Rabbitohs | SYD −34 | CAN +8 | NTE +24 | CBY −26 | NQL −12 | PAR −8 | X | BRI −26 | NZL −7 | CAN +6 | NEW −26 | CBY −10 | SYD −36 | NZL −36 | MEL −38 | NEW −18 | PEN +7 | WTI +14 | SGI −38 | CRO −16 | WTI −46 | PAR −54 | SGI −42 | PEN −16 | NQL −2 | X | | | | |
| St. George Illawarra Dragons | CRO −6 | PEN +8 | CBY −19 | X | PAR 0 | MEL −8 | SYD −4 | NTE −4 | CAN 0 | WTI +11 | BRI +8 | NQL −8 | CRO −21 | MEL 0 | NZL +10 | NQL +27 | BRI −12 | CBY −2 | SOU +38 | WTI +34 | NEW −8 | NTE −2 | SOU +42 | X | SYD −16 | NEW +18 | NEW +4 | CRO −16 | | |
| Sydney Roosters | SOU +34 | NZL −7 | BRI −14 | NTE −6 | NEW −16 | NQL +46 | SGI +4 | PEN +4 | MEL +28 | X | PAR +14 | PEN −10 | SOU +36 | NTE +27 | PAR 0 | WTI +2 | CAN +30 | MEL −38 | CBY −12 | X | CRO −14 | BRI +10 | CAN +26 | NZL +44 | SGI +16 | CRO +12 | CRO +12 | NEW +26 | BRI +4 | NZL +22 |
| Wests Tigers | CBY +6 | PAR +6 | CAN −5 | PEN +16 | CRO −6 | X | NTE +18 | NZL −22 | NQL −24 | SGI −11 | X | BRI −14 | NTE −24 | PEN −4 | NEW +16 | SYD −2 | MEL −6 | SOU −14 | BRI −32 | SGI −34 | SOU +46 | CAN −20 | CRO −16 | MEL +10 | PAR −12 | NZL −16 | | | | |
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | F1 | F2 | F3 | GF |
Bold – Home game X – Bye Opponent for round listed above margin

### Ladder

The Warriors received A$100,000 prize money for finishing the regular season as minor premiers.
2002 NRL seasonvte :
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | B | PF | PA | PD | Pts |
| 1 | New Zealand Warriors | 24 | 17 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 688 | 454 | +234 | 38 |
| 2 | Newcastle Knights | 24 | 17 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 724 | 498 | +226 | 38 |
| 3 | Brisbane Broncos | 24 | 16 | 1 | 7 | 2 | 672 | 425 | +247 | 37 |
| 4 | Sydney Roosters (P) | 24 | 15 | 1 | 8 | 2 | 621 | 405 | +216 | 35 |
| 5 | Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | 24 | 15 | 0 | 9 | 2 | 653 | 597 | +56 | 34 |
| 6 | Parramatta Eels | 24 | 10 | 2 | 12 | 2 | 531 | 440 | +91 | 26 |
| 7 | St George Illawarra Dragons | 24 | 9 | 3 | 12 | 2 | 632 | 546 | +86 | 25 |
| 8 | Canberra Raiders | 24 | 10 | 1 | 13 | 2 | 471 | 641 | -170 | 25 |
| 9 | Northern Eagles | 24 | 10 | 0 | 14 | 2 | 503 | 740 | -237 | 24 |
| 10 | Melbourne Storm | 24 | 9 | 1 | 14 | 2 | 556 | 586 | -30 | 23 |
| 11 | North Queensland Cowboys | 24 | 8 | 0 | 16 | 2 | 496 | 803 | -307 | 20 |
| 12 | Penrith Panthers | 24 | 7 | 0 | 17 | 2 | 546 | 654 | -108 | 18 |
| 13 | Wests Tigers | 24 | 7 | 0 | 17 | 2 | 498 | 642 | -144 | 18 |
| 14 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | 24 | 5 | 0 | 19 | 2 | 385 | 817 | -432 | 14 |
| 15 | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | 24 | 20 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 707 | 435 | +272 | 8$^1$ |
$^1$ The Bulldogs were deducted 37 premiership points due to gross salary cap breaches.

### Ladder progression

* Numbers highlighted in green indicate that the team finished the round inside the top 8.
* Numbers highlighted in blue indicates the team finished first on the ladder in that round.
* Numbers highlighted in red indicates the team finished in last place on the ladder in that round
* Underlined numbers indicate that the team had a bye during that round.
| | Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 |
| 1 | New Zealand | 2 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 24 | 24 | 26 | 26 | 28 | 30 | 30 | 32 | 34 | 36 | 36 | 36 | 38 |
| 2 | Newcastle | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 24 | 24 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 30 | 30 | 32 | 32 | 34 | 36 | 38 | 38 |
| 3 | Brisbane | 2 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 11 | 13 | 15 | 17 | 19 | 19 | 21 | 21 | 23 | 25 | 25 | 27 | 29 | 31 | 33 | 35 | 35 | 35 | 35 | 37 | 37 |
| 4 | Sydney | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 19 | 21 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 25 | 25 | 27 | 29 | 31 | 33 | 35 |
| 5 | Sharks | 2 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 24 | 26 | 28 | 30 | 32 | 34 | 34 |
| 6 | Parramatta | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 11 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 17 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 22 | 22 | 24 | 26 | 26 |
| 7 | St George Illawarra | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 17 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 21 | 23 | 23 | 25 |
| 8 | Canberra | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 17 | 19 | 21 | 21 | 23 | 23 | 25 |
| 9 | Northern Eagles | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 24 | 24 |
| 10 | Melbourne | 2 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 17 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 21 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 |
| 11 | North Queensland | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 20 |
| 12 | Penrith | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 18 |
| 13 | Wests | 2 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 18 |
| 14 | South Sydney | 0 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 14 |
| 15 | Bulldogs | 0 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 11 | 13 | 15 | 17 | 19 | 21 | 23 | 25 | 27 | 29 | 31 | 33 | 35 | 37 | 39 | 39 | 41 | 4 | 6 | 8 |

## Finals series

To decide the grand finalists from the top eight finishing teams, the NRL adopts the McIntyre final eight system.
Coincidentally, the finalists for 2002 were almost the same as the previous season, with the exception of the Bulldogs being replaced by Canberra. Had the Bulldogs not been deducted competition points, they would have become the minor premiers and completed the replication, with Canberra moving down to 9th.
| Home | Score | Away | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information |
| Home | Score | Away | Date and Time | Venue | Referee | Crowd |
| Qualifying Finals |||||||
| Sydney Roosters | 32 – 20 | Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | 13 September 2002 | Aussie Stadium | Paul Simpkins | 25,366 |
| Brisbane Broncos | 24 – 14 | Parramatta Eels | 14 September 2002 | ANZ Stadium | Sean Hampstead | 19,115 |
| Newcastle Knights | 22 – 26 | St George Illawarra Dragons | 14 September 2002 | Energy Australia Stadium | Bill Harrigan | 21,051 |
| New Zealand Warriors | 36 – 20 | Canberra Raiders | 15 September 2002 | Ericsson Stadium | Tim Mander | 25,800 |
| Semi-finals |||||||
| St George Illawarra Dragons | 24 – 40 | Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | 21 September 2002 | Aussie Stadium | Bill Harrigan | 31,783 |
| Sydney Roosters | 38 – 12 | Newcastle Knights | 22 September 2002 | Aussie Stadium | Sean Hampstead | 23,816 |
| Preliminary Finals |||||||
| Brisbane Broncos | 12 – 16 | Sydney Roosters | 28 September 2002 | Aussie Stadium | Bill Harrigan | 28,251 |
| New Zealand Warriors | 16 – 10 | Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | 29 September 2002 | Telstra Stadium | Tim Mander | 45,782 |

### Chart

| Qualifying finals | Qualifying finals | Qualifying finals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Preliminary finals | Preliminary finals | Preliminary finals | Final | Final | Final |
| 1 | New Zealand | 36 | | | | | | | | | |
| 8 | Canberra | 20 | | | | 1W | New Zealand | 16 | | | |
| | | | 4W | St. George Illawarra | 24 | | Cronulla | 10 | | | |
| 2 | Newcastle | 22 | 2L | Cronulla | 40 | | | | | | |
| 2 | Newcastle | 22 | 2L | Cronulla | 40 | | | | New Zealand | New Zealand | 8 |
| 7 | St. George Illawarra | 26 | | | | | | | New Zealand | New Zealand | 8 |
| 7 | St. George Illawarra | 26 | | | | | | | Sydney | Sydney | 30 |
| 3 | Brisbane | 24 | | | | 2W | Brisbane | 12 | | | |
| 6 | Parramatta | 14 | 3W | Sydney | 38 | | Sydney | 16 | | | |
| | | | 1L | Newcastle | 12 | | | | | | |
| 4 | Sydney | 32 | | | | | | | | | |
| 5 | Cronulla | 20 | | | | | | | | | |

## Grand Final

The 2002 NRL Grand Final was the conclusive and premiership-deciding game of the 2002 NRL season. It took place on Sunday, 6 October 2002, at Sydney's Telstra Stadium. 80,130 people saw the Sydney Roosters beat the New Zealand Warriors 30–8. The Clive Churchill Medalist was Craig Fitzgibbon of the Sydney Roosters. The match was also broadcast live in the United States by Fox Sports World.
* Sunday, 6 October 19:00 AEST (UTC+10)
| New Zealand Warriors | 8 – 30 | Sydney Roosters |
| Tries: 1 Jones 46' Goals: 2 Cleary pen 29', 47' (2/2) | 1st: 2–6 2nd: 6–24 Report | Tries: 5 Hegarty 23' Wing 57' Fitzgibbon 65' Flannery 71' Fletcher 74' Goals: 5 Fitzgibbon 25', 59', 66', 71', 76' (5/5) |
* Telstra Stadium, Sydney Attendance: 80,130 Referee: Bill Harrigan Touch judges: Steve Richards, Shayne Hayne Clive Churchill Medal: Craig Fitzgibbon (Sydney)

## Player statistics

The following statistics are as of the conclusion of Round 26.
| Points | Player | Tries | Goals | Field Goals |
| 254 | Hazem El Masri | 12 | 103 | 0 |
| 246 | Andrew Johns | 10 | 102 | 2 |
| 233 | Brett Kimmorley | 13 | 90 | 1 |
| 222 | Ivan Cleary | 8 | 95 | 0 |
| 174 | Michael De Vere | 6 | 75 | 0 |
| Tries | Player |
| 23 | Nigel Vagana |
| 19 | Timana Tahu |
| 19 | Rhys Wesser |
| 17 | Clinton Toopi |
| 17 | Lee Hookey |
| 17 | Aaron Moule |
| 17 | Luke Lewis |
| Goals | Player |
| 103 | Hazem El Masri |
| 102 | Andrew Johns |
| 95 | Ivan Cleary |
| 90 | Brett Kimmorley |
| 75 | Michael De Vere |

## 2002 Transfers
### Players

| Player | 2001 Club | 2002 Club |
| Darren Burns | Brisbane Broncos | Super League: Warrington Wolves |
| Mark Corvo | Brisbane Broncos | Super League: Salford City Reds |
| Luke Priddis | Brisbane Broncos | Penrith Panthers |
| Wendell Sailor | Brisbane Broncos | Queensland Reds (Super 12) |
| Kevin Walters | Brisbane Broncos | Retirement |
| Anthony Colella | Canberra Raiders | South Sydney Rabbitohs |
| Andrew McFadden | Canberra Raiders | Parramatta Eels |
| Lesley Vainikolo | Canberra Raiders | Super League: Bradford Bulls |
| Luke Williamson | Canberra Raiders | Northern Eagles |
| Darren Britt | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | Super League: St. Helens |
| Steven Hughes | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | Retirement |
| Adam Peek | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | South Sydney Rabbitohs |
| Craig Polla-Mounter | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | Retirement |
| Rod Silva | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | Retirement |
| Barry Ward | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | Super League: St. Helens |
| Matt Daylight | Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | Retirement |
| Shannon Donato | Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | Penrith Panthers |
| Adam Dykes | Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | Parramatta Eels |
| Jason Ferris | Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | Northern Eagles |
| Martin Lang | Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | Penrith Panthers |
| Nathan Long | Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | Northern Eagles |
| Paul McNicholas | Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | South Sydney Rabbitohs |
| Russell Richardson | Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | South Sydney Rabbitohs |
| Mat Rogers | Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | New South Wales Waratahs (Super 12) |
| Sean Ryan | Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | Super League: Hull F.C. |
| Luke Stuart | Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | South Sydney Rabbitohs |
| Russell Bawden | Melbourne Storm | Super League: London Broncos |
| Tasesa Lavea | Melbourne Storm | Northern Eagles |
| Ben Roarty | Melbourne Storm | Penrith Panthers |
| Brad Watts | Melbourne Storm | South Sydney Rabbitohs |
| Darren Albert | Newcastle Knights | Super League: St. Helens |
| Troy Fletcher | Newcastle Knights | Retirement |
| Glenn Grief | Newcastle Knights | South Sydney Rabbitohs |
| Paul Marquet | Newcastle Knights | Super League: Warrington Wolves |
| Richie Blackmore | New Zealand Warriors | Retirement |
| Jason Death | New Zealand Warriors | South Sydney Rabbitohs |
| Geoff Bell | North Queensland Cowboys | Penrith Panthers |
| Brett Hetherington | North Queensland Cowboys | Retirement |
| Danny Moore | North Queensland Cowboys | Retirement |
| Julian O'Neill | North Queensland Cowboys | Super League: Wigan Warriors |
| Lee Oudenryn | North Queensland Cowboys | Retirement |
| Mark Shipway | North Queensland Cowboys | Northern Eagles |
| Damien Smith | North Queensland Cowboys | Retirement |
| Kyle Warren | North Queensland Cowboys | Super League: Castleford Tigers |
| Greg Ebrill | Northern Eagles | Super League: Salford City Reds |
| Wayne Evans | Northern Eagles | Super League: London Broncos |
| Brett Kimmorley | Northern Eagles | Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks |
| Andrew King | Northern Eagles | South Sydney Rabbitohs |
| William Leyshon | Northern Eagles | Melbourne Storm |
| Karl Lovell | Northern Eagles | Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks |
| Adam Muir | Northern Eagles | South Sydney Rabbitohs |
| Mark O'Meley | Northern Eagles | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs |
| Paul Stringer | Northern Eagles | South Sydney Rabbitohs |
| Geoff Toovey | Northern Eagles | Retirement |
| Steve Trindall | Northern Eagles | Wests Tigers |
| Ben Walker | Northern Eagles | Super League: Leeds Rhinos |
| PJ Marsh | Parramatta Eels | New Zealand Warriors |
| Jason Taylor | Parramatta Eels | Retirement |
| David Westley | Parramatta Eels | Northern Eagles |
| Matt Adamson | Penrith Panthers | Super League: Leeds Rhinos |
| Robbie Beckett | Penrith Panthers | Super League: Halifax Blue Sox |
| Steve Carter | Penrith Panthers | Super League: Widnes Vikings |
| Craig Greenhill | Penrith Panthers | Super League: Hull F.C. |
| Andrew Hinson | Penrith Panthers | South Sydney Rabbitohs |
| Peter Jorgensen | Penrith Panthers | Northampton Saints (English rugby union) |
| Duncan MacGillivray | Penrith Panthers | South Sydney Rabbitohs |
| Frank Puletua | Penrith Panthers | South Sydney Rabbitohs |
| Matthew Rieck | Penrith Panthers | Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks |
| Matthew Rodwell | Penrith Panthers | Super League: Warrington Wolves |
| David Woods | Penrith Panthers | Super League: Halifax Blue Sox |
| Jamie Ainscough | St. George Illawarra Dragons | Super League: Wigan Warriors |
| Wayne Bartrim | St. George Illawarra Dragons | Super League: Castleford Tigers |
| Jamie Fitzgerald | St. George Illawarra Dragons | South Sydney Rabbitohs |
| Wade Forrester | St. George Illawarra Dragons | Northern Eagles |
| Andrew Hart | St. George Illawarra Dragons | South Sydney Rabbitohs |
| Paul McGregor | St. George Illawarra Dragons | Retirement |
| Craig Smith | St. George Illawarra Dragons | Super League: Wigan Warriors |
| Darren Treacy | St. George Illawarra Dragons | Super League: Salford City Reds |
| Colin Ward | St. George Illawarra Dragons | Penrith Panthers |
| Quentin Pongia | Sydney Roosters | Villeneuve Leopards (Elite One Championship) |
| Ian Rubin | Sydney Roosters | Retirement |
| Matt Sing | Sydney Roosters | North Queensland Cowboys |
| John Carlaw | Wests Tigers | New Zealand Warriors |
| Owen Craigie | Wests Tigers | South Sydney Rabbitohs |
| Craig Field | Wests Tigers | Pia Donkeys (French Rugby League Championship) |
| Lee Murphy | Wests Tigers | Retirement |
| John Simon | Wests Tigers | Retirement |
| Tyran Smith | Wests Tigers | Canberra Raiders |
| Shane Walker | Wests Tigers | Melbourne Storm |
| Shane Rigon | Super League: Bradford Bulls | South Sydney Rabbitohs |
| Ben Kusto | Super League: Huddersfield Giants | Parramatta Eels |
| Luke Felsch | Super League: Hull F.C. | St. George Illawarra Dragons |
| Tony Grimaldi | Super League: Hull F.C. | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs |
| Robert Mears | Super League: Leeds Rhinos | Wests Tigers |
| Brett Mullins | Super League: Leeds Rhinos | Sydney Roosters |
| Glen Air | Super League: London Broncos | Wests Tigers |
| Shane Millard | Super League: London Broncos | St. George Illawarra Dragons |
| Justin Brooker | Super League: Wakefield Trinity Wildcats | South Sydney Rabbitohs |
| Andrew Gee | Super League: Warrington Wolves | Brisbane Broncos |
| David Kidwell | Super League: Warrington Wolves | Sydney Roosters |
| Allan Langer | Super League: Warrington Wolves | Brisbane Broncos |
| Danny Nutley | Super League: Warrington Wolves | Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks |
| Ian Sibbit | Super League: Warrington Wolves | Melbourne Storm |
| Matthew Johns | Super League: Wigan Warriors | Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks |
| Ken McGuinness | Toowoomba Clydesdales (Queensland Cup) | North Queensland Cowboys |
| Chris Caruana | N/A | South Sydney Rabbitohs |
| Joe Galuvao | N/A | Penrith Panthers |

### Coaches

| Coach | 2001 Club | 2002 Club |
| John Lang | Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | Penrith Panthers |