# 2021 NRL season

The 2021 NRL season was the 114th season of professional rugby league in Australia and the 24th season run by the National Rugby League.

## Teams

The lineup of teams remained unchanged for the 15th consecutive year.
| Club | Season | Home ground(s) | Head coach | Captain(s) |
| Brisbane Broncos | 34th season | Suncorp Stadium | Kevin Walters | Alex Glenn |
| Canberra Raiders | 40th season | GIO Stadium Canberra | Ricky Stuart | Jarrod Croker & Josh Hodgson |
| Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | 87th season | Stadium Australia & Bankwest Stadium | Trent Barrett | Josh Jackson |
| Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | 55th season | Netstrata Jubilee Stadium | John Morris → Josh Hannay (interim) | Wade Graham |
| Gold Coast Titans | 15th season | Cbus Super Stadium | Justin Holbrook | Kevin Proctor & Jamal Fogarty |
| Manly Warringah Sea Eagles | 72nd season | 4 Pines Park | Des Hasler | Daly Cherry-Evans |
| Melbourne Storm | 24th season | AAMI Park | Craig Bellamy | Jesse Bromwich & Dale Finucane |
| Newcastle Knights | 34th season | McDonald Jones Stadium | Adam O'Brien | Daniel Saifiti & Jayden Brailey |
| New Zealand Warriors | 27th season | Central Coast Stadium | Nathan Brown | Roger Tuivasa-Sheck |
| North Queensland Cowboys | 27th season | Queensland Country Bank Stadium | Todd Payten | Michael Morgan → Jason Taumalolo |
| Parramatta Eels | 75th season | Bankwest Stadium | Brad Arthur | Clint Gutherson |
| Penrith Panthers | 55th season | BlueBet Stadium | Ivan Cleary | Isaah Yeo & Nathan Cleary |
| South Sydney Rabbitohs | 112th season | Stadium Australia | Wayne Bennett | Adam Reynolds |
| St. George Illawarra Dragons | 23rd season | Netstrata Jubilee Stadium & WIN Stadium | Anthony Griffin | Ben Hunt |
| Sydney Roosters | 114th season | Sydney Cricket Ground | Trent Robinson | Jake Friend → James Tedesco |
| Wests Tigers | 22nd season | Leichhardt Oval, Campbelltown Stadium & Bankwest Stadium | Michael Maguire | James Tamou |

## Regular season

| 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 | F1 | F2 | F3 | GF |
| Brisbane Broncos | PAR 8 | GCT 12 | CBY 24 | MEL 34 | SOU 29 | PEN 8 | PAR 40 | GCT 8 | NQL 1 | MAN 44 | SYD 18 | MEL 28 | SGI 28 | CAN 22 | SOU 46 | CRO 8 | X | WTI 18 | PEN 6 | NQL 19 | NEW 8 | SYD 1 | NZL 2 | CRO 8 | NEW 13 | | | | |
| Canberra Raiders | WTI 18 | CRO 2 | NZL 3 | GCT 16 | PEN 20 | PAR 25 | NQL 2 | SOU 14 | NEW 8 | CBY 2 | MEL 24 | SYD 28 | X | BRI 22 | SGI 2 | GCT 38 | MAN 14 | CRO 16 | PAR 2 | NEW 10 | SGI 8 | MEL 10 | MAN 1 | NZL 12 | SYD 24 | | | | |
| Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | NEW 16 | PEN 28 | BRI 24 | SOU 38 | MEL 34 | NQL 12 | CRO 6 | PAR 22 | SGI 20 | CAN 2 | GCT 10 | PEN 26 | X | SGI 22 | PAR 26 | MAN 66 | SYD 6 | SOU 8 | CRO 20 | GCT 28 | WTI 12 | NZL 14 | NEW 6 | MAN 18 | WTI 38 | | | | |
| Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | SGI 14 | CAN 2 | PAR 24 | NQL 38 | SYD 8 | NEW 4 | CBY 6 | MEL 26 | PEN 48 | SOU 10 | SGI 1* | GCT 28 | X | PEN 1 | NQL 2 | BRI 8 | NZL 8 | CAN 16 | CBY 20 | MAN 18 | NZL 2 | NEW 2 | WTI 30 | BRI 8 | MEL 12 | | | | |
| Gold Coast Titans | NZL 13 | BRI 12 | NQL 36 | CAN 16 | NEW 26 | MAN 36 | SOU 10 | BRI 8 | WTI 8 | PEN 36 | CBY 10 | CRO 28 | MEL 6 | SYD 1 | MAN 32 | CAN 38 | X | PAR 18 | SGI 22 | CBY 28 | NQL 22 | SOU 30 | MEL 14 | NEW 1 | NZL 44 | SYD 1 | | | |
| Manly Warringah Sea Eagles | SYD 42 | SOU 14 | SGI 26 | PEN 40 | NZL 1 | GCT 36 | WTI 34 | PEN 12 | NZL 6 | BRI 44 | PAR 22 | NEW 8 | X | NQL 32 | GCT 32 | CBY 66 | CAN 14 | SGI 14 | WTI 20 | CRO 18 | MEL 10 | PAR 46 | CAN 1 | CBY 18 | NQL 28 | MEL 28 | SYD 36 | SOU 20 | |
| Melbourne Storm | SOU 8 | PAR 4 | PEN 2 | BRI 34 | CBY 34 | SYD 16 | NZL 22 | CRO 26 | SOU 50 | SGI 26 | CAN 24 | BRI 28 | GCT 6 | NZL 26 | WTI 50 | SYD 46 | X | NEW 44 | NQL 4 | PEN 27 | MAN 10 | CAN 10 | GCT 14 | PAR 12 | CRO 12 | MAN 28 | X | PEN 4 | |
| Newcastle Knights | CBY 16 | NZL 4 | WTI 4 | SGI 9 | GCT 26 | CRO 4 | PEN 18 | SYD 34 | CAN 8 | WTI 18 | NQL 16 | MAN 8 | PAR 36 | SOU 14 | NZL 4 | NQL 38 | X | MEL 44 | SYD 20 | CAN 10 | BRI 8 | CRO 2 | CBY 6 | GCT 1 | BRI 13 | PAR 8 | | | |
| New Zealand Warriors | GCT 13 | NEW 4 | CAN 3 | SYD 20 | MAN 1 | SGI 6 | MEL 22 | NQL 4 | MAN 6 | PAR 16 | WTI 4 | NQL 1 | X | MEL 26 | NEW 4 | SGI 1* | CRO 8 | PEN 14 | SOU 38 | WTI 2 | CRO 2 | CBY 14 | BRI 2 | CAN 12 | GCT 44 | | | | |
| North Queensland Cowboys | PEN 24 | SGI 7 | GCT 36 | CRO 38 | WTI 4 | CBY 12 | CAN 2 | NZL 4 | BRI 1 | SYD 14 | NEW 16 | NZL 1 | X | MAN 32 | CRO 2 | NEW 38 | SOU 28 | SYD 16 | MEL 4 | BRI 19 | GCT 22 | WTI 8 | PAR 16 | SGI 12 | MAN 28 | | | | |
| Parramatta Eels | BRI 8 | MEL 4 | CRO 24 | WTI 14 | SGI 14 | CAN 25 | BRI 40 | CBY 22 | SYD 13 | NZL 16 | MAN 22 | SOU 18 | NEW 36 | WTI 28 | CBY 26 | PEN 1 | X | GCT 18 | CAN 2 | SYD 28 | SOU 28 | MAN 46 | NQL 16 | MEL 12 | PEN 34 | NEW 8 | PEN 2 | | |
| Penrith Panthers | NQL 24 | CBY 28 | MEL 2 | MAN 40 | CAN 20 | BRI 8 | NEW 18 | MAN 12 | CRO 48 | GCT 36 | SOU 44 | CBY 26 | WTI 20 | CRO 1 | SYD 26 | PAR 1 | X | NZL 14 | BRI 6 | MEL 27 | SYD 6 | SGI 18 | SOU 13 | WTI 14 | PAR 34 | SOU 6 | PAR 2 | MEL 4 | SOU 2 |
| South Sydney Rabbitohs | MEL 8 | MAN 14 | SYD 10 | CBY 38 | BRI 29 | WTI 4* | GCT 10 | CAN 14 | MEL 50 | CRO 10 | PEN 44 | PAR 18 | X | NEW 14 | BRI 46 | WTI 16 | NQL 28 | CBY 8 | NZL 38 | SGI 36 | PAR 28 | GCT 30 | PEN 13 | SYD 42 | SGI 4 | PEN 6 | X | MAN 20 | PEN 2 |
| St. George Illawarra Dragons | CRO 14 | NQL 7 | MAN 26 | NEW 9 | PAR 14 | NZL 6 | SYD 24 | WTI 8 | CBY 20 | MEL 26 | CRO 1* | WTI 16 | BRI 28 | CBY 22 | CAN 2 | NZL 1* | X | MAN 14 | GCT 22 | SOU 36 | CAN 8 | PEN 18 | SYD 18 | NQL 12 | SOU 4 | | | | |
| Sydney Roosters | MAN 42 | WTI 34 | SOU 10 | NZL 20 | CRO 8 | MEL 16 | SGI 24 | NEW 34 | PAR 13 | NQL 14 | BRI 18 | CAN 28 | X | GCT 1 | PEN 26 | MEL 46 | CBY 6 | NQL 16 | NEW 20 | PAR 28 | PEN 6 | BRI 1 | SGI 18 | SOU 42 | CAN 24 | GCT 1 | MAN 36 | | |
| Wests Tigers | CAN 18 | SYD 34 | NEW 4 | PAR 14 | NQL 4 | SOU 4* | MAN 34 | SGI 8 | GCT 8 | NEW 18 | NZL 4 | SGI 16 | PEN 20 | PAR 28 | MEL 50 | SOU 16 | X | BRI 18 | MAN 20 | NZL 2 | CBY 12 | NQL 8 | CRO 30 | PEN 14 | CBY 38 | | | | |
| 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 | F1 | F2 | F3 | GF |
Bold – Home game X – Bye * – Golden point game Opponent for round listed above margin

## Ladder

2021 NRL seasonvte :
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | B | PF | PA | PD | Pts |
| 1 | Melbourne Storm | 24 | 21 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 815 | 316 | +499 | 44 |
| 2 | Penrith Panthers (P) | 24 | 21 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 676 | 286 | +390 | 44 |
| 3 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | 24 | 20 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 775 | 453 | +322 | 42 |
| 4 | Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles | 24 | 16 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 744 | 492 | +252 | 34 |
| 5 | Sydney Roosters | 24 | 16 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 630 | 489 | +141 | 34 |
| 6 | Parramatta Eels | 24 | 15 | 0 | 9 | 1 | 566 | 457 | +109 | 32 |
| 7 | Newcastle Knights | 24 | 12 | 0 | 12 | 1 | 428 | 571 | −143 | 26 |
| 8 | Gold Coast Titans | 24 | 10 | 0 | 14 | 1 | 580 | 583 | −3 | 22 |
| 9 | Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | 24 | 10 | 0 | 14 | 1 | 520 | 556 | −36 | 22 |
| 10 | Canberra Raiders | 24 | 10 | 0 | 14 | 1 | 481 | 578 | −97 | 22 |
| 11 | St. George Illawarra Dragons | 24 | 8 | 0 | 16 | 1 | 474 | 616 | −142 | 18 |
| 12 | New Zealand Warriors | 24 | 8 | 0 | 16 | 1 | 453 | 624 | −171 | 18 |
| 13 | Wests Tigers | 24 | 8 | 0 | 16 | 1 | 500 | 714 | −214 | 18 |
| 14 | Brisbane Broncos | 24 | 7 | 0 | 17 | 1 | 446 | 695 | −249 | 16 |
| 15 | North Queensland Cowboys | 24 | 7 | 0 | 17 | 1 | 460 | 748 | −288 | 16 |
| 16 | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | 24 | 3 | 0 | 21 | 1 | 340 | 710 | −370 | 8 |

### 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 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 |
| 1 | Melbourne Storm | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 24 | 26 | 28 | 30 | 32 | 34 | 36 | 38 | 40 | 42 | 42 | 44 |
| 2 | Penrith Panthers (P) | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 26 | 28 | 30 | 32 | 34 | 34 | 36 | 38 | 40 | 42 | 44 |
| 3 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | 0 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 24 | 26 | 28 | 30 | 32 | 34 | 36 | 38 | 38 | 40 | 42 |
| 4 | Manly Warringah Sea Eagles | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 22 | 24 | 26 | 26 | 28 | 30 | 32 | 34 |
| 5 | Sydney Roosters | 2 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 22 | 24 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 30 | 32 | 32 | 34 |
| 6 | Parramatta Eels | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 24 | 24 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 30 | 32 | 32 |
| 7 | Newcastle Knights | 2 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 24 | 26 | 26 |
| 8 | Gold Coast Titans | 0 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 22 |
| 9 | Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 22 |
| 10 | Canberra Raiders | 2 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 22 | 22 |
| 11 | St. George Illawarra Dragons | 0 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 |
| 12 | New Zealand Warriors | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 |
| 13 | Wests Tigers | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 |
| 14 | Brisbane Broncos | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 16 |
| 15 | North Queensland Cowboys | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 16 |
| 16 | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 8 |

## Finals series

Due to the imposition of lockdown measures in New South Wales due to a COVID-19 outbreak, all finals matches were played at neutral venues in Queensland.
| Home | Score | Away | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information |
| Home | Score | Away | Date and Time (Local) | Venue | Referee | Crowd |
| QUALIFYING & ELIMINATION FINALS |||||||
| Melbourne Storm | 40 – 12 | Manly Warringah Sea Eagles | 10 September 2021, 7:50 pm | Sunshine Coast Stadium | Grant Atkins | 9,120 |
| Sydney Roosters | 25 – 24 | Gold Coast Titans | 11 September 2021, 5:40 pm | Queensland Country Bank Stadium | Adam Gee | 18,244 |
| Penrith Panthers | 10 – 16 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | 11 September 2021, 7:50 pm | Queensland Country Bank Stadium | Gerard Sutton | 18,244 |
| Parramatta Eels | 28 – 20 | Newcastle Knights | 12 September 2021, 4:05 pm | Browne Park | Ashley Klein | 5,087 |
| SEMI FINALS |||||||
| Manly Warringah Sea Eagles | 42 – 6 | Sydney Roosters | 17 September 2021, 7:50 pm | BB Print Stadium | Gerard Sutton | 5,824 |
| Penrith Panthers | 8 – 6 | Parramatta Eels | 18 September 2021, 7:50 pm | BB Print Stadium | Ashley Klein | 6,011 |
| PRELIMINARY FINALS |||||||
| South Sydney Rabbitohs | 36 – 16 | Manly Warringah Sea Eagles | 24 September 2021, 8:05 pm | Suncorp Stadium | Ashley Klein | 26,249 |
| Melbourne Storm | 6 – 10 | Penrith Panthers | 25 September 2021, 4:00 pm | Suncorp Stadium | Gerard Sutton | 29,011 |

### Bracket

| Qualifying and elimination finals | Qualifying and elimination finals | Qualifying and elimination finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Preliminary finals | Preliminary finals | Preliminary finals | Grand final | Grand final | Grand final |
| 10 September – Sunshine Coast | 10 September – Sunshine Coast | 10 September – Sunshine Coast | | | | | | | | | |
| 1 | Melbourne | 40 | | | | | | | | | |
| 4 | Manly Warringah | 12 | 17 September – Mackay | 17 September – Mackay | 17 September – Mackay | | | | |
| | | | Manly Warringah | Manly Warringah | 42 | | | | |
| 11 September – Townsville | 11 September – Townsville | 11 September – Townsville | Sydney | Sydney | 6 | 25 September – Brisbane | 25 September – Brisbane | 25 September – Brisbane | | | |
| 5 | Sydney | 25 | | | | Melbourne | Melbourne | 6 | |
| 8 | Gold Coast | 24 | | | | Penrith | Penrith | 10 | 3 October – Brisbane | 3 October – Brisbane | 3 October – Brisbane |
| | | | | | | | | | Penrith | Penrith | 14 |
| 12 September – Rockhampton | 12 September – Rockhampton | 12 September – Rockhampton | | | | 24 September – Brisbane | 24 September – Brisbane | 24 September – Brisbane | South Sydney | South Sydney | 12 |
| 6 | Parramatta | 28 | | | | South Sydney | South Sydney | 36 | | |
| 7 | Newcastle | 20 | 18 September – Mackay | 18 September – Mackay | 18 September – Mackay | Manly Warringah | Manly Warringah | 16 | | |
| | | | Penrith | Penrith | 8 | | | | | | |
| 11 September – Townsville | 11 September – Townsville | 11 September – Townsville | Parramatta | Parramatta | 6 | | | | | |
| 2 | Penrith | 10 | | | | | | | | | |
| 3 | South Sydney | 16 | | | | | | | | |

## Grand final

* Sunday, 3 October 6:35 pm (AEST) 7:35 pm (AEDT)
| Penrith Panthers | 14 – 12 | South Sydney Rabbitohs |
| Tries: Matt Burton (17') 1 Stephen Crichton (67') 1 Goals: Nathan Cleary 3/3 (19', 33' pen, 69') | 1st: 8 - 6 2nd: 6 - 6 | Tries: Cody Walker (21') 1 Alex Johnston (75') 1 Goals: Adam Reynolds 2/3 (23', 45' pen) Field Goals: Adam Reynolds 0/1 |
* Suncorp Stadium Attendance: 39,322
* Clive Churchill Medal: Nathan Cleary Referee: Gerard Sutton

## Player statistics and records

The following statistics are as of the conclusion of Round 25.
| Points | Player | Tries | Goals | Field Goals |
| 304 | Reuben Garrick | 21 | 110 | 0 |
| 248 | Adam Reynolds | 5 | 112 | 2 |
| 213 | Nathan Cleary | 10 | 85 | 2 |
| 174 | Adam Doueihi | 9 | 69 | 0 |
| 148 | Jamal Fogarty | 4 | 66 | 0 |
| Tries | Player |
| 27 | Alex Johnston |
| 25 | Tom Trbojevic |
| 23 | Josh Addo-Carr |
| 23 | Jason Saab |
| 21 | Reuben Garrick |
| Goals | Player |
| 112 | Adam Reynolds |
| 110 | Reuben Garrick |
| 85 | Nathan Cleary |
| 69 | Adam Doueihi |
| 66 | Jamal Fogarty |
| Tackles | Player |
| 1,036 | Jayden Brailey |
| 1,010 | Andrew McCullough |
| 956 | Blayke Brailey |
| 926 | Damien Cook |
| 911 | Reece Robson |

## 2021 Transfers
### Players

Source:
| Player | 2020 Club | 2021 Club |
| Jack Bird | Brisbane Broncos | St. George Illawarra Dragons |
| Darius Boyd | Brisbane Broncos | Retirement |
| David Fifita | Brisbane Broncos | Gold Coast Titans |
| Jordan Kahu | Brisbane Broncos | Retirement |
| Issac Luke | Brisbane Broncos | Wynnum Manly Seagulls (Intrust Super Cup) |
| Joe Ofahengaue | Brisbane Broncos | Wests Tigers |
| John Bateman | Canberra Raiders | Super League: Wigan Warriors |
| Nick Cotric | Canberra Raiders | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs |
| Michael Oldfield | Canberra Raiders | Parramatta Eels |
| Jack Cogger | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | Super League: Huddersfield Giants |
| Kieran Foran | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | Manly Warringah Sea Eagles |
| Kerrod Holland | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | Retirement |
| Tim Lafai | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | N/A |
| Marcelo Montoya | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | New Zealand Warriors |
| Reimis Smith | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | Melbourne Storm |
| Sauaso Sue | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | Newcastle Knights |
| Aiden Tolman | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks |
| Bryson Goodwin | Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | Retirement |
| Nene Macdonald | Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | Norths Devils (Intrust Super Cup) |
| Scott Sorensen | Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | Penrith Panthers |
| Jai Arrow | Gold Coast Titans | South Sydney Rabbitohs |
| Shannon Boyd | Gold Coast Titans | Retirement |
| Bryce Cartwright | Gold Coast Titans | Parramatta Eels |
| Dale Copley | Gold Coast Titans | Brisbane Broncos |
| Keegan Hipgrave | Gold Coast Titans | Parramatta Eels |
| Ryan James | Gold Coast Titans | Canberra Raiders |
| Nathan Peats | Gold Coast Titans | Super League: Leigh Centurions |
| Tyrone Roberts | Gold Coast Titans | Norths Devils (Intrust Super Cup) |
| Young Tonumaipea | Gold Coast Titans | Melbourne Rebels (Super Rugby) |
| Brendan Elliot | Manly Warringah Sea Eagles | Super League: Leigh Centurions |
| Addin Fonua-Blake | Manly Warringah Sea Eagles | New Zealand Warriors |
| Danny Levi | Manly Warringah Sea Eagles | Brisbane Broncos |
| Joel Thompson | Manly Warringah Sea Eagles | Super League: St. Helens |
| Corey Waddell | Manly Warringah Sea Eagles | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs |
| Sandor Earl | Melbourne Storm | Retirement |
| Tino Fa'asuamaleaui | Melbourne Storm | Gold Coast Titans |
| Cameron Smith | Melbourne Storm | Retirement |
| Albert Vete | Melbourne Storm | Super League: Hull Kingston Rovers |
| Suliasi Vunivalu | Melbourne Storm | Queensland Reds (Super Rugby) |
| Herman Ese'ese | Newcastle Knights | Gold Coast Titans |
| Tim Glasby | Newcastle Knights | Retirement |
| Aidan Guerra | Newcastle Knights | Retirement |
| Mason Lino | Newcastle Knights | Super League: Wakefield Trinity |
| Sione Mata'utia | Newcastle Knights | Super League: St. Helens |
| Andrew McCullough | Newcastle Knights | St. George Illawarra Dragons |
| Tautau Moga | Newcastle Knights | South Sydney Rabbitohs |
| Gerard Beale | New Zealand Warriors | St. George Illawarra Dragons |
| Adam Blair | New Zealand Warriors | Retirement |
| Lachlan Burr | New Zealand Warriors | North Queensland Cowboys |
| Blake Green | New Zealand Warriors | Newcastle Knights |
| Patrick Herbert | New Zealand Warriors | Gold Coast Titans |
| Karl Lawton | New Zealand Warriors | Manly Warringah Sea Eagles |
| Agnatius Paasi | New Zealand Warriors | Super League: St. Helens |
| Isaiah Papali'i | New Zealand Warriors | Parramatta Eels |
| Leivaha Pulu | New Zealand Warriors | Norths Devils (Intrust Super Cup) |
| Nathaniel Roache | New Zealand Warriors | Parramatta Eels |
| John Asiata | North Queensland Cowboys | Brisbane Broncos |
| Gavin Cooper | North Queensland Cowboys | Retirement |
| Esan Marsters | North Queensland Cowboys | Gold Coast Titans |
| Josh McGuire | North Queensland Cowboys | St. George Illawarra Dragons |
| Tom Opacic | North Queensland Cowboys | Parramatta Eels |
| Daniel Alvaro | Parramatta Eels | St. George Illawarra Dragons |
| Kane Evans | Parramatta Eels | New Zealand Warriors |
| David Gower | Parramatta Eels | Retirement |
| George Jennings | Parramatta Eels | Melbourne Storm |
| Michael Jennings | Parramatta Eels | Suspension |
| Brad Takairangi | Parramatta Eels | Super League: Hull Kingston Rovers |
| Peni Terepo | Parramatta Eels | Retirement |
| Jack Hetherington | Penrith Panthers | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs |
| Josh Mansour | Penrith Panthers | South Sydney Rabbitohs |
| James Tamou | Penrith Panthers | Wests Tigers |
| Zane Tetevano | Penrith Panthers | Super League: Leeds Rhinos |
| Dean Whare | Penrith Panthers | Super League: Catalans Dragons |
| Corey Allan | South Sydney Rabbitohs | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs |
| Ethan Lowe | South Sydney Rabbitohs | Retirement |
| James Roberts | South Sydney Rabbitohs | Wests Tigers |
| Bayley Sironen | South Sydney Rabbitohs | New Zealand Warriors |
| Euan Aitken | St. George Illawarra Dragons | New Zealand Warriors |
| Tyson Frizell | St. George Illawarra Dragons | Newcastle Knights |
| Jacob Host | St. George Illawarra Dragons | South Sydney Rabbitohs |
| Korbin Sims | St. George Illawarra Dragons | Super League: Hull Kingston Rovers |
| Mitchell Aubusson | Sydney Roosters | Retirement |
| Boyd Cordner | Sydney Roosters | Retirement |
| Poasa Faamausili | Sydney Roosters | St. George Illawarra Dragons |
| Kyle Flanagan | Sydney Roosters | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs |
| Ryan Hall | Sydney Roosters | Super League: Hull Kingston Rovers |
| Sonny Bill Williams | Sydney Roosters | Retirement |
| Josh Aloiai | Wests Tigers | Manly Warringah Sea Eagles |
| Matt Eisenhuth | Wests Tigers | Penrith Panthers |
| Robert Jennings | Wests Tigers | Penrith Panthers |
| Chris Lawrence | Wests Tigers | Retirement |
| Benji Marshall | Wests Tigers | South Sydney Rabbitohs |
| Chris McQueen | Wests Tigers | Super League: Huddersfield Giants |
| Josh Reynolds | Wests Tigers | Super League: Hull F.C. |
| Elijah Taylor | Wests Tigers | Super League: Salford Red Devils |
| David Mead | Super League: Catalans Dragons | Brisbane Broncos |
| Albert Kelly | Super League: Hull F.C. | Brisbane Broncos |
| Ava Seumanufagai | Super League: Leeds Rhinos | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs |
| Joey Lussick | Super League: Salford Red Devils | Parramatta Eels |
| Luke Thompson | Super League: St. Helens | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs |
| Ben Murdoch-Masila | Super League: Warrington Wolves | New Zealand Warriors |
| Javid Bowen | Northern Pride (Intrust Super Cup) | North Queensland Cowboys |
| Karmichael Hunt | New South Wales Waratahs (Super Rugby) | Brisbane Broncos |
| Tepai Moeroa | New South Wales Waratahs (Super Rugby) | Melbourne Storm |
| Will Chambers | Suntory Sungoliath (Japanese rugby union) | Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks |
| Jack de Belin | Suspension | St. George Illawarra Dragons |

### Loan moves

| Player | Home club | → Loan club | Dates | Pld |
| Jamayne Taunoa-Brown | New Zealand Warriors | St George Illawarra Dragons | 12 July – 25 July (Rounds 18 – 19) | 2 |
| Corey Horsburgh | Canberra Raiders | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | 10 August – 23 August (Rounds 22 – 23) | 1 |
| Ryan James | Canberra Raiders | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | 10 August – 23 August (Rounds 22 – 23) | 1 |
| Freddy Lussick | Sydney Roosters | St George Illawarra Dragons | 24 August – 6 September (Rounds 24 – 25) | 2 |

### Coaches

| Coach | 2020 Club | 2021 Club |
| Kevin Walters | Queensland | Brisbane Broncos |
| Trent Barrett | N/A | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs |
| Nathan Brown | N/A | New Zealand Warriors |
| Anthony Griffin | N/A | St. George Illawarra Dragons |