ARL Premiership

During the Super League war of the mid-1990s the Australian Rugby League took over control of Australia's first grade competition from the New South Wales RFL who had run the Premiership since its inception in 1908. As the NSW Premiership expanded to Queensland and Australian Capital Territory, the NSW RFL relinquished control to the ARL.

Although they only won one ARL premiership in 1996, the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles dominated the competition in its three years under the ARL name, winning each minor premiership (1995-1997), and appearing in all three Grand Finals. In 1997 there were two first grade competitions with the Super League rivaling the Premiership.