From the Cowboys in the north to the Storm in the south, and everywhere in between, feeder clubs continue to play a crucial role in maintaining elite player development pathways for all 17 NRL clubs.
While there hasn’t been an NRL reserve grade competition since 2002 or U20 competition since 2017, most NSW-based clubs have enjoyed long-term development pathways thanks to fielding their own sides in the NSW Cup, Jersey Flegg, SG Ball and Harold Matthews competitions.
In other NRL markets such as Queensland and Melbourne things are a little more complicated, with alliances than can change from season to season.
Here is a list of the known NRL feeder club arrangements for 2026.
2026 NRL Feeder Clubs
Brisbane Broncos | Burleigh Bears, Souths Logan Magpies, Wynnum Manly Seagulls (Q Cup) |
Canberra Raiders | Canberra Raiders (NSWRL) |
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs (NSWRL) |
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | Newtown Jets (NSW Cup), Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks (NSWRL) |
Dolphins | Central Queensland Capras, Norths Devils, Redcliffe Dolphins (Q Cup) |
Gold Coast Titans | Ipswich Jets, Tweed Seagulls (Q Cup) |
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles | Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles (NSWRL) |
Melbourne Storm | Melbourne Storm* (NSWRL) |
Newcastle Knights | Newcastle Knights (NSWRL) |
North Queensland Cowboys | Mackay Cutters, Northern Pride, Townsville Blackhawks* (Q Cup) |
Parramatta Eels | Parramatta Eels (NSWRL) |
Penrith Panthers | Penrith Panthers (NSWRL) |
St George Illawarra Dragons | St George Illawarra Dragons (NSWRL) |
South Sydney Rabbitohs | South Sydney Rabbitohs (NSWRL) |
Sydney Roosters | Sydney Roosters (NSWRL) |
New Zealand Warriors | New Zealand Warriors (NSWRL) |
Wests Tigers | Western Suburbs Magpies (NSW Cup), Wests Tigers (Jersey Flegg), Balmain Tigers (NSWRL other grades) |
* New feeder arrangement for 2026.
Other NRL club affiliations
Beyond these formal feeder arrangements some NRL teams also have additional pathway relationships that don’t typically include player sharing during the season.
One example is the Brisbane Broncos who have recently entered such an agreement with the Sunshine Coast Falcons for 2026 and 2027.
The Queensland Rugby League is also considering allowing the Broncos, Cowboys and Titans to have their own Q Cup reserve grade sides from 2027 or 2028 in a move that would bring them into alignment with the Dolphins who have been part of Brisbane’s first-grade competition since 1960.