In this blog post, I thought I would write about the history of Rugby League on Public Holidays, what changes I would make to those matches and some other marquee matchups the NRL should have. The games are via Rugby League Project, and Public Holiday details are from Google searches. Unfortunately, QRL/BRL game days are not available on Rugby League Project, so only NSWRL/ARL/Super League/NRL games are included. All this and more in the latest Blog of Cheese
The NSWRL began with its first games on a public holiday when all 8 teams played doubleheaders on Easter Monday, 1908. From 1909-28, the NSWRFL started in May, so no Easter Rugby League or Anzac Day (from 1916) games were possible. In 1916, the NSWRFL played games on a public holiday for the first time in eight years when Round 6 was played on the King’s Birthday in June (two days after Round 5); these were the first games not played on a Saturday since Round 1 in 1908. In 1917 and 1918, the NSWRFL played on the King’s Birthday two days after a Saturday game.
In 1920 Edward, Prince of Wales (the future Edward VIII) toured Australia. Every city was given a Public Holiday when he toured the city, so when Edward arrived in Sydney, Thursday, June 17, was a public holiday. The NSWRL played its first-ever Thursday games with Round 6 two days before Round 7. In 1929, Anzac Day Rugby League was played for the first time, with Round 2 two days before Round 3.
1931 kicked off the season with a round of Anzac Day games, with Anzac Day falling on a Saturday. In 1932, Anzac Day games were played with Round 3 on Monday, two days after Round 2. The 1933-35 seasons all kicked off on Anzac Day, with Round 2 a few days away. 1935 also saw Public Holiday Rugby League in May to celebrate the Silver Jubilee of George V. In 1936, the NSWRFL returned to Easter Rugby League for the first time since 1908, with 2 games on Saturday and two on Easter Monday. A whole round was played on Anzac Day. In 1937, on Anzac Day, Rugby League was played. Also, in 1937, an additional Public Holiday in May was declared, with Wednesday as a public holiday for the coronation of George VI. 1938-1940 saw the tradition of Anzac Day round 2 coming days after round 1.
In 1941, 2 games were played on Anzac Day instead of a round for the first time; it also saw the first NSWRFL games on a Friday. No public holiday games from 1942-45. In 1946, 2 games were held on Easter Monday, 2 on Anzac Day, and 1 on a bonus public holiday on Monday, June 10, which was Victory Day. In 1947, 3 games were played on Anzac Day. 1948 saw Round 3 on the Anzac Day Public Holiday and Round 8 on the King’s Birthday. 1949 saw 3 games on Easter Saturday, 3 on Easter Monday and Round 10 on the King’s Birthday.
In 1950, Round 2 was played on Easter Monday, with Round 5 on Anzac Day three days after Round 4. In 1951, Round 4 was played on Anzac Day. A bonus public holiday on Wednesday, May 9, to celebrate the Jubilee of Australia becoming a country, with Round 7 coming days after Round 6. 1952 was the first season the NSWRFL kicked off in March. Round 4 was on Easter Monday, two days after Round 3. In 1952, 3 games were on Anzac Day. 1953 saw Round 2 on Easter Monday, two days after Round 1. Round 5 was Anzac Day. Round 5 in 1954 was on Easter Monday, two days after Round 4. Round 7 was played on Anzac Day, with Round 10 on the Queen’s birthday. In 1955, 3 games were played on Anzac Day, with Round 9 on the Queen’s birthday. 1956 kicked off the season on Easter Monday, with 1 game on Anzac Day. Round 9 was played on the Queen’s birthday, two days after round 8. 1 game was played on Easter Monday, 1957, with 3 games played on Easter Monday. 3 games were played on Easter Monday, 2 on Anzac Day and Round 9 on the Queen’s Birthday in 1958. 1959 saw Round 2 on Easter Monday, 2 days after Round 1, 4 games on Anzac Day and 4 on the Queen’s Birthday.
2 games were played on Easter Monday, Anzac Day and Queen’s Birthday in 1960. Round 3 was played on Anzac Day in 1961. Round 4 was played on Wednesday, Anzac Day in 1962, with Easter the weekend before. In 1963, the NSWRFL held its first game on Easter Saturday. Round 4 was on Anzac Day, with Round 5 two days later. 2 matches were held on Queen’s Birthday. In 1964, there were 3 games on Anzac Day and 2 on Queen’s Birthday. Easter Sunday was played for the first time in 1965. 2 games were played on Anzac Day, with 1 on the Monday public holiday. 1 game on Queen’s Birthday. One game was played on Easter Monday and one on Anzac Day in 1966. Round 5 was held on Anzac Day in 1967, with 3 games on Queen’s Birthday. In 1968, 1 game was played on Easter Monday. 1 game was played the day before Anzac Day (Wednesday), with the rest of the Round on Anzac Day. 1969 saw 2 games on Easter Thursday, 3 on Easter Sunday, 2 on Anzac Day, and 1 on Queen’s Birthday.
The 1970 season kicked off over the Easter weekend, with 1 game on Easter Monday. 2 games were held on Anzac Day. 2 games were played on Easter Thursday, and one on Easter Monday in 1971. 4 matches were held on Anzac Day, with 1 on the Public Holiday. One game was held on Queen’s Birthday. In 1972 2 games were held on Easter Monday, and Round 6 was held on Anzac Day, two days after Round 5 ended. One game was held on Queen’s Birthday. In 1973, 2 games were played on Anzac Day and 1 on Queen’s Birthday. In 1974, 2 games were played on Easter Monday and Anzac Day. In 1975, 1 game was played on Easter Thursday, 2 on Easter Monday, 1 on Anzac Day and 2 on Queen’s Birthday. In 1976, 1 game was on Easter Monday. 5 games were played on Anzac Day, with 1 on the Public Holiday. 2 games were played on Queen’s Birthday. In 1977, 1 on Easter Monday, 2 on Anzac Day and 2 on Queen’s Birthday. Easter Monday saw 1 game, with 3 games on Anzac Day, all at the SCG in 1978. In 1979, there was 1 game each on Easter Monday, Anzac Day, and Queen’s Birthday.
1980 and 1 saw 1 game on Easter Monday and 1 on Anzac Day. In 1981, 1 game was played on Easter Monday, Anzac Day, and Queen’s Birthday. In 1982, 1 game was played on Easter Monday, 4 on Anzac Day, 1 on the Anzac Day Public Holiday, and 1 on Queen’s Birthday. In 1983, 1 game was played on Easter Monday, 1 on Anzac Day, and 2 on Queen’s Birthday. In 1984, Round 8 was on Anzac Day, three days after Round 7. 1 game was played on Queen’s Birthday. Round 7, 1985, was played on Anzac Day. From 1986-89, 1 game was played on Easter Monday and 1 on Anzac Day.
In 1990 and 1991, 1 game was played on Anzac Day. Good Friday was played for the first time in 1993, with 1 game on Easter Monday. 7 games were held on Anzac Day. In 1995, there were 2 games on Good Friday and 1 on Easter Saturday. In 1996, there was 1 game on Easter Thursday, 1 on Easter Monday, and 1 on Anzac Day. In 1997, there were 2 competitions: the ARL played 1 game on Easter Thursday; Super League played 2 on Easter Monday; Super League played a test on Anzac Day; and Super League played a World Club Challenge game on Queen’s Birthday. 1998 saw 2 games on Easter Thursday and Good Friday, with 4 on Anzac Day. 1999 saw 1 game on Good Friday, Easter Monday, 4 games on Anzac Day, 1 on the Anzac Day Public Holiday, and 1 on the Queen’s Birthday.
With Easter Monday on April 24, 2000, 2 games were held on Easter Monday, 1 on Anzac Day, and 1 game was held on Queen’s Birthday. In 2001, 2 games were held on Good Friday, with the first Sydney Roosters v Brisbane Broncos annual game. 1 game was held on Easter Monday. In 2002, 1 game was held on Good Friday, Easter Monday, and Anzac Day; the first clash was between the St George Illawarra Dragons and the Sydney Roosters. 2003 saw 1 game on Good Friday, 1 on Easter Monday and 2 on Anzac Day, the traditional clash and one at night. One game was played on Good Friday in 2004, 1 on Easter Monday, 3 on Anzac Day, and one on the Public Holiday. In 2005 and 2006, one game was held on Good Friday, Easter Monday and Anzac Day. In 2007, with an extra team added, games were played on Monday nights; 2 games were also played on Friday nights. 2007 saw 2 Good Friday games; one of them, on Good Friday night, featured the now Good Friday rivals South Sydney Rabbitohs and Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs. 1 Anzac Day game. Easter Monday saw one night game, Labour Day in Queensland saw one night game, and one night game was played on Queen’s Birthday. 2008 saw 2 Friday night games (the same matchups as 2007, 1 Easter Monday night game and 1 Anzac Day Game. 2009 saw 2 Good Friday games, with the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs clash with the South Sydney Rabbitohs moved to Easter Monday night. Anzac Day featured 3 games, including the now-traditional Melbourne Storm v Warriors clash.
2010 saw 2 Good Friday games, 2 Easter Monday games, 3 Anzac Day games, 1 Anzac Day Public Holiday night game, and 1 Queen’s Birthday night game. 2011 saw 2 Good Friday games, with Wests Tigers replacing the Roosters, 2 on Anzac Day and 1 on Queen’s Birthday night. In 2012, South Sydney Rabbitohs v Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs returned after a year off, in its now traditional afternoon slot, with the same night matchup as 2011. 1 Easter Monday night game, 2 Anzac Day Games and 1 Queen’s Birthday night game. In 2013, there were 1 Easter Thursday game, 2 Good Friday games, and 2 Easter Monday and Anzac Day games. 2014 saw 3 Good Friday games, 2 Easter Monday games, including the first of the now-traditional Parramatta Eels v Wests Tigers, 3 Anzac Day games, and 1 Queen’s Birthday might game. 2 Good Friday games 2015 3 Easter Monday games, including Melbourne Storm v Warriors, 5 Anzac Day games to commemorate 100 years since the Anzcas landing at Gallipoli and 1 Queen’s Birthday night game. 20016 saw 2 Good Friday games, 3 Easter Monday games, 3 Anzac Day games and 1 Queen’s Birthday night game. 2017 saw the end of Monday Night Rugby League, with the game moving to 6pm on Friday. 3 Good Friday games, 1 Easter Monday game, 2 Anzac Day games and the first Bulldogs home Queen’s Birthday game. In 2018 and 2019, there were 2 Good Friday games, 1 Easter Monday game, 2 Anzac Day games and 1 on Queen’s Birthday.
Due to the COVID-19 Global pandemic in 2020, the only Public Holiday game was the Queen’s Birthday game. 2021 saw the return of 2 Good Friday games, 1 Easter Monday game, 3 Anzac Day Games, and 1 Queen’s Birthday game. 2022 saw 2 Good Friday games, 1 Easter Monday game, 2 Anzac Day games and 1 Queen’s Birthday game. 20023 has seen 2 Good Friday games, 1 Easter Monday game, 2 Anzac Day games and 1 King’s Birthday game scheduled.
I would change some marquee matchups to spread the games around the teams. The Melbourne Storm would host a game either on Easter Thursday or on Good Friday night. The AFL’s Easter Thursday game is in Brisbane, and the AFL play a twilight game on Good Friday. Melbourne could also raise money for the Good Friday appeal. Melbourne would also have to give up playing on Anzac Day, partly to allow the Warriors to play at home. The Canberra Raiders should play a home game the night before Anzac Day, given Canberra is home to the Australian War Memorial. I would schedule 3 games on Anzac Day: the Warriors at midday (AEST), and North Queensland at 2pm, given North Queensland is home to Australia’s largest Garrison city. I would leave the traditional 4pm Anzac Day clash where it is. It would also be nice to see an Anzac Round game in Darwin, given the significant military presence in the Northern Territory. The Brisbane Broncos v Dolphins game should be played on Labour Day in Queensland; I know it is not a public holiday in most other states, though the King’s Birthday match is played on a non-Public Holiday in several states. In the early 2000s, the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs and North Queensland Cowboys played for an Indigenous Trophy, though that seems to have disappeared. I believe there should be two marquee matchups in the Indigenous round involving Gold Coast Titans, North Queensland Cowboys, Penrith Panthers, and South Sydney Rabbitohs, 1 of those games could be held in Darwin. The King’s Birthday game is currently hosted by Canterbury. However, Canterbury also plays on Good Friday, so I would give the King’s Birthday game to either Cronulla, Manly or Newcastle, as they are the only New South Wales teams without a marquee matchup.
And Another Thing: Magic Round should be on the move post-2024. The whole point of Magic Weekend (UK) is to promote Rugby League. The NRL chose Brisbane for 2019 to ensure the concept worked before taking it on the road. Even though the NRL has changed administration since then, the event can help grow the game of Rugby League. The AFL will be taking Gather Round on the road from 2027, so the NRL should get a jump on the AFL.
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