The National Rugby League (NRL) started in 1998. It was formed as a joint partnership between the Australian Rugby League (ARL) and News Corporation after the Super League war of the mid-1990s, which involved competing rugby league competitions. The inaugural NRL season had 20 teams competing, including teams from both the Super League and ARL, plus the newly created Melbourne Storm. The NRL was established to unify the sport in Australia and New Zealand under one top-level competition.
