Welcome to the first of a series of 2023 NRL Stats in depth, where we take a certain NRL stat and take a deep dive into the relative performance of the NRL teams and players. Our first edition looks into each team’s Round 1 NRL results.
Does one team have a clear advantage in the first round? Does winning in Week One lead to making the finals? Do each team have a bogey side for Round 1 NRL results.
Those questions and more will be answered, along with some accompanying visuals. We have gone back 20 seasons of NRL to 2003.
Round 1 NRL Results Stats by Team
MELBOURNE ARE UNDEFEATED IN ROUND FROM 2003
The Melbourne Storm have been one of the NRL’s most consistent performers since their introduction into the NRL in 1998, and never more obvious is that shown than in the NRL Round 1 results. They have won every single game since our analysis started in 2003.
MANLY HAVE LOST NINE STRAIGHT TO START THE SEASON.
Looks like the Sea Eagles have found something that cramps their style more than a rainbow stripe – Round 1. Manly have lost nine in a row to begin a new season. But they have never gone into a season before after winning an NRL Pre Season Challenge $100K bonanza.
QUICK HITS
Queensland sides don’t seem to go well for the first round lately, with the Titans losing their last four First Round Games. North Queensland has lost their last three.
Cronulla and Bulldogs have lost eight of their last teams away.
LAST TEN SEASONS……
Round 1 NRL Results Stats – Do Round 1 Winners Make the Finals?
YES. WELL BETTER THAN HALF ANYWAY
59% of NRL Round 1 results since 2010 have seen the winner go on to make the finals. For Manly, every time they have won the first game they have made the finals. As above, they don’t win their first game of the season.
Home Sides Win More NRL Round 1 Fixtures
It may be obvious, but the home team win more Round 1 games than the away team. But it is slightly less likely that a home team wins the first match than overall (by 0.30%).
And that the home win percentage for Round 1 has increased in the last ten seasons.
NEWCASTLE, WESTS TIGERS AND CANBERRA ARE MUCH BETTER AT HOME FOR ROUND 1. FOUR TEAMS HAVE BETTER AWAY RECORDS FOR ROUND 1.
The Knights have a very good record for the first round, 90% being the best winning % for any team not from Melbourne.
Brisbane are the notable team who have better luck away than at home for the first round. Joining the Broncos in the better away club are the Roosters, Rabbitohs and Manly.
Do NRL Teams Have a Bogey Side in Round 1?
Well the quick answer is yes with a but…..
Manly have won 100% of their opening round fixtures against Queensland sides but are yet to beat a NSW Side.
Newcastle have a great record against Canberra, NSW and New Zealand, yet a 0% record for games v Queensland and Melbourne.
What about Historic H2H Records for Round 1 Games This Season?
Some of the teams have played each other before this season in Round One. So here is a quick record of those H2H.
WARRIORS v NEWCASTLE
Overall: Newcastle 3 Warriors 1
@ Warriors: Warriors 1 Newcastle 1
PENRITH v BRISBANE
Overall: Brisbane 2 Penrith 0
@ Penrith: Brisbane 1 Penrith 0
MANLY v BULLDOGS
Overall: Bulldogs 2 Manly 0
@ Manly: Bulldogs 1 Manly 0
NORTH QUEENSLAND v CANBERRA
Overall: North Qld 2 Canberra 1
@ North Qld: North Qld 2 Canberra 1
CRONULLA v SOUTH SYDNEY
Overall: Souths 1 Cronulla 0
WESTS TIGERS v GOLD COAST
Overall: Wests Tigers 1 Gold Coast 0
