Watching a live NRL match is an exciting experience for any rugby league fan. With fast-paced action, bone-crunching tackles, and skilful tries, NRL games showcase the very best of rugby league. As popular as NRL is, attending a game can get pricey with adult tickets starting from $30 for nosebleed seats. But there are ways to enjoy free NRL games if you know where to look.
NRL Club Member Programs
The most straightforward way to redeem free NRL tickets is by becoming a member of an NRL club. All 16 NRL clubs offer membership packages that include varying numbers of free game tickets over the season. For instance, a Bronze membership with the Parramatta Eels includes 3 free game tickets while their Platinum membership provides every home game ticket for free. Most memberships will set you back a few hundred dollars but by going to 3 or more games, you can easily recoup the membership cost in ticket savings. As a bonus, members often get priority access to purchase finals tickets should their team make it.
Junior Memberships
If club memberships seem expensive, consider getting a Junior membership which are heavily discounted for kids under 16 years old. The Brisbane Broncos offer their Junior Bronze membership with 3 free game tickets for only $55. With Junior tickets going for $18 a game, this membership can save parents a good chunk of change throughout the season. An adult can redeem the free Junior tickets on behalf of the child member.
Seating Locations
One downside of the free tickets through club memberships is that they are typically allocated in the lower quality seating areas. However, beggars can’t be choosers so any free entry to an NRL match is better than none. If you want better seats, you will likely need to pay extra for seat upgrades when redeeming your free tickets.
NRL Partner Offers
Official NRL partners like KFC, Telstra, and Carlton Draught periodically run promotions that give away free game tickets. For example, KFC has previously offered 2 free tickets to NRL games by purchasing a $35 Family Fill Up meal. Telstra customers have also been able to score free NRL tickets by redeeming Telstra Plus points. It pays to follow the social media channels and be subscribed to newsletters from key NRL sponsors as they will advertise ticket giveaways through those platforms.
Fine Print
The number of tickets available through sponsor promotions is generally limited so you have to get in quick. There may be other terms like requiring a minimum spend or being an existing customer to qualify. Carefully read the fine print before choosing a product or service if the main goal is scoring free tickets. Also be aware that free tickets allotted this way are for pre-selected game and seat location. Sponsor tickets typically do not provide the option to choose the game you want to attend.
Share with Friends
To take best advantage of sponsor promotions, share the opportunity with family and friends. For a Family Fill Up deal, get one mate to take up the offer and you can both redeem 2 free tickets. Combining multiple people’s redemptions means you can gather a group to attend the game and maximise the number of free tickets claimed.
Game Day Giveaways
If you are not fussed about advance planning and can attend a game on short notice, follow NRL teams on social media to find game day ticket giveaways. In the hours leading up to kickoff, NRL clubs will often post free ticket offers on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to fill empty seats. This is generally done on a first come, first served basis with limited tickets available. You’ll have to be diligent in checking notifications and be ready to quickly claim a spot.
Transport Considerations
With game day giveaways, make sure to check the fine print on transport. Some offers may come with free or discounted travel to the stadium while others require you to arrange transportation separately. If the game is in another city, last minute flights and accommodation can add significant cost to an otherwise free ticket. Evaluate if limited time discounts like 25% off trains or buses provide enough transport savings to justify the rushed trip.
Quality of Tickets
Another downside of last minute tickets is they are likely for less desirable seat locations. Teams offload free tickets for matches that haven’t sold out to fill up the cheap seats in the nosebleeds or corners. But if your goal is just getting through the gate to soak up the NRL atmosphere, an upper deck ticket still achieves that purpose.
Join the Waiting List
Fans looking for access to exclusive ticket offers, including free NRL games, should join the NRL waiting list. By providing your contact details, you may be randomly selected for opportunities distributed by the NRL. Previous promotions have included free double passes to attend the NRL Grand Final and priority access to purchase State of Origin tickets.
No Guarantees
A risk with the NRL waiting list is there are no guarantees. You could sign-up and never receive any special offers. Also the games available are completely out of your control. If randomly selected, you will likely have very limited time to claim and redeem the tickets. But joining is free and doesn’t commit you to anything, so there’s no harm putting your name down to see if you get lucky.
Check Your Status
Don’t forget to check your status on the waiting list as priorities and offers may change over time. Existing fans who have attended many NRL games over the years may get preferential treatment for free ticket deals over newcomers. If nothing comes your way one season, try your luck again by re-joining the list the following year.
Volunteer at NRL Events
Volunteering your time is another potential pathway to score free entry to NRL matches. League clubs and stadiums utilise volunteers in various roles from ticketing to ushering togame day promotions. In return for working a few hours around the match, volunteers are often rewarded with a free ticket to watch the game. Positions typically require submitting an application and undergoing training before you can start volunteering.
Behind the Scenes Access
Volunteering allows you to experience NRL games from a behind the scenes perspective. You’ll get to see how the stadium operates on match days and may interact with players and officials. If your schedule permits, volunteering for multiple games or events can lead to more benefits like uniform, meals, seating upgrades and recognition rewards.
Time Commitment
Compare the hours of commitment required as a volunteer to the ticket price you’re saving. Crunching the numbers calculates your effective hourly wage – is it worth it? Factor in commute time to and from the stadium as well. You want to balance the free ticket gained versus any out of pocket expenses incurred in the process.
Redeem Points for Tickets
Loyalty programs from credit cards, retailers and other brands may allow you to redeem points for NRL tickets. For example, American Express Membership Rewards and Woolworths Rewards have both offered NRL ticket redemptions at various points. Be sure to closely compare the number of points required to the dollar value conversion. NRL tickets are a popular redemption so they generally represent poor value in the points required.
Blackout Dates
Tickets available via loyalty points normally exclude premium games like Finals matches. If you want to go to a blockbuster game like State of Origin, don’t plan on using points. There will likely be blackout dates preventing redemptions on the highest demand games when tickets sell themselves.
Additional Fees
Watch for additional processing, service and delivery fees when redeeming points online for NRL tickets. A “free” ticket suddenly becomes much less of a bargain if you are nickel and dimed with $10+ in extra charges. Some loyalty programs may allow you to avoid fees by picking up tickets in person at a physical box office instead.
Win Tickets from Competitions
Keep your eye out for competitions by radio stations, newspapers, websites and NRL partners for chances to win free tickets. Prizes like season passes, finals packages and away game experiences are hot items that NRL rights holders dangle to help promote their brands. Competitions run the gamut from straightforward call-in’s to challenging trivia and everything in between.
Maximise Your Chances
For competitions requiring entry, submit the allowed maximum number of entries to optimise your probability. If no limit is specified, take the time to send as many entries as you can handle while staying inside the stated rules. Brush up on your NRL trivia as well so you are prepared should an entry quiz come your way.
Beware the Fine Print
Scrutinise the fine print before getting your hopes up about advertised prizes. Free ticket competitions often have important restrictions like being only valid for certain lower demand games against weaker opponents. The number of tickets available as prizes is also typically very limited. Don’t quit your day job assuming you’ll win a year’s supply of free NRL tickets from a radio station giveaway.
Take Advantage of Trial Offers
Some NRL ticketing platforms like Ticketek occasionally offer free ticket trials as a way to attract new users. Keep an eye out for promotions like “Sign up with Ticketek and receive 2 free tickets to an NRL game”. There may be limitations around which games you can choose from but it’s an easy way to score free entry. Refer friends as part of the offer to get even more free tickets.
Compare Multiple Sites
Ticketmaster, Ticketbooth and other ticket sellers also have trial deals pop up from time to time. Don’t do just one free trial and stop there. Create accounts across numerous platforms for multiple opportunities to redeem complimentary NRL tickets when available.
Watch for Auto Renewal
Read the conditions carefully as free ticket trials often auto convert to a paid membership after the initial period. Make sure to manually cancel the membership within the specified timeframe unless you want to be charged. Ideally, use a virtual credit card number or gift card with a small balance when signing up to avoid billing headaches down the track.
Scan Resale Sites
Influencing factors like weather, team performance and scheduling conflicts will see some NRL ticket holders unable to attend games they originally purchased seats for. Rather than having the seats go empty, these tickets end up posted for resale on sites like KBTicketmaster, Ticketbis, Tixel and Gumtree. Keep your eyes peeled leading up to matches for sellers desperate to offload tickets at bargain bin prices.
Meet in Person
To reduce chances of fraud when buying tickets from resellers, arrange to meet them in person before the match to exchange printed tickets for cash. This way you can visually inspect the tickets first to validate they are genuine. Avoid online-only transactions where the seller can disappear with your e-payment after the fact.
Be Wary of Scams
As with any secondary sales, buyers need to be cautious of ticket scams. Fake tickets, duplicate tickets and tickets for the wrong date are problems that crop up. Do your homework on safely buying tickets secondhand. If an offer seems too good to be true, it very well may be a scam attempt.
Contact Your Local MP
As part of their community outreach, local Members of Parliament will get allocations of free tickets to distribute for local events like NRL games. Get in touch with your local Federal or State MP to let them know you would appreciate any free tickets they are able to provide. Position it as an opportunity for them to get exposure and political goodwill by being seen giving back to residents.
Follow Up Persistently
Don’t just make a single request and consider the job done. Follow up regularly with both your local MP and their staff to remind them you are eager to take any tickets off their hands. As game day approaches, touch base again to see if they have extras due to cancelled RSVP’s. Politicians hate empty seats from unused tickets so will work to fill them.
Offer Your Vote
Consider subtly tying your ticket request to your voting power as a local resident. Remind the MP that you are an active community member who influences a lot of other voters. While you don’t expect tickets in direct exchange for votes, donate to or volunteer for their next re-election campaign to make your support clear.
Go Early to Secure a Standing Room Spot
Most NRL stadiums allocate a limited number of standing room only tickets that grant access just to watch the match without an allocated seat. These tickets are extremely affordable, often $10 or less. Arrive as early as possible, usually 1-2 hours before kickoff, to try and secure a prime standing spot along the fence close to the action.
Ideal for Sellouts
Target standing room tickets for sellout or near-sellout games when the stadium will be packed. This allows you to soak in the thrilling atmosphere of a huge crowd without paying premium seated ticket prices. Avoid less popular matchups where standing room areas may remain half empty, negating the value.
Prepare for Discomfort
The obvious tradeoff is standing for 2+ hours without a seat or guaranteed view. Bring a small fold-up stool or cushion to make prolonged standing easier. Be ready to shuffle side to side peering for openings between other fans. You may end up behind a tall patron or column and miss chunks of game play.
Conclusion
While buying tickets is still the most straightforward way to guarantee entry, savvy NRL fans can enjoy free games by tapping into membership perks, promotions, contests, resales and other special offers. Just like finding space on the field, you’ll have to put in some work. But the sweet feeling of entering the stadium without parting with your hard earned cash makes it all worthwhile.