| 1908: | NSWRL Competition begins with Glebe, Souths, Newtown, Easts, Norths, Balmain, Wests, Newcastle. |
| 1908: | Cumberland added in second round (8-team competition). |
| 1908: | Cumberland exits at close of season. |
| 1909: | Eight team Premiership. |
| Newcastle exit at end of the season. | |
| 1910: | Annandale joins the Premiership (8-team competition). |
| 1920: | Sydney University added (9-team competition). |
| Annandale exit at end of season. | |
| 1921: | St George enters competition (9-team competition). |
| 1929: | Glebe exits at the end of the season. |
| 1930: | Eight team competition |
| 1935: | Canterbury joins competition (9-team competition). |
| 1937: | University exit at end of the season. |
| 1938: | Eight team competition |
| 1947: | Manly Sea Eagles and Parramatta Eels join the competition (10 teams). |
| 1967: | Cronulla Sharks and Penrith Panthers join the competition (12 teams). |
| 1982: | Canberra Raiders and Illawarra Steelers join the competition (14 teams). |
| 1983: | Newtown exit at the end of the season. |
| 1984: | 13-team competition. |
| 1988: | Brisbane Broncos, Newcastle Knights and Gold Coast Giants join the competition (16 teams). |
| 1989: | Gold Coast becomes the Gold Coast Seagulls. |
| 1995: | Auckland Warriors, North Queensland Cowboys, South Queensland Crushers and Western Reds added (20-team competition). |
| August: Gold Coast withdraws. | |
| December: Jeff Muller rescues Gold Coast (20-team competition). | |
| 1996: | March: ARL takes control as Gold Coast Chargers. |
| 1997: | Adelaide Rams, Hunter Mariners join 10-team Super League, ARL runs 12 teams. |
| Reds, Mariners, Crushers exit at end of season. | |
| 1998: | Melbourne Storm added (20-team competition). |
| Adelaide, Gold Coast, exit at end of the season. | |
| St George and Illawarra merge to become the Steel Dragons. | |
| 1999: | St George Illawarra join (16-team competition). |
| Norths and Souths exit at end of season. | |
| Balmain and Wests merge forming the Wests Tigers. | |
| Manly then merges with Norths to form the Northern Eagles. | |
| 2000: | Wests Tigers, Northern Eagles join (14-team competition). |
| October: Auckland Warriors become New Zealand Warriors under Eric Watson. | |
| 2001: | August: Manly takes control of the Northern Eagles Licence |
| 2002: | Souths are re-admitted (15-team competition). |
| May 25: Northern Eagles play last match in Gosford. | |
| September: Northern Eagles exit competition. | |
| 2003: | Manly Sea Eagles re-enter Premiership in their own right (15-team competition). |
| 2005: | Decision taken to readmit Gold Coast. |
| 2007: | Gold Coast Titans enter the Telstra Premiership (16-team competition). |
