1996 ARL season
| 1996 Australian Rugby League | |
|---|---|
| Duration | 22 March – 29 September 1996 |
| Teams | 20 |
| Premiers | Manly-Warringah (6th title) |
| Minor premiers | Manly-Warringah (8th title) |
| Matches played | 223 |
| Points scored | 8,547 |
| Average attendance | 12,303 |
| Attendance | 2,743,516 |
| Top points scorer(s) | Jason Taylor (238) |
| Wooden spoon | South Qld Crushers (1st spoon) |
| Rothmans Medal | Jason Taylor |
| Top try-scorer(s) | Noa Nadruku (21) |
The 1996 ARL premiership (also known as the 1996 Optus Cup due to sponsorship from Optus) was the 89th season of professional rugby league football in Australia, and the second to be administered by the Australian Rugby League (ARL). Twenty teams contested the premiership, including five Sydney-based foundation teams, another six from Sydney, two from greater New South Wales, four from Queensland, and one each from New Zealand, the Australian Capital Territory and Western Australia. Ultimately two Sydney clubs, the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles and St. George Dragons contested the grand final.
The grand finals:
- Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles vs St. George Dragons (Senior Grade)
- Cronulla Sharks vs Auckland Warriors (Reserve Grade)
- South Queensland Crushers vs Parramatta Eels (Under-20s Grade)
The winners in all grades were:
- Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles (Senior Grade)
- Cronulla Sharks (Reserve Grade)
- South Queensland Crushers (Under-20s Grade)
The test match
The State of Origin Series
The Region of Origin Series
