Useless NRL Stats
@uselessnrlstats.bsky.social
Taking a look at the pointlessness and wonder of absurd NRL/NRLW statistics🏉
DM us with ideas, stats and questions!
DM us with ideas, stats and questions!
Lots of talk about the 14-0 curse after Sunday’s result, so I had a look at NRL-era halftime margins (and specifically HT scores for 14-point margins), to see if the curse does exist
Answer: 14-0 is no better than any other 14-point HT margin (other than 20-6), BUT a 14 point lead is worse than 12
Answer: 14-0 is no better than any other 14-point HT margin (other than 20-6), BUT a 14 point lead is worse than 12
September 30, 2025 at 9:08 PM
Lots of talk about the 14-0 curse after Sunday’s result, so I had a look at NRL-era halftime margins (and specifically HT scores for 14-point margins), to see if the curse does exist
Answer: 14-0 is no better than any other 14-point HT margin (other than 20-6), BUT a 14 point lead is worse than 12
Answer: 14-0 is no better than any other 14-point HT margin (other than 20-6), BUT a 14 point lead is worse than 12
Will Kennedy and Kaeo Weekes face off as opposing fullbacks for the second time this season. Interestingly, they have reverse initials of each other (KW vs WK).
They are the fifth such pair of opposing fullbacks in the NRL-era, and the only pair to play more than one match against each other.
They are the fifth such pair of opposing fullbacks in the NRL-era, and the only pair to play more than one match against each other.
September 20, 2025 at 7:01 AM
Will Kennedy and Kaeo Weekes face off as opposing fullbacks for the second time this season. Interestingly, they have reverse initials of each other (KW vs WK).
They are the fifth such pair of opposing fullbacks in the NRL-era, and the only pair to play more than one match against each other.
They are the fifth such pair of opposing fullbacks in the NRL-era, and the only pair to play more than one match against each other.
Fox League is putting me out of business - how am I meant to compete with something as useless as AI player rankings?
September 14, 2025 at 11:36 PM
Fox League is putting me out of business - how am I meant to compete with something as useless as AI player rankings?
Lucky Charms and Bad Omens: Shown are the players for each team that saw the largest improvements and declines in win-rate for their team when they played vs didn’t play.
Drop a comment if you’re curious about any particular players/clubs and I’ll share how their team went with/without them
Drop a comment if you’re curious about any particular players/clubs and I’ll share how their team went with/without them
September 7, 2025 at 8:45 PM
Lucky Charms and Bad Omens: Shown are the players for each team that saw the largest improvements and declines in win-rate for their team when they played vs didn’t play.
Drop a comment if you’re curious about any particular players/clubs and I’ll share how their team went with/without them
Drop a comment if you’re curious about any particular players/clubs and I’ll share how their team went with/without them
This afternoon, Joe Roddy became the 8th player in the NRL/NRLW era to score a double on debut from the bench
September 7, 2025 at 8:08 AM
This afternoon, Joe Roddy became the 8th player in the NRL/NRLW era to score a double on debut from the bench
Visualisation of all NRL player transfers that have occurred a) in 2025 and b) as a rolling 5 year total from 2021-25. The chord diagram shows the flow of players between clubs.
September 4, 2025 at 9:42 PM
Visualisation of all NRL player transfers that have occurred a) in 2025 and b) as a rolling 5 year total from 2021-25. The chord diagram shows the flow of players between clubs.
If Jesse Arthars can't score a try tonight, he'll become the 6th player in history to score 10+ tries in the first half of the season, and none in the second half of the season.
Hudson Young has already become the 5th player to do so, after not scoring any tries since I bought him in NRL Fantasy
Hudson Young has already become the 5th player to do so, after not scoring any tries since I bought him in NRL Fantasy
September 3, 2025 at 8:58 PM
If Jesse Arthars can't score a try tonight, he'll become the 6th player in history to score 10+ tries in the first half of the season, and none in the second half of the season.
Hudson Young has already become the 5th player to do so, after not scoring any tries since I bought him in NRL Fantasy
Hudson Young has already become the 5th player to do so, after not scoring any tries since I bought him in NRL Fantasy
Shown on each photo are the last times that each current NRL team scored the outright most and least points in a round.
Interestingly it's been a different team in each round since Rd20, while the Titans have somehow not scored the lowest in a round since last year
Interestingly it's been a different team in each round since Rd20, while the Titans have somehow not scored the lowest in a round since last year
September 1, 2025 at 9:05 PM
Shown on each photo are the last times that each current NRL team scored the outright most and least points in a round.
Interestingly it's been a different team in each round since Rd20, while the Titans have somehow not scored the lowest in a round since last year
Interestingly it's been a different team in each round since Rd20, while the Titans have somehow not scored the lowest in a round since last year
In the 19-18 Sharks/Knights NRLW match yesterday, hat-tricks to Lilly-Ann White and Georgia Ravics yesterday out of 37 total points set a new record [since 1983] for the lowest total points in a match to involve two hat-tricks.
This was also the first NRLW match to involve two hat-tricks.
This was also the first NRLW match to involve two hat-tricks.
August 31, 2025 at 9:00 PM
In the 19-18 Sharks/Knights NRLW match yesterday, hat-tricks to Lilly-Ann White and Georgia Ravics yesterday out of 37 total points set a new record [since 1983] for the lowest total points in a match to involve two hat-tricks.
This was also the first NRLW match to involve two hat-tricks.
This was also the first NRLW match to involve two hat-tricks.
The Roosters' 30-point win last night was the second highest winning margin by a team that was kept to nil at half-time in NSWRL/NRL history.
This was also the fourth highest team score after being kept to nil at half-time, only behind the 46, 44 and 42 point matches all also in this table
This was also the fourth highest team score after being kept to nil at half-time, only behind the 46, 44 and 42 point matches all also in this table
August 30, 2025 at 7:31 AM
The Roosters' 30-point win last night was the second highest winning margin by a team that was kept to nil at half-time in NSWRL/NRL history.
This was also the fourth highest team score after being kept to nil at half-time, only behind the 46, 44 and 42 point matches all also in this table
This was also the fourth highest team score after being kept to nil at half-time, only behind the 46, 44 and 42 point matches all also in this table
Penrith are debuting David Fale and Sione (John) Fonua in the centres tonight. Ignoring debuts from the interchange, Penrith are only the 8th team in the NRL-era to debut two players in the same position in the one match, and the first team to do so in a position other than wingers.
August 28, 2025 at 9:44 AM
Penrith are debuting David Fale and Sione (John) Fonua in the centres tonight. Ignoring debuts from the interchange, Penrith are only the 8th team in the NRL-era to debut two players in the same position in the one match, and the first team to do so in a position other than wingers.
Zac Lipowicz debuts for Penrith this Thursday, making him the first NRL or NRLW player to have a name beginning and ending with the letter Z.
All up, he is the 386th such player whose name begins and ends with the same letter.
All up, he is the 386th such player whose name begins and ends with the same letter.
August 26, 2025 at 8:36 PM
Zac Lipowicz debuts for Penrith this Thursday, making him the first NRL or NRLW player to have a name beginning and ending with the letter Z.
All up, he is the 386th such player whose name begins and ends with the same letter.
All up, he is the 386th such player whose name begins and ends with the same letter.
Kobe HetheringTON brings up a ton of matches today. He becomes the 78th player with a TON in their name to play 100 NSWRL/NRL matches, and the 11th active player.
He joins father Jason in this exclusive club, who was the 36th TON to play 100 matches.
He joins father Jason in this exclusive club, who was the 36th TON to play 100 matches.
August 24, 2025 at 3:55 AM
Kobe HetheringTON brings up a ton of matches today. He becomes the 78th player with a TON in their name to play 100 NSWRL/NRL matches, and the 11th active player.
He joins father Jason in this exclusive club, who was the 36th TON to play 100 matches.
He joins father Jason in this exclusive club, who was the 36th TON to play 100 matches.
Thanks to a fan request, I’ve had a shot at recreating an NRL version of the NBA premiers data vis seen in the linked video. I’m keen to try visualising other season-wide stats in this manner - keen for any ideas everyone might have
July 1, 2025 at 9:00 PM
Thanks to a fan request, I’ve had a shot at recreating an NRL version of the NBA premiers data vis seen in the linked video. I’m keen to try visualising other season-wide stats in this manner - keen for any ideas everyone might have
Phins UP - the Hammer has set a new NSWRL/NRL record for the most tries (4) by a player in a milestone match (100th, 200th, 300th etc).
He becomes the 6th player to score a hat-trick in their milestone match, and the first since Michael Robertson in 2007 for Manly.
He becomes the 6th player to score a hat-trick in their milestone match, and the first since Michael Robertson in 2007 for Manly.
June 28, 2025 at 11:59 AM
Phins UP - the Hammer has set a new NSWRL/NRL record for the most tries (4) by a player in a milestone match (100th, 200th, 300th etc).
He becomes the 6th player to score a hat-trick in their milestone match, and the first since Michael Robertson in 2007 for Manly.
He becomes the 6th player to score a hat-trick in their milestone match, and the first since Michael Robertson in 2007 for Manly.
Q: How many times have two sets of three brothers faced off in a NSWRL/NRL match?
A: Only twice previously before the Fainu’s/Trbojevic’s faced off last night and in Rd25 2024.
Thanks @lachlanjeffery.bsky.social for the pickup of my error on IG - I got my Burgii confused
A: Only twice previously before the Fainu’s/Trbojevic’s faced off last night and in Rd25 2024.
Thanks @lachlanjeffery.bsky.social for the pickup of my error on IG - I got my Burgii confused
June 27, 2025 at 9:59 PM
Q: How many times have two sets of three brothers faced off in a NSWRL/NRL match?
A: Only twice previously before the Fainu’s/Trbojevic’s faced off last night and in Rd25 2024.
Thanks @lachlanjeffery.bsky.social for the pickup of my error on IG - I got my Burgii confused
A: Only twice previously before the Fainu’s/Trbojevic’s faced off last night and in Rd25 2024.
Thanks @lachlanjeffery.bsky.social for the pickup of my error on IG - I got my Burgii confused
The Broncos have officially set the all-time record for the most rounds into a season before a player makes their club debut.
No club has ever gone an entire season without a club debutant, with the previous record of 16 rounds held by the 1978 Bulldogs.
No club has ever gone an entire season without a club debutant, with the previous record of 16 rounds held by the 1978 Bulldogs.
June 24, 2025 at 8:38 PM
The Broncos have officially set the all-time record for the most rounds into a season before a player makes their club debut.
No club has ever gone an entire season without a club debutant, with the previous record of 16 rounds held by the 1978 Bulldogs.
No club has ever gone an entire season without a club debutant, with the previous record of 16 rounds held by the 1978 Bulldogs.
Origin Spirit you say? Led by his royal QLD-ness Kurt Capewell, the Maroons have claimed the 6th ever State of Origin win by a team that scored less tries than the opposition.
Tough luck Blues. Don't eye gouge next time.
Tough luck Blues. Don't eye gouge next time.
June 18, 2025 at 8:28 PM
Origin Spirit you say? Led by his royal QLD-ness Kurt Capewell, the Maroons have claimed the 6th ever State of Origin win by a team that scored less tries than the opposition.
Tough luck Blues. Don't eye gouge next time.
Tough luck Blues. Don't eye gouge next time.
There are 6 men’s origin players and no women’s origin players that share a first or last name with a Perth suburb. Two are playing tonight (Munster + Martin)
A special mention to NSW’s Dale Finucane, the only origin player whose first and last names are suburbs in WA
A special mention to NSW’s Dale Finucane, the only origin player whose first and last names are suburbs in WA
June 18, 2025 at 8:35 AM
There are 6 men’s origin players and no women’s origin players that share a first or last name with a Perth suburb. Two are playing tonight (Munster + Martin)
A special mention to NSW’s Dale Finucane, the only origin player whose first and last names are suburbs in WA
A special mention to NSW’s Dale Finucane, the only origin player whose first and last names are suburbs in WA
The Dolphins are currently on the same number of wins and losses (7) but with a difference of +146. In NSWRL/NRL history, they have the ninth-greatest PD [and 4th highest unique team] at any stage of the season for a team with wins less than or equal to losses.
June 17, 2025 at 9:27 PM
The Dolphins are currently on the same number of wins and losses (7) but with a difference of +146. In NSWRL/NRL history, they have the ninth-greatest PD [and 4th highest unique team] at any stage of the season for a team with wins less than or equal to losses.
The Dolphins are currently on the same number of wins and losses (7) but with a points difference of +146.
In NSWRL/NRL history, they have the ninth-greatest PD at any stage of the season for a team with wins less than or equal to losses.
In NSWRL/NRL history, they have the ninth-greatest PD at any stage of the season for a team with wins less than or equal to losses.
June 17, 2025 at 9:26 PM
The Dolphins are currently on the same number of wins and losses (7) but with a points difference of +146.
In NSWRL/NRL history, they have the ninth-greatest PD at any stage of the season for a team with wins less than or equal to losses.
In NSWRL/NRL history, they have the ninth-greatest PD at any stage of the season for a team with wins less than or equal to losses.
2025 NRL INITIAGAMI update
- 40 debutants with 38 unique initials (dark blue)
- Xavier Va'a (XV) the only new, never-before-seen set of initials
- other rare initials include Owen Pattie (2nd OP) and Benaiah Ioelu (7th BI)
- debutants Nick Tsougranis, Josh Patston and Kaiden Lahrs all included here
- 40 debutants with 38 unique initials (dark blue)
- Xavier Va'a (XV) the only new, never-before-seen set of initials
- other rare initials include Owen Pattie (2nd OP) and Benaiah Ioelu (7th BI)
- debutants Nick Tsougranis, Josh Patston and Kaiden Lahrs all included here
June 12, 2025 at 4:10 AM
2025 NRL INITIAGAMI update
- 40 debutants with 38 unique initials (dark blue)
- Xavier Va'a (XV) the only new, never-before-seen set of initials
- other rare initials include Owen Pattie (2nd OP) and Benaiah Ioelu (7th BI)
- debutants Nick Tsougranis, Josh Patston and Kaiden Lahrs all included here
- 40 debutants with 38 unique initials (dark blue)
- Xavier Va'a (XV) the only new, never-before-seen set of initials
- other rare initials include Owen Pattie (2nd OP) and Benaiah Ioelu (7th BI)
- debutants Nick Tsougranis, Josh Patston and Kaiden Lahrs all included here
On an afternoon like no other, Josh Papalii achieved what no other starting front-rower has been able to do in 48yrs - score two or more tries, and kick at least one goal in the same match.
Last player to do so was John Gray (Bears v Souths) in 1977. Mental.
Last player to do so was John Gray (Bears v Souths) in 1977. Mental.
June 9, 2025 at 9:15 PM
On an afternoon like no other, Josh Papalii achieved what no other starting front-rower has been able to do in 48yrs - score two or more tries, and kick at least one goal in the same match.
Last player to do so was John Gray (Bears v Souths) in 1977. Mental.
Last player to do so was John Gray (Bears v Souths) in 1977. Mental.
Josh Papalii's journey to become the most capped Raider in history is like no other. He has played at 37 unique venues, more than any other NSWRL/NRL player before him, and level with only Marty Taupau
June 7, 2025 at 10:59 PM
Josh Papalii's journey to become the most capped Raider in history is like no other. He has played at 37 unique venues, more than any other NSWRL/NRL player before him, and level with only Marty Taupau
Latrell Mitchell has not played the Raiders since the 2019 GF, a streak of 5 and a half years and 83 matches played by him. In the NRL-era, this is the 9th longest gap (in matches played) between a player lining up against a particular opposition team.
June 7, 2025 at 10:53 PM
Latrell Mitchell has not played the Raiders since the 2019 GF, a streak of 5 and a half years and 83 matches played by him. In the NRL-era, this is the 9th longest gap (in matches played) between a player lining up against a particular opposition team.