The NRL has been one of the most popular sports in Australia and New Zealand for many years now.

The sport is so beloved by its fans that it even has its own dedicated fan base which often travels to all parts of the country to watch NRL matches. But what makes National Rugby League such a popular sport?

One of the main reasons why NRL is so popular is its fast-paced nature. It's full of exciting moments and thrilling plays making it a rather entertaining game to watch. The rules are fairly simple and easy to understand meaning that even those who are not familiar with rugby can enjoy watching NRL games. There are also many wonderful video games and casino games at almost every casino for Kiwi gamblers in the country.

If you love the sport, but do not know much of the sport's history, here are some of the best players ever to play the game.

Andrew Johns
Andrew Johns is a former professional rugby league footballer who played for the Newcastle Knights and the New South Wales Blues. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, having won two premierships with the Knights and being named the best player in Australia on three occasions. After retiring from playing, he went on to become a coach and commentator working with Channel Nine.

He has also been involved in charity work, raising money for various causes including cancer research. In 2019, he was inducted into the NRL Hall of Fame for his outstanding contribution to rugby league.

Darren Lockyer
Darren Lockyer is a former Australian professional rugby league footballer who played for the Brisbane Broncos, Queensland Maroons and Australia. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, having won four NRL Premierships with the Broncos, captaining them to three consecutive titles from 2006-2008.

He also represented his country in 46 Tests and was named captain of the Kangaroos in 2007. Lockyer retired from playing in 2011 after a successful career that saw him win numerous awards including Dally M Player of the Year (2006), Golden Boot Award (2006) and Rugby League World Cup Player of the Tournament (2008). After retiring he took up a role as an assistant coach at the Broncos before becoming their head coach in 2015. In 2017 he was inducted into both the Australian Rugby League Hall of Fame and Sport Australia Hall of Fame.

Brad Fittler
Brad Fittler is an Australian professional rugby league coach and former player. He is the current head coach of the New South Wales State of Origin team, having previously coached the Sydney Roosters in the National Rugby League (NRL).

Fittler played for both Australia and New South Wales during his career, winning two premierships with the Penrith Panthers and captaining them to a third. He was also part of Australia's 1995 World Cup-winning team. After retiring from playing in 2004, Fittler moved into coaching first as an assistant at Penrith before taking over as head coach at the Roosters in 2007. During his time there he won two minor premierships and a grand final title in 2013. In 2018 he was appointed head coach of New South Wales for their successful 2019 State of Origin campaign.

Hazem El Masri
Hazem El Masri is a former professional rugby league footballer who played for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in the National Rugby League (NRL). He was born in Tripoli, Lebanon and moved to Australia with his family at the age of four. El Masri began playing rugby league as a junior for the Bankstown Bulls before being signed by the Bulldogs in 1996. During his career, he scored 2418 points, making him one of the highest point scorers in NRL history.

He also represented New South Wales and Australia on numerous occasions. In 2008, El Masri retired from professional rugby league after an illustrious career that saw him win two premierships with the Bulldogs and be named Dally M Player of the Year in 2004. After retiring from playing, he became a commentator for Fox Sports and Channel Nine's The Footy Show. He has also been involved with various charities such as Ronald McDonald House Charities and Make-A-Wish Foundation Australia.