Stakes are higher and emotions are stronger when adversaries have a history. The desire to best an old foe quite often brings out the best in both individual and team, with bragging rights to the victors.
Over the years, we have seen some massive rivalries amongst a number of teams which have led to some of the most memorable matches of all time.
Here are the 10 fiercest club rivalries in NRL history.
One of the more recent rivalries in the NRL, the Cowboys and the Sharks are quickly becoming bitter enemies. These two teams have a habit of running into each other in brutal finals contests, and no one will forget the infamous seven tackle try in 2013.
A long-running rivalry between the Dragons and the Rabbitohs originate in the 1950s with the two clubs being the most dominant in rugby league. The rivalry has been immortalised with the annual pre-season Charity Shield clash between the clubs.
The battle of the west between the Panthers and the Eels is a highly anticipated match, as both clubs look to reign supreme. This local derby often results in great crowds and exciting matches.
The Dragons and the Roosters take place in one of the most important regular season matches on ANZAC day, and as such a fierce rivalry has developed. The stakes are high and both clubs are aware of that, making these special matches.
The rivalry between the Knights and the Sea Eagles stretches back to 1997 grand final, with Mark Carroll and Paul Harragon adding fuel to the fire. There are still tensions between the two clubs, with controversy and anger regularly a part of their fixtures.
The Dragons and the Sharks have one of the more famous local derbies and rarely do these matches disappoint. You can tell both clubs are desperate to defeat one another and the games often become intense and aggressive as a result.
Two of the strongest teams in the modern era, the Storm and the Sea Eagles have plenty of reasons to dislike each other. From the 2007 and 2008 grand finals to the famous “Battle of Brookvale” fight between Adam Blair and Glenn Stewart there is certainly no love lost between these teams.
A longtime rivalry between the Bulldogs and the Eels is still strong today, and both clubs place an emphasis on winning this match. The rivalry was one of the biggest in rugby league when it started in the 1980’s, with both clubs attempting to be more dominant than the other.
The oldest rivalry in the NRL is still one of the most competitive to this day. Two of the oldest clubs in the game continues to put on a show each time they face each other, often leading to incredible results.
A must see game for fans of rugby league, this Queensland rivalry only seems to get more fierce after every contest. The 2015 grand final was the pinnacle of the Broncos and Cowboys rivalry and resulted in one of the greatest finishes to an NRL grand final ever.