This year saw the inclusion of the first two teams based outside of the Sydney area, the Illawarra Steelers and the Canberra Raiders, who would finished their first season second last and last respectively.
This year saw the first inclusion of teams based outside of the Sydney area since the foundation Newcastle club departed the League in 1909. The new teams, the Illawarra Steelers and the Canberra Raiders, would finished their first season in second last and last respectively.