The NRL Match-Up: Best club badges
It may be a matter of taste, but we've picked out what we think are the best club badges.
With the NRL back bigger and better than ever, we thought we'd do what we do best at Finder and start comparing everything NRL. Each week we take a look at one aspect of the game, from the spectacular to the silly, to see who comes out on top.
Ahead of this evening's Anzac Day double-header, we've compared the current club crests of all 16 NRL teams to pick out our favourite.
Finder's Thursday Night Football – Sydney Roosters v St George Illawarra Dragons, 4:05pm AEST, SCG; Melbourne Storm v New Zealand Warriors, 7:50pm AEST, AAMI Park
Nothing symbolises a football club better than the badge on its shirt and Australian rugby league has had a strong tradition of club crests in its 111-year history.
Most clubs have tried a number of designs over the years, with mixed results. While beauty may be in the eye of the beholder, there are a few that currently stand out from the pack in terms of history, design and originality.
The contenders
South Sydney Rabbitohs
It may be a slightly controversial pick as it's the most minimalist design of any team in the league, but the South Sydney badge is something of an NRL icon. To celebrate its centenary year in 2008, the club dropped the red-and-green oval from its badge, leaving just the stylised white rabbit that remains today.
It has no doubt been helped by co-owner Russell Crowe's efforts in handing out branded merchandise to any and all of his Hollywood mates, but the current crest is simple, effective and instantly recognisable.
IMG: Rabbitohs webstite
Parramatta Eels
It may be the only time the Eels finish top this season, but there's no denying their badge is one of the best in the business.
After trying a couple of dodgier designs in the early 2000s, the club returned to the round crest it had used from 1980 until 1999. The only alteration was the addition of the number 1947, to signify the year the club was established.
The tried-and-tested logo gets brownie points for its circular design, which sets it apart from the rest of the league's crests.
The stylised eel also gives the badge its retro feel and the striking blue-and-yellow colour scheme make it hard to miss.
IMG: Fox Sports
St George Illawarra Dragons
Along with their famous "Red V" jersey that dates back to 1945, the Dragons also boasted one of the most distinguished club badges before their merger with the Illawarra Steelers in 1998.
Thankfully for rugby league traditionalists, the classic crest was retained by the joint venture (simply adding "Illawarra" to the bottom) and remains intact today.
The badge features a black outline of Saint George, the "dragonslayer" and patron saint of England, behind the dragon itself. The red-and-white colour scheme is taken from the flag of Saint George (white with a red cross) and is a big part of its celebrated design.
IMG: Fox Sports
New Zealand Warriors
Despite a couple of tweaks, the Warriors badge has mostly remained the same since its introduction in 1995 and celebrates the culture of the indigneous New Zealand population.
The original design, used by the Auckland Warriors from 1995 to 1999, featured a curved tongue, but was later changed, as a curved tongue is believed to be cursed in Māori culture.
In 2001/02, the team's colours were changed from blue and green to black, and so too was the club badge. The white badging was also removed, leaving just a black-and-grey tiki face.
To mark its 25th season, the club has brought back the green-and-blue design for 2019, but the badge is still one of the most striking in the NRL.
IMG: Jersey Megastore
The verdict
Parramatta Eels
It may be the only time the Eels finish top this season, but there's no denying their badge is one of the best in the business. The unique design has stood the test of time and it's a badge that would still look good in any era of the game.
Don't agree with our picks? Have your say below.
