Brandwave

A-League vs NRL:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, NRL had more branded searches than A-League among sports leagues in New Zealand. NRL had about 2.2 million branded searches, while A-League had 254,000. NRL made up 59.8% of all sports league searches we track, and A-League accounted for 6.9%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about sports leagues, A-League and NRL each appeared in three of the five answers. NRL was mentioned before A-League in every answer that named either.

Among sports leagues in New Zealand in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

NRL, about 9 searches for every 1 for A-League

NRL 2.2M searchesA-League 254K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Both were mentioned in 3 of 5 answers.

A-League in 3 of 5NRL in 3 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

NRL, named ahead of A-League in 3 of 3 answers

NRL first in 3A-League never first

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Top sports leagues in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, A-League and NRL were each mentioned in three out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. NRL was listed before A-League in every answer that named either.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Super Rugby Pacific1st
  2. NRL2nd
  3. NFL3rd
  4. Premier League4th
  5. A-League5th
  6. NBA6th
  7. Super Smash7th
  8. AFL–

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • NRL3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • A-League3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Super Rugby Pacific3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Premier League2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • NFL2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • NBA2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Super Smash2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • AFL0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about sports leagues

5 answers

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in New Zealand on October 19, 2026.

Is A-League or NRL more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for A-League and NRL by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all eight sports leagues we track, month by month, from searches in New Zealand.

A-League and NRL among sports leagues in New Zealand, by month

Share of searches by month for NRL, A-League. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthNRLPremier LeagueNFLA-LeagueAFLNBASuper Rugby PacificSuper Smash
Oct 202514.8%23.6%17.3%14.2%0.52%29.2%0.34%0.03%
Nov 20253.6%23.1%15.5%14.5%0.27%42.8%0.25%0.05%
Dec 20251.8%28.9%14.7%18.8%0.13%34.1%0.19%1.3%
Jan 20262.1%25.2%16.7%17.3%0.15%32.7%0.59%5.2%
Feb 20269.3%26.3%3%16.3%0.27%26.6%18.2%0.06%
Mar 202629.2%17.9%0.52%10.1%1.5%22.6%18.1%0.01%
Apr 202633%15.2%0.78%8.8%1.7%24%16.5%<0.01%
May 202629.7%16.8%0.24%8.4%1.5%28.8%14.5%<0.01%
Jun 202647.8%1.1%0.48%0.66%2%32.4%15.6%<0.01%
Jul 202684.7%2.9%0.71%1.6%4.1%5.1%0.92%<0.01%
Aug 202676.4%11%2.1%5.5%2.9%1.8%0.33%<0.01%
Sep 202659.8%15.2%11.3%6.9%4.7%1.8%0.34%0.01%

How has the A-League and NRL comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • The lead changed hands 2 times in the 12 months ending September 2026: A-League took it in November 2025, NRL took it in March 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, A-League’s share of searches among sports leagues in New Zealand moved from 14.2% to 6.9%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 355K to 254K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, NRL’s share of searches among sports leagues in New Zealand moved from 14.8% to 59.8%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 371K to 2.2M.

How did search popularity change for New Zealand sports leagues in September 2026?

3 changes

  1. In September 2026, NFL overtook A-League and AFL to rank 3rd among sports leagues in New Zealand, with 11.3% of the searches.

  2. In September 2026, A-League gained share of searches among sports leagues in New Zealand, from 5.5% to 6.9%.

  3. In September 2026, NRL lost share of searches among sports leagues in New Zealand, from 76.4% to 59.8%.

How are branded searches counted?

38 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using A-League’s and NRL’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.

A-League

21 branded search terms

  • a league
  • a league champions
  • a league draw
  • a league fixtures
  • a league flashscore
  • a league football
  • a league ladder
  • a league livescore
  • a league result
  • a league scores
  • a league tab
  • aleague
  • aleague draw
  • aleague fixtures
  • aleague ladder
  • aleague scores
  • aussie a league
  • fantasy a league
  • premier a league
  • serie a league
  • the a league

NRL

17 branded search terms

  • dolphin nrl
  • nrl
  • nrl draw
  • nrl finals
  • nrl fixtures
  • nrl gf
  • nrl gf tickets
  • nrl ladder
  • nrl matches
  • nrl matches tonight
  • nrl results
  • nrl scores
  • nrl standings
  • nrl teams list
  • nrl tickets
  • nrl tonight
  • nrl w

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among sports leagues

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