Brandwave

NRL vs Premier League:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, NRL had more branded searches than Premier League among sports leagues in New Zealand. NRL had about 2.2 million branded searches, while Premier League had 561,000. NRL made up 59.8% of all sports league searches we track, and Premier League accounted for 15.2%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about sports leagues, NRL appeared in three of the five answers and Premier League in two. NRL was mentioned before Premier League in three out of five answers.

Among sports leagues in New Zealand in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

NRL, about 4 searches for every 1 for Premier League

NRL 2.2M searchesPremier League 561K searches

Who does AI mention more?

NRL, mentioned in 3 of 5 answers, Premier League in 2

NRL in 3 of 5Premier League in 2 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

NRL, named ahead of Premier League in 3 of 5 answers

NRL first in 3Premier League first in 2

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Top sports leagues in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, NRL was mentioned in three out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. Premier League was mentioned in two out of five: not in any of the three ChatGPT answers, but in both Google AI Overviews. NRL was listed before Premier League in three out of five answers.

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 NRL or Premier League more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for NRL and Premier League 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.

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

Share of searches by month for NRL, Premier 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 NRL and Premier League comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • The lead changed hands once in the 12 months ending September 2026: NRL took it in March 2026.
  • 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.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Premier League’s share of searches among sports leagues in New Zealand moved from 23.6% to 15.2%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 590K to 561K.

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

2 changes

  1. In September 2026, Premier League gained share of searches among sports leagues in New Zealand, from 11% to 15.2%.

  2. 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?

33 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using NRL’s and Premier League’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.

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

Premier League

16 branded search terms

  • british premier league
  • fantasy premier league
  • premier league
  • premier league draw
  • premier league fixtures
  • premier league game
  • premier league ladder
  • premier league players
  • premier league results
  • premier league scores
  • premier league standings
  • premierleague
  • premierleague fixtures
  • premierleague ladder
  • premierleague scores
  • premierleague table

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among sports leagues

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