Template:Arl1996ladderprogression

Ladder progression

 * Numbers highlighted in green indicate that the team finished the round inside the top 8.
 * Numbers highlighted in blue indicates the team finished first on the ladder in that round.
 * Numbers highlighted in red indicates the team finished in last place on the ladder in that round

1 - Due to the Super League war, clubs aligned with the Super League refused to take part in round 1. As such, only 4 games were played, all between two ARL-aligned teams. Of the remaining 6 games, Super League teams Canberra, Penrith, Cronulla and the Western Reds forfeited their games to the ARL-aligned clubs South Queensland, Parramatta, Newcastle and St George respectively. The match between Canterbury and North Queensland was cancelled, and Brisbane forfeited to Auckland due to Auckland fielding a team consisting of players from the Otahuhu Leopards and Ellerslie Eagles clubs. As a result of the forfeitures, 9 teams were in the top 8 after the first round due to ties on points differential.