| 1978 New South Wales Rugby Football League | |
|---|---|
| Duration | March 25 – September 19, 1978 |
| Teams | 12 |
| Premiers |  Manly-Warringah (4th title) |
| Minor premiers |  Western Suburbs (5th title) |
| Matches played | 140 |
| Points scored | 4375 |
| Attendance | 1,582,914 |
| Top points scorer(s) |  Mick Cronin (282) |
| Player of the year | Mick Cronin (Rothmans Medal) |
| Top try-scorer(s) |  Larry Corowa (24) |
The 1978 NSWRFL season was the 71st season of the NSWRFL Premiership, Sydney's professional rugby league football competition, and Australia's first. Twelve clubs, including six of 1908's foundation teams and another six from around Sydney competed for the J.J. Giltinan Shield and WD & HO Wills Cup during the season, which culminated in a grand final between the Manly-Warringah and Cronulla-Sutherland clubs that was drawn and had to be re-played. NSWRFL teams also competed for the 1978 Amco Cup.