Here's a list of the 16 teams that participated in the NSWRL competition in 1990:
- Balmain Tigers
- Brisbane Broncos
- Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
- Canberra Raiders
- Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
- Eastern Suburbs Roosters (now Sydney Roosters)
- Gold Coast-Tweed Giants (now Gold Coast Titans)
- Illawarra Steelers (now St. George Illawarra Dragons)
- Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
- Newcastle Knights
- North Sydney Bears
- Parramatta Eels
- Penrith Panthers
- South Sydney Rabbitohs
- St. George Dragons (now St. George Illawarra Dragons)
- Western Suburbs Magpies (now Wests Tigers)