Team | Nickname | League | Qualification | Participation (bold indicates winners) |
Manly-Warringah | Sea Eagles | NSWRFL | Winners of the 1978 New South Wales Rugby Football League Premiership | 6th (Previous: 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978) |
Cronulla-Sutherland | Sharks | NSWRFL | Runners-Up in the 1978 New South Wales Rugby Football League Premiership | 6th (Previous: 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978) |
Western Suburbs | Magpies | NSWRFL | Third Place in the 1978 New South Wales Rugby Football League Premiership | 6th (Previous: 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978) |
Parramatta | Eels | NSWRFL | Fourth Place in the 1978 New South Wales Rugby Football League Premiership | 6th (Previous: 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978) |
Canterbury-Bankstown | Bulldogs | NSWRFL | Fifth Place in the 1978 New South Wales Rugby Football League Premiership | 6th (Previous: 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978) |
Eastern Suburbs | Roosters | NSWRFL | Sixth Place in the 1978 New South Wales Rugby Football League Premiership | 6th (Previous: 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978) |
South Sydney | Rabbitohs | NSWRFL | Seventh Place in the 1978 New South Wales Rugby Football League Premiership | 6th (Previous: 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978) |
St. George | Dragons | NSWRFL | Eighth Place in the 1978 New South Wales Rugby Football League Premiership | 6th (Previous: 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978) |
Balmain | Tigers | NSWRFL | Ninth Place in the 1978 New South Wales Rugby Football League Premiership | 6th (Previous: 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978) |
Penrith | Panthers | NSWRFL | Tenth Place in the 1978 New South Wales Rugby Football League Premiership | 6th (Previous: 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978) |
North Sydney | Bears | NSWRFL | Eleventh Place in the 1978 New South Wales Rugby Football League Premiership | 6th (Previous: 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978) |
Newtown | Jets | NSWRFL | Twelfth Place in the 1978 New South Wales Rugby Football League Premiership | 6th (Previous: 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978) |
Brisbane | Poinsettias | BRL | League Representative Team | 1st |
NSW Country | Kangaroos | CRL | Country Representative Team | 1st |
Queensland Country | Maroons | QRL | Country Representative Team | 1st |
Auckland | Falcons | NZRL | Winners of the 1978 New Zealand Rugby League Inter-District Premiership | 6th (Previous: 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978) |