NRL claims ratings win over AFL with monster viewership
Scott Bailey |
The NRL will be able to take a big ratings win over the AFL to the negotiation table, with Sunday night’s grand final officially the most watched in the sport’s history.
Fresh off Brisbane’s spectacular 26-22 win over Melbourne in the decider, head office was celebrating a victory of its own on Monday.
Official data showed the NRL decider drew an average audience of 4.46 million viewers, far outranking the 4.18 million who watched Brisbane beat Geelong in the AFL grand final eight days earlier.
The match also overtook the 2014 grand final as the most-watched decider in NRL history, with South Sydney’s win in that game viewed by 3.95 million.
The result came at a crucial time for the NRL, with talks ongoing over broadcast rights for 2028 and beyond at the end of the current cycle.
ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landys has been bullish about the league attracting a deal far greater than the $1.7 billion one signed in 2021 for five seasons.
Sunday’s decider was something of a perfect storm for the NRL and Nine, with more than 700,000 viewers in Melbourne to go with the 941,000 in Brisbane.
The high-octane clash no doubt helped keep viewers watching to the death, but it is also notable that NRL tv ratings have been up nine per cent across the board in 2025.
In all, ratings for Sunday night’s decider were up 33 per cent on last year, while the curtain-raiser NRLW grand final ratings increased by 36 per cent to 1.032 million viewers.
Such was the growth in that department, more viewers tuned in for the Broncos’ narrow 22-18 win over the Roosters in the NRLW decider than for rugby union’s prized Bledisloe Cup match in Perth the previous night.
“The game’s growth over the past few years has been extraordinary,” ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landys told AAP.
“The players have taken the entertainment factor to another level.
“We are also blessed with immense ability and presence such as Reece Walsh and Nathan Cleary.
“And they keep coming with entertainment-plus players such as Kaeo Weekes and Ethan Strange.”
What direction the NRL goes in its next broadcast cycle remains up in the air, with Foxtel bought by DAZN since the 2021 deal and Nine making more use of its streaming service Stan.
Sunday’s ratings will also no doubt factor into discussions on whether the grand final goes to a daytime event, with that set to be considered in the next cycle.
A move to more daytime fixtures proved a winner in this year’s finals, but Sunday night’s ratings must factor into the decision.
“Most pleasing aspect is the grand final was the most-watched program among 16 to 39 years demographic,” V’landys said.
“Also highlight has been the growth of the women’s game, having an average audience of over 1 million.”
AAP
