the NRL is played in NZ so really it should the the IRL.

when you include both crowds and TV viewers RL is number 1.

its good to see there is a single AFL fan in england. the code is growing

weve effectively killed off union in aus, nz is going backwards

so for a sport that claims to be global, having it weak in two major countries is a problem

but hey, the game is booming in japan and russia





union wont survive against union the way it is currently played

And how many turned up the week after and how many have turned up since?
The rugby union premiership teams should be getting much higher crowds than they are. As you pointed out, they get superb national media coverage and tons of free publicity therein. The fact that some are below Super League crowds is embarrassing.
Don't forget what we're always told, that rugby league is a northern minority sport. A minority sport that has comparable attendances with the all conquering, global leviathan that is rugby union.

So where is all the chest-beating now that it turns out that the original figures were wrong? From today's Sydney Morning Herald:

"The NRL's belief strong grand-final ratings last weekend would help their next TV deal was punctured slightly with the revelation yesterday the AFL's decider had in fact beaten its rugby league counterpart in national ratings, not the reverse as had been claimed originally. Recalibrated figures lifted the AFL's ratings by almost 400,000 nationally."

Personally I don't understand why anyone would watch Aussie Rules but there it is. Clearly the NRL is not doing a good enough job selling its superior product.

I think thats a load of crap top be honest.

They were beaten by 200,000, now they found 600,000 from SOMEWHERE?

That would be like finding the biggest audience in Sydney on any given night!

It would also go against all the other indicators which indicate the NRL was the bigger event.

Except when the Union boys play Internationals well over a million will attend the six nation games. they get around the same money as League do from sky plus they have terestrial channels paying to show games, two multinational brewers sponsoring them add to that the Autum International programe they knock us into a cocked hat. & with a game that is a poor spectacle compared to League, Us not likeing it cant change the facts we are a minority sport except in two states of Australia & PNG.

the whole S14 is in trouble

after australia, NZ is next

the sport isnt growing anywhere

its rules are complicated, its game error strewn and boring

as more people see RL theyll forget about union

taking out the 6 Nations union has little going for it in england either

union has good reason to fear a sport like RL

look at all the publicity sale get and their crowds have what ? halved?

newcastle crowds have dropped too

with all the media they get, you cant flog a dead horse

union gets by on a bunch of people turning out for its internationals who have zero interest in the club game

union is a minority sport everywhere except nz, some pacific islands and maybe wales

the population of nsw and queensland exceeds those above where union is dominant

union is a small sport which has to lie about its popularity

The fact that the BBC pay rugby league lip service and ITV aren't interested is hardly the fault of the game. I'd be looking to lay the blame at the feet of the old boys who run the said television companies.

Like I said, rugby league is a minority sport and rugby union is a global monster. The very fact that we are able to compare the two is a tribute to rugby league.

maybe the NRL should come out and add another 1.5 million to there tally,the pubs and clubs would have been buzzing in NSW and Queensland,and especially in victard also.

tv rating figures are always a bit odd.

I'm sure i read something earlier today from the heraldsun that said the AFL actually rated higher than the NRL GF.