NRL puts aside early season controversies to record TV ratings and increased crowds
In an unpredictable start to the season, the NRL has warded off the Matt Lodge debacle, Manly’s salary cap scandal and refereeing drama to record TV ratings and increased crowds.
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RUGBY league is the only sport in Australia that can cash in on controversy and thrive on uncertainty.
In an unpredictable start to the season, the NRL has warded off the Matt Lodge debacle, Manly’s salary cap scandal and refereeing drama to record TV ratings and increased crowds.
NRL boss Todd Greenberg could be excused for sending a letter of appreciation to 2018 surprise packets St George Illawarra, the Wests Tigers and Warriors given an extra half-a-million TV viewers have watched the opening first four rounds compared to last year.
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Newcastle’s home town anticipation, Penrith’s early promise, a Sydney double-header at ANZ Stadium and family ticket offers are all factors in a spike in crowds over the first four weeks.
The Sunday Telegraph can reveal average crowd figures are up by 23.8 per cent from 14,598 per game through the first four rounds last year to 18,074 over the first four weeks.
Overall, crowds are up 16.1 per cent from 467,123 to 542,218 across the entire first month of the season, which includes the round one double header in Perth that attracted 38,824 fans.
One big results include the near-record round one crowd of 21,506 between Penrith and Parramatta and the second-biggest crowd since 1998 between the Sydney Roosters and Newcastle at Allianz Stadium.
Host broadcasters Fox Sports have recorded increased viewership of their match-day coverage.
So significant is the increase in viewers that, prior to this weekend’s matches, the first four rounds have provided Fox Sports with their highest ratings since 2013 — up 4 per cent in Sydney.
The numbers would be even higher, particularly in Queensland, if the Brisbane Broncos hadn’t started the season with such inconsistency.
Asked by The Sunday Telegraph why he felt there had been increased interest overall from last year, Greenberg said: “There is no doubt the unpredictability of the competition is adding even more interest this year.
“No one could have predicted that the Dragons, Warriors, Tigers and Panthers would make up the top four after four rounds.
“After four rounds we have already had 13 games decided by six points or less. So the game is in the balance right up until the final siren.
“Clearly the fans are voting in favour of the changes we’ve made to the game, either through attendances at the game or TV ratings.”
However, the NRL, Fox Sports and Channel Nine are preparing for a potential decline in TV viewers over the next fortnight as a result of the Commonwealth Games being televised on Channel Seven.
Both Nine and Fox are also hopeful that ratings will climb through the winter months.