Nearly 3.5 million people watch opening State of Origin clash in ratings blitz

Eyeballs returned to State of Origin in big numbers despite a glitch that hit a major streaming service.

Queensland finds a way to get the job done. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

A serious glitch to Channel 9’s streaming service failed to stop a huge lift in State of Origin viewing numbers for the opening game in Adelaide.

The 9Now service encountered a raft of errors throughout the clash, won by Queensland, but still recorded 536,000 viewers through the platform.

Those figures helped lift total viewership to 3.421 million – up 300,000 on the game 3 decider last year and the best overall figure since 2018.

The figure breakdown was 1.981 million (metro), 904,000 (regional) and 536,000 on 9Now.

Wednesday #Origintvratings
Nine Metro 1.981m
Syd 804k Melnb 252k Bris 698k Adl 118k Per 110k

up 11.04% on 2022 Origin I
Highest rating Origin match since Origin I 2021

Prematch 998k
Postmatch 712k

updates to come.

Data: Oztam

— sportsindustry (@footyindustryAU) June 1, 2023

It also marked an 11 per cent increase on the viewership numbers for the opening game from last year.

The influx came as NRL officials faced criticism for their poor promotion of the game in Adelaide, with the final crowd of 48,613 failing to pack out the Adelaide Oval.

After the victory, Maroons coach Billy Slater said his team, which scored the final two tries with a man in the sin bin to secure the 26-18 win, never gave up.

“Queenslanders go through drought,” Slater said.

“They go through cyclones. They go through floods. They go through a lot of adversity, and we try and represent our people in that way as well.

“I think that’s what makes our people so proud of this footy team and that is why this footy team is such an inspiration for our people.

“That’s what we try and do: We try and replicate the traits that Queenslanders have.”