Spectacle Down Under: NRL Sets New Single-Round Attendance Record
In a remarkable display of rugby league’s popularity in Australia, the latest round of the NRL season saw a staggering 212,725 spectators attend the games, setting a new single-round crowd record for the competition.
The pulsating 14-12 victory by Canberra Raiders over Sydney Roosters on Sunday morning (UK time) brought the curtain down on Round 26, with 27,239 fans packing the Allianz Stadium. While not the highest attendance of the weekend, it was enough to officially cement the new record, surpassing the previous mark of 202,491 set just a few months ago in Round 4.
The standout fixtures included Manly Sea Eagles’ 34-22 win against Canterbury Bulldogs, which attracted 35,502 fans to the Accor Stadium on Friday. However, the real showstopper was the Dolphins’ 40-6 thrashing of Brisbane Broncos at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday, which drew an incredible 50,049 spectators.
“These figures highlight the considerable gap between the NRL and Super League in terms of match-day attendance.”
Super League’s highest-ever crowd, outside of special events, was the 31,555 who witnessed Catalans Dragons’ clash with Wigan Warriors at the iconic Camp Nou in May 2019. This season, the biggest Super League crowd so far has been 20,152 for Wigan’s victory against rivals St Helens.
The average attendance for NRL games this year stands at 20,031 – a figure that most Super League clubs can only aspire to. This latest record-breaking round serves as a testament to the immense popularity and passion for rugby league in Australia.
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