Rugby League has never been bigger.
The 2025 NRL season has rewritten the record books, drawing unprecedented audiences across television and streaming, capped by the most-watched grand final in the game's history.
Sunday night's pulsating decider - a 26-22 victory for the Brisbane Broncos over the Melbourne Storm - wasn't just a classic on the field.
It was a landmark broadcast moment, reaching more than 6.4 million Australians and averaging 4.46 million viewers nationwide according to a media release from Nine.
The match dominated in every market, with more than one million tuning in from Sydney, 941,000 in Brisbane, and 734,000 in Melbourne.
On streaming platform 9Now, the final attracted 1.3 million viewers, the largest digital audience in virtual Australian history.
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Rugby league's year of growth
The record-breaking finale capped a watershed year for the sport.
Across the regular season and finals, viewership rose by more than 11.5 per cent, while the finals series alone saw audiences climb an extraordinary 33 per cent year-on-year.
Even mid-season fixtures benefitted from the surge, with average audiences exceeding 600,000 per game.
The preliminary final between Brisbane and Penrith drew a massive 1.8 million total TV audience, up 53 per cent on 2024.
Women's rugby league also reached new heights. The NRLW grand final between the Roosters and Broncos attracted just over one million viewers - a 36 per cent increase from last year.
Nine's investment pays off
For host broadcaster Channel Nine, the results vindicate a long-term strategy of blending free-to-air and digital services.
Their wide-ranging rugby league coverage - including programs such as 100% Footy, Freddy and the Eighth, and NRL Sunday Footy Show, collectively reached millions of viewers across the season.
Amanda Laing, Nine’s managing director, streaming and broadcast, said the network's success stemmed from their commitment to "telling the stories at the heart of rugby league."
"We believe the greatest game of all should be accessible to everyone," said Laing.
"By providing that universal, free-to-air access, we are helping to grow the sport's fan base in every corner of the country.
"To see that commitment reflected in record-breaking audience numbers is incredibly rewarding."
The network's director of sport, Brent Williams, praised the "world-class performances" of players and the production team responsible for bringing this season to life.
"I couldn't be prouder of our team at Nine's Wide World of Sports," said Williams.
"Their tireless work and passion for storytelling have raised the bar for sports broadcasting in this country, and this season's success is a fantastic recognition of their collective effort."