224 million and counting: The numbers behind NRL's staggering growth

The NRL has more than doubled cumulative television audiences in the past decade as interest among fans watching at home and in person surges to unprecedented levels. 

Date from the newly unveiled 2026 ARLC Annual Report showcases the record TV ratings and attendances throughout the 2025 NRL season. 

A look back at past annual reports highlights just how much the game has grown in a short space of time. 

More than 100 million cumulative viewers tuned in to watch the 2014 season, with the figure rising to 137 million in 2019. By 2025, that number had surged by 64% to 224.2 million viewers in Australia and New Zealand watching one of the most exciting seasons on record.

"The season delivered extraordinary performance outcomes for Rugby League, cementing our now established position as Australia’s – and the Pacific’s – number one sport,” ARLC Chairman Peter V’landys said.

“The strategies of the Australian Rugby League Commission and strong financial management has enabled funding for Players, Clubs, States and grassroots to continually grow, while also increasing our capacity to invest further into new revenue generating assets.

“Financially, the game has never been stronger. Consistent annual increases in revenue and surpluses have compounded over consecutive years, enabling increased funding for Players, Clubs, States and grassroots, while also increasing our capacity to invest further into new revenue generating assets.

“And the future is even brighter, with the Perth Bears to join the NRL Premiership in 2027 and the Papua New Guinea Chiefs to enter from 2028. These new market expansions will build lasting connections with communities, growing the grassroots and giving kids the best start in life through the transformative power of Rugby League.”

The figure includes a record-breaking 4.55 million average viewers who watched Reece Walsh lead the Broncos to a drought-breaking grand final victory over the Melbourne Storm. The game reached a historic 6.4 million Australians, up 21% on the 2024 decider. 

The broadcast eclipsed the 2014 grand final, in which a then-record of 3.965 million viewers tuned in to watch South Sydney win their first premiership in 43 years.

The NRLW grand final was also the most watched women's rugby league match of all time. The game had an average audience of 1.33 million viewers, an increase of 42.7% on 2024. 

The stats reflect the quality of the product on the field, with recent rule changes increasing the pace of play and leading to a more exciting, entertaining playing style.

The 2025 season had the highest-ever live ball-in play percentage and record breaking ball-in-play time, with fans enjoying more action per minute than any previous season. 

Seventy-three games, or more than one-third, were decided by six points or less, the most since 2018. 

Fans have voted with their feet and television remotes to watch some of the code's biggest stars put on a show. The surge in close finishes has also kept spectators tuned in until the final whistle. 

This was never more clear than the Broncos charge to the premiership, in which they came from behind in three-straight games to stun the Raiders, Panthers and Storm. 

Unsurprisingly, the finals series also shattered viewership records, with four-straight weeks of record-breaking ratings and a combined audience of 20.5 million viewers across Australia and New Zealand. 

The records extend beyond the TV broadcast, with nearly 5 million fans pouring through the gates to watch live rugby league in 2025. 

Crowds have surged in recent years, reaching 4.98 million last season, an increase of 3.6% on 2024.

The long-term growth is even more impressive. From 3.8 million spectators in 2014, an additional 1.2 million fans descending on rugby league stadiums in Australia, New Zealand and around the world last season.

Rugby league also boasts the most connected digital community in Australian sport.

The NRL has 9.6 million social media followers across its platforms, an increase of two million on the 7.5 million followers in 2014. 

There were more than 2.47 billion views on NRL social media channels across the premiership season, with grand final week views increasing by 80% on 2024.