Records set to tumble across emotional Anzac Round
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The NRL's round attendance record is under threat this weekend as fans prepare to turn out in force across a bumper Anzac weekend of football.
Big crowds are set to pack into stadiums on both sides of the Tasman, with the chance for eight sellouts in Round 8.
From Leichhardt Oval on Thursday night, to Suncorp Stadium, Wellington's Hnry Stadium and eventually McDonald Jones Stadium on Sunday afternoon, fans will turn out in force to support their teams.
GIO Stadium is rocking!
The record for single round attendance was set across the Easter weekend last year when 218,833 spectators turned out.
The number could eclipse 230,000 this weekend should all eight stadiums reach capacity.
The round is also set to break the record for most attended Anzac weekend, which was set last year when 189,880 turned out to watch their teams.
The annual Anzac Day clash between the Dragons and Roosters will form the centrepiece of the round, with more than 40,000 fans expected to descend on Allianz Stadium for the match.
The game will feature a moving pre-game ceremony before the traditional rivals face off on the field.
WATCH: The full 2025 ANZAC Ceremony from Allianz Stadium
Roosters captain James Tedesco said the atmosphere is like no other match on the rugby league calendar.
"The best day of the year for the regular season is playing on Anzac Day," Tedesco said. "There's a lot going on with the Dragons but over the years we've seen it doesn't matter how each team's going.
"Both teams get up for this game, especially given the occasion. The atmosphere and the energy around the whole day is super exciting."
Match: Dragons v Roosters
Round 8 -
home Team
Dragons
17th Position
away Team
Roosters
5th Position
Venue: Allianz Stadium, Sydney
Match broadcasters:
- WatchNRL
Fans have turned out in droves to start the season, beginning with a record-breaking double-header at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
Already more than 1.2 million spectators have attended NRL games this year. It is the quickest season to crack 1 million attendees, reaching the milestone in Round 6.
It's the most attended NRL season through the first seven rounds, with an average crowd of 22,300 fans representing an increase of 7% on last year.
Three rounds this year have already cracked 180,000 attendees this season, with Round 8 on track to be the fourth for the year. Total crowds reached that mark just three times across the entire 2025 season.
Only a handful of tickets remain for Thursday's clash between the Wests Tigers and Canberra Raiders as Benji Marshall's men look to bounce back from a tense one-point loss to Brisbane at a sold-out Campbelltown Sports Stadium last weekend.
The Cowboys will then host the Sharks in the early Friday night fixture before Canterbury travel north to face the Broncos at Suncorp Stadium.
North Queensland are pushing hard for a big crowd, announcing two-for-one tickets for Defence and RSL service members.
Brisbane fans will also have to be quick to snap up tickets to watch their team play, with the full house sign expected to go up later this week.
Fans will pay their respects to current and former Defence Force personnel at three emotional fixtures on Anzac Day.
2026 ANZAC Day schedule
The annual match between the Dragons and Roosters will kick off proceedings before Wellington's Hnry Stadium hosts a battle between the Warriors and Dolphins.
The match sold out earlier this month, with 34,500 fans expected for the first NRL game at the venue since 2023.
The likely attendance will make it the biggest crowd for a rugby league game in the New Zealand capital, surpassing the 30,112 that turned out for a clash between the Warriors and Bulldogs in 2013.
The Storm are also on track for their third-straight sell out when they host the Rabbitohs in the final game of Anzac Day.
The match has become a showpiece event on the Melbourne sporting calendar, AAMI Park descending into darkness for an emotional pre-game remembrance service.
WATCH: The full 2025 ANZAC Ceremony from AAMI Park
The big crowds in Wellington and Victoria highlight the growing popularity of rugby league in new markets as the game continues to pursue an expansion strategy in Australia and abroad.
The focus will shift to NSW on Sunday with limited tickets remaining for two afternoon blockbusters in Newcastle and Manly.
McDonald Jones Stadium will host a showdown between the Knights and Panthers before the in-form Sea Eagles take on Parramatta at 4 Pines Park.
The Eels stunned Canterbury last weekend and are preparing for a hostile environment when they arrive on the Northern Beaches on Sunday.
"I've played a few games there now and it's always a bit harsh going there," emerging Parramatta hooker Tallyn Da Silva said. "We'll block it out, stick to our own game and stay connected with one another in our group."
