Broncos’ Nail-Biting NRL Grand Final Breaks TV Records and Outscores AFL Decider

The NRL Grand Final has stormed into the record books, becoming Australia’s highest-rating television program of 2025 and eclipsing the AFL Grand Final audience for the first time in a decade.

A national Total TV Average Audience of 4.460 million tuned in on Nine’s broadcast to watch the Brisbane Broncos edge out the Melbourne Storm in a gripping 26–22 victory — a contest that kept viewers glued until the final whistle.

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The landmark numbers place the NRL’s decider as the highest-rating Australian sporting broadcast since the 2023 Women’s World Cup, confirming rugby league’s return to the top of the national sporting conversation.

Across the five major cities, the NRL decider recorded strong numbers: Sydney 1.099 million, Melbourne 734,000, Brisbane 941,000, Adelaide 127,000, and Perth 198,000.

On streaming platform 9Now, the game set a new benchmark for BVOD viewing, attracting 1.316 million viewers — the largest BVOD audience in VOZ history.

“This year’s phenomenal ratings are a testament to Nine’s unwavering commitment to being the true home of rugby league,”
said Amanda Laing, Nine’s Managing Director of Streaming & Broadcast.

“We believe the greatest game of all should be accessible to everyone, and 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 2025 AFL Grand Final broadcast in the traditional Saturday afternoon timeslot on Seven, posted a national total TV audience of 4.076 million — a solid result that narrowly surpassed its 2024 performance but fell short of rugby league’s dramatic finale. The AFL’s Pre-Game and Post-Match coverage each attracted audiences around the 1.5 to 3.8 million mark, while 7plus recorded 969,000 viewers, up 48 per cent year-on-year.

By comparison, the NRL’s surge of 33 per cent year-on-year growth places it firmly ahead in the 2025 ratings race. The victory was particularly sweet for Brisbane fans, with the Broncos’ win marking a return to television dominance not seen since the 2015 Grand Final, when the team fell short to the North Queensland Cowboys in another all-time classic.

The NRLW Grand Final also delivered a historic performance, with the Roosters–Broncos clash pulling 1.032 million viewers — up 36 per cent from last year — highlighting the growing national appetite for women’s rugby league.

“I want to extend a sincere thank you to the players, coaches and clubs,”
said Brent Williams, Nine’s Director of Sport.

“Not only have their world-class performances captivated the nation, but their generosity in providing access for interviews and features has allowed us to showcase the personalities and stories behind the game.”

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The record-breaking result comes at a pivotal moment for the NRL, which is negotiating its next broadcast rights deal from 2028. With Nine, Seven, Foxtel/Kayo, and emerging streaming platforms expected to battle for rights, the NRL’s latest viewing surge could see its value climb beyond the AFL’s $4.5 billion, seven-year deal signed earlier this year.

While Seven claimed an 81.1 per cent commercial TV share on AFL Grand Final day, Nine’s grand final broadcast ultimately seized the national spotlight, reaffirming the NRL’s broad reach across all screens.

The 2025 NRL season concluded as one of the sport’s most successful in modern television history, delivering strong growth across traditional and digital platforms — and crowning a year in which rugby league once again ruled the nation’s screens.

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