AFL’s State of Origin on Saturday night has been given a bath in the ratings by its rugby league equivalent.
The Victoria v Western Australia game drew ratings of 1.98 million viewers on Seven.
But that doesn’t even come close to the final league Origin game last season, which attracted 5.66 million viewers on Channel 9 in early July.
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Peter V’landys, chairman of the Australian Rugby League Commission. Mark Kolbe via Getty Images
In fairness, the AFL drew a sell out crowd of 58,000 at the impressive Optus Stadium in Perth on Saturday evening – but in the all-important terms of free-to-air television interest, it was a disaster compared to the NRL.
Even the first NRL women’s State of Origin game last season out-rated the men’s AFL with 2.009 million viewers on Nine.
Origin has been the jewel in rugby league’s ratings crown for decades, often proving among the highest ratings shows of all genres.
The figures drew a delighted response from NRL boss Peter V’Landys.
Bailey Smith, Nick Daicos, Lachie Ash and the Victorian side. Getty
“They followed our lead during COVID and played two weeks after us,” he told Wide World of Sports after the AFL clash.
“This was months earlier than they planned.
“They copied Magic Round, now State of Origin. I’m surprised they are not in Vegas yet.
“No matter what they do rugby league is the greatest game of all.”