2023 NRL Discussion Thread

[DIEHARD]

Biggest round of NRL ever: QLD clean sweep sparks incredible Foxtel ratings records
https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/

Foxtel has recorded its highest ever TV ratings for an NRL round, after a mega opening to the season which saw all four Queensland teams victorious.

Television audiences were up 17 per cent compared to Round 1 last season, with the Dolphins upset win over the Roosters drawing over 567,000 viewers.

The newest team in the NRL posted slightly bigger numbers than their cross-town rivals Brisbane, with 552,000 people watching the Broncos knock off reigning premiers Penrith - but that was still a record for a Friday night game.

Yet it was the Sharks and Rabbitohs on Saturday night which produced the most viewers in Fox Sports history for a regular season NRL game, with over 630,000 tuning in.

More than 4.1 million league fans tuned in to the opening round on Fox League, putting to bed any debate over the appetite for a 17th team.

In fact, the Dolphins’ inaugural match was the network’s highest ever Sunday afternoon game.

NRL ROUND 1 MAKES HISTORY ON FOX SPORTS

- Highest-rating round across Foxtel platforms ever, up 17% year-on-year

- Sharks v Rabbitohs over 630k viewers (#1 NRL regular season game all-time for Foxtel)

- Dolphins v Roosters over 567k viewers (#1 Sunday arvo NRL regular season game all-time for Foxtel)

- Panthers v Broncos over 552k viewers (#1 Friday NRL regular season game all-time for Foxtel)

- Eels v Storm over 546k viewers (#1 opening NRL game all-time for Foxtel)

Foxtel Group CEO Patrick Delany praised NRL boss Peter V’landys for pushing ahead with expansion in the face of criticism.

“Two years ago Peter V’landys began a groundbreaking push around further expansion in Queensland and this vision was brought to life over the weekend,” Delaney said.

“He believed at the time that extra teams in Queensland would stimulate the total market for NRL in Australia and the extraordinary start of the season for all four Queensland teams puts this vision on track to achieve those goals. Congratulations to Peter and the Commission.

“It takes hard work and extraordinary experience within the clubs to pull off something like that. It’s what the fans been waiting for.

“There have been many team expansions in other sports but they are not always as successful as what we saw on the weekend. It has been fantastic to see Queensland supporters make the most of the opportunity with record audiences across all of our platforms over the weekend

making this the biggest round of NRL on Foxtel and Kayo Sports ever.”

Dolphins coach Wayne Bennett hailed the ratings result as vindication for the NRL’s expansion plan and proof the Broncos’ 25-year monopoly in southeast Queensland is well and truly over.

“The numbers are wonderful, it’s a great result for rugby league,” Bennett told News Corp.

“I’ve been informed of the figures by our CEO Terry Reader and they are massive, I’m blown away.

“He came under fire at times but he always believed in expansion and this is a great result for the NRL and rugby league in Queensland.”

[DIEHARD]

THE FRONT ROW PROGRAMME - ROUND 5
CLICK TO READ AS A PDF

[DIEHARD]

Really looking forward to watching Battle of Brisbane II at the Gabba tonight.

[DIEHARD]

I've been following and supporting "Randy Wanless" for years and love his content. He is now doing a weekly cartoon based on the recent round of the NRL. And it is tremendous.

Enjoy ya grubs.

[DIEHARD]

I'm on the Newcastle and Warriors bandwagons in that order.

I'm also deathriding the Broncos and Penrith.

[MaroonTitan]

Me too Diehard, although I'm on Warriors and Storm.

[Titanic]

I feel Storm will ream the Soft Coqs and the Wah’s will expose the Kahniggets although on the evidence they can all book their end of season trips while Penriff and ‘Ponies scratch each other’s eyes out.

[DIEHARD]

Hard to fault that logic. But it’ll be fun to see it all play out.

[Titanic]

GL up to his normal dropsie and misses.

[gotitans101_]

Damn what a game

[Cowabunga]

Didn't think Cleary had that in him tbh...

That man just dragged his team from 12 down to a title. That was the best 20 mins in years.. Wow.

[Boofhead]

Glad we don’t take home the biggest choke of 2023 award now, that’s a win right?

[Titanic]

Game for the ages … really don’t like either team one iota but credit where credit’s due that was one hell of a gf.

[DIEHARD]

Glad we don’t take home the biggest choke of 2023 award now, that’s a win right?

I burst out laughing. Absolutely brutal. It really looked like the Broncos had this sealed and the trophy was being engraved.

Broncos add that to their last Grand Final in 2015.

Edge of your seat Grand Final with a surprisingly good atmosphere (Through the TV)

Game for the ages … really don’t like either team one iota but credit where credit’s due that was one hell of a gf.

Yea I also struggled thinking who to back. Ultimately really neither.

[DIEHARD]