DIEHARD
Administrator
Let's get started with some 2025 discussion. Heaps to look forward to.
2025 NRL Discussion Thread
- Thread starter DIEHARD
- Start date
DIEHARD
Administrator
Can'[t wait to see the impact of Michael Maguire on the Broncos. His tough style is what the Broncos need but don't want. He may find few allies if he can't land some success. But great drama for the rest of us.
Titanic
Immortal
Pretty disconcerting having a NSWailer running the ‘Ponies. Only the Porpoises have a Queenslander at the helm in Qld while 2 out of 17 is not good enough. This falls squarely on the QRL and all their over-hyped programs. Take the Origin money, cry about junior pathways and let our elite IP leak into the Sydney-centric media.
DIEHARD
Administrator
Randy is back with a Pre-season wrap
DIEHARD
Administrator
I'm excited for Vegas. Especially because my Super League club, the Warrington Wolves is playing, as well as the added factor of the Jillaroos. I'm a big internationalist.
Interested to see how the Warriors go. They have brought the biggest supporter base with them.
Interested to see how the Warriors go. They have brought the biggest supporter base with them.
DIEHARD
Administrator
DIEHARD
Administrator
It's just how forums traditionally work. Over the years I've cut down the sections and broadened the definitions of what goes where. And I'd continue to do that.
Best way to to keep track is to go to the NEW POSTS page.
I will be looking at different layouts and options for people to choose. But having a landing page that is more an "activity" page, where all the newest posts are is a choice. And probably something I can offer in separate forum skins that members can select for themselves.
All things I will play around with and show everyone on the new LOT LAB forum. Which is purely just to play with such settings to perfect the experience. Right down to bug bears. I'm keeping a list of things that people mention. This new forum cost server hosting, license fees and additional software, so it isn't a small endeavor. Currently I am just bringing it up to speed to match LOT (This one) and then I'll start exploring different pathways. And of course, inviting people across to play guinea pig.
Best way to to keep track is to go to the NEW POSTS page.
I will be looking at different layouts and options for people to choose. But having a landing page that is more an "activity" page, where all the newest posts are is a choice. And probably something I can offer in separate forum skins that members can select for themselves.
All things I will play around with and show everyone on the new LOT LAB forum. Which is purely just to play with such settings to perfect the experience. Right down to bug bears. I'm keeping a list of things that people mention. This new forum cost server hosting, license fees and additional software, so it isn't a small endeavor. Currently I am just bringing it up to speed to match LOT (This one) and then I'll start exploring different pathways. And of course, inviting people across to play guinea pig.
DIEHARD
Administrator
Enjoying the broadcast so far.
Never realised how personable and also passionate for Rugby League Fox Sports, Peter Delaney is.
Bit of drama with Sam Burgess’ plane being delayed due to engine trouble and he just landed.
His Warrington Wolves are about to play Wigan! (Oh…..
)
Really pumped to see the Jillaroos play England.
Never realised how personable and also passionate for Rugby League Fox Sports, Peter Delaney is.
Bit of drama with Sam Burgess’ plane being delayed due to engine trouble and he just landed.
His Warrington Wolves are about to play Wigan! (Oh…..
)Really pumped to see the Jillaroos play England.
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DIEHARD
Administrator
I love the idea of Jillaroos v England but maybe we put the cart before the horse here. In comparison to the training, support and remuneration between the two games.
Hopefully this pushes people to get more serious about the British game.
Really down about the Warrington Wolves. We have a bit of a big match curse.
Canberra were really impressive. Could be a season for their long suffering fans. Bring on the final game.
Hopefully this pushes people to get more serious about the British game.
Really down about the Warrington Wolves. We have a bit of a big match curse.
Canberra were really impressive. Could be a season for their long suffering fans. Bring on the final game.
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DIEHARD
Administrator
I just got to marvel at the Jillaroos. The NRLW comp and Women’s Origin has also been an impressive furnace to forge such a team. That Kangaroos killer instinct is all there. That National jersey, the big stage. They aren’t going to take the peddle off. Come get us.
Titanic
Immortal
As a spectacle it has been very underwhelming … flogging after flogging, there needs to be more thought into the product or it will all be over before it starts
DIEHARD
Administrator
Yep. I think we got high on our own supply.
Scheduling between the NRL was a… I hate to be critical because that’s going gangbusters now. But things really have to be looked at.
A Women’s Origin match would have been a competitive spectacle. Maybe that is where it will go in 2026.
But the English women’s game must be run on the smell of an oily rag and passion for the game. Rugby League there has bled tens of millions in reduced Sky income and government grant support.
Go Sharks.
Scheduling between the NRL was a… I hate to be critical because that’s going gangbusters now. But things really have to be looked at.
A Women’s Origin match would have been a competitive spectacle. Maybe that is where it will go in 2026.
But the English women’s game must be run on the smell of an oily rag and passion for the game. Rugby League there has bled tens of millions in reduced Sky income and government grant support.
Go Sharks.
Titanic
Immortal
Sharks was a much better game but the sting had gone out of it with the bore fest that went before. Needs a serious rethink but now the spin will be entertaining.
My suggestion, and I do think the girls SOO is a good idea, is something a bit more novel like the quarters, semi-finals and final of an international 9’s splitting 3 games … don’t know about the Poms or maybe only 1 NRL game?
My suggestion, and I do think the girls SOO is a good idea, is something a bit more novel like the quarters, semi-finals and final of an international 9’s splitting 3 games … don’t know about the Poms or maybe only 1 NRL game?
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DIEHARD
Administrator
Vegas venture paying off with huge viewing figures in US, Australia, NZ
www.nrl.com
More than three million viewers in the United States, Australia and New Zealand tuned into the opening two matches of the NRL season at Allegiant Stadium, as new broadcast records were set across the game.
In further proof that rugby league’s globalisation strategy is already paying off after just the second year of the NRL’s Vegas venture, viewership in the US increased by more than 600 per cent on the 2024 season opener.
With exposure on the FOX network driving unprecedented viewership in the US, the Raiders-Warriors match attracted an average US audience of 371,000, with streaming on WatchNRL taking the total number of viewers above 400,000.
In comparison, last year’s Sea Eagles-Rabbitohs match drew an audience of 61,000 in the United States.
The 371,000 average viewers on FOX was up 86% on FOX’s previous rugby telecast performance of 200K viewers for the Major League Rugby Championship. With WatchNRL streaming these number increase even further.
The Panthers-Sharks match outperformed average viewership on FS1 in 2024 by more than 100%, with 33,000 viewers comparted to 16,000 for last year’s Roosters-Broncos fixture.
In total, last weekend’s two NRL matches were watched by viewing audiences of:
The inaugural Vegas venture also led to new sponsorships with global brands such as Red Bull and JD Sports, as well as partnerships with the UFC and WWE.
NRL CEO Andrew Abdo said the ratings outcomes for the 2025 Rugby League in Last Vegas festival were outstanding for just the second year of the venture.
“While it’s pleasing to see such strong numbers in our key home markets, I’m extremely proud of what we’ve achieved in the United States,” Abdo said.
“Played in front of the biggest crowd for a season opener in 15 years (45,209), the huge increase in US TV audience provides us further momentum in showcasing rugby league to Americans.
“The challenge for us is to keep the momentum going by educating, engaging and converting US fans throughout the 2025 season ahead of an even bigger 2026 Las Vegas event.”
In addition, the broadcast audience for the Jillaroos-England Test was the highest for a women’s international, while the Wigan-Warrington match was SKY Sports’ most watched regular season Super League match - excluding one game during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Australia-England match was watched by 54,000 viewers in the United States on FS1 - almost as many as tuned into last year's Manly-Souths clash on the same channel.
Nine announced an average viewing audience of 353,000 for the women's Test, while the Foxtel Group reported that it was the network's most watched Jillaroos match.
In Australia, coverage of the quadruple header propelled FOX League to its most streamed day of all-time, with 144 million minutes of action at Allegiant Stadium streamed.
The Panthers-Sharks match was the best performing regular season fixture between the two club on FTA, with 715K viewers tuning in on Nine.
It was also the third most watched season opener ever and the seventh most watched regular season match on record.
The involvement of the Warriors also saw viewership in New Zealand increase significantly on last year’s season opening matches in Las Vegas, with 557,000 fans tuning in on SKY Sport NZ and other SKY platforms.
This compared to last year's total of 159k for the two matches in New Zealand.
By the numbers: Las Vegas viewership
United States
Vegas venture paying off with huge viewing figures in US, Australia, NZ
More than three million viewers in the US, Australia and New Zealand tuned into the opening two matches of the NRL season at Allegiant Stadium.
www.nrl.com
More than three million viewers in the United States, Australia and New Zealand tuned into the opening two matches of the NRL season at Allegiant Stadium, as new broadcast records were set across the game.
In further proof that rugby league’s globalisation strategy is already paying off after just the second year of the NRL’s Vegas venture, viewership in the US increased by more than 600 per cent on the 2024 season opener.
With exposure on the FOX network driving unprecedented viewership in the US, the Raiders-Warriors match attracted an average US audience of 371,000, with streaming on WatchNRL taking the total number of viewers above 400,000.
In comparison, last year’s Sea Eagles-Rabbitohs match drew an audience of 61,000 in the United States.
The 371,000 average viewers on FOX was up 86% on FOX’s previous rugby telecast performance of 200K viewers for the Major League Rugby Championship. With WatchNRL streaming these number increase even further.
The Panthers-Sharks match outperformed average viewership on FS1 in 2024 by more than 100%, with 33,000 viewers comparted to 16,000 for last year’s Roosters-Broncos fixture.
In total, last weekend’s two NRL matches were watched by viewing audiences of:
- more than 2 million in Australia
- more than 400K in the United States
- more than 600K in New Zealand
The inaugural Vegas venture also led to new sponsorships with global brands such as Red Bull and JD Sports, as well as partnerships with the UFC and WWE.
NRL CEO Andrew Abdo said the ratings outcomes for the 2025 Rugby League in Last Vegas festival were outstanding for just the second year of the venture.
“While it’s pleasing to see such strong numbers in our key home markets, I’m extremely proud of what we’ve achieved in the United States,” Abdo said.
“Played in front of the biggest crowd for a season opener in 15 years (45,209), the huge increase in US TV audience provides us further momentum in showcasing rugby league to Americans.
“The challenge for us is to keep the momentum going by educating, engaging and converting US fans throughout the 2025 season ahead of an even bigger 2026 Las Vegas event.”
In addition, the broadcast audience for the Jillaroos-England Test was the highest for a women’s international, while the Wigan-Warrington match was SKY Sports’ most watched regular season Super League match - excluding one game during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Australia-England match was watched by 54,000 viewers in the United States on FS1 - almost as many as tuned into last year's Manly-Souths clash on the same channel.
Nine announced an average viewing audience of 353,000 for the women's Test, while the Foxtel Group reported that it was the network's most watched Jillaroos match.
In Australia, coverage of the quadruple header propelled FOX League to its most streamed day of all-time, with 144 million minutes of action at Allegiant Stadium streamed.
The Panthers-Sharks match was the best performing regular season fixture between the two club on FTA, with 715K viewers tuning in on Nine.
It was also the third most watched season opener ever and the seventh most watched regular season match on record.
The involvement of the Warriors also saw viewership in New Zealand increase significantly on last year’s season opening matches in Las Vegas, with 557,000 fans tuning in on SKY Sport NZ and other SKY platforms.
This compared to last year's total of 159k for the two matches in New Zealand.
By the numbers: Las Vegas viewership
United States
- Exposure on the Fox network drove unprecedented viewership in the US, with the Raiders v Warriors fixture attracting over 400,000 viewers in the US (371K viewers on the Fox network alone plus the addition of streaming on WatchNRL). This is 6.1 x bigger than the previous highest (Sea Eagles v Rabbitohs) last year on FS1 (+508%).
- The 371K average viewers on FOX, up 86% over FOX’s previous Rugby telecast performance of 200K viewers for the Major League Rugby Championship. With WatchNRL streaming these number increase even further.
- Total US viewership for the two NRL fixtures was 3.8 x last years combined viewership of 105K (+285%)
- The Panthers v Sharks outperformed average viewership on FS1 in 2024 by 106% (33K vs.16K)
- Best performing regular season Panthers vs Sharks fixture on FTA of all-time - 715K (+16.4%), surpassing the previous highest of 614K (2016).
- Las Vegas coverage propelled FOX League to its #1 most streamed day of all-time, with 144 million minutes.
- Raiders v Warriors - Most watched regular season Fox Exclusive match between the two sides.
- Panthers v Sharks - Most watched regular season match between the two sides.
- Panthers v Sharks - Third most watched season opener ever and seventh most watched regular season match on record.
- Jillaroos v England - Most watched Women’s international match of all time on record.
- Jillaroos v England is the #1 Women’s international match of all-time across the Foxtel Group.
- Wigan v Warrington is the #1 English Super League match of all-time across the Foxtel Group.
- New Zealand viewership more than tripled, with 402,000 fans watching the Raiders-Warriors match on SKY Sport, a further 91K on SKY Go and 64K on SKY Sport Now. The match was broadcast at 1pm NZT. In comparison, last year's Vegas double-header drew a combined viewership of 159K (+93%).
- Viewing figures on Sky Sports for the Wigan-Warrington clash peaked at 340,000 – the highest ever for a regular season Super League fixture, excluding one match during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Titanic
Immortal
I'm all for promoting our great game but I feel the flaunting of profits and the constant big-noting of the commentators of the "greatest game of all" to a new audience is embarrassingly crass in my opinion. Those games with the exception of the last were abysmal and the commentators constantly talking-up the NRL's blatant desire to attract the US market smacks of desperation ... the feedback I'm getting from the US is that they would have been happier without the parochial commentary or with US commentators which I strongly believe in.
Fox should invest in a couple of budding sports commentators heading to Oz for the second half of the season or so.
Fox should invest in a couple of budding sports commentators heading to Oz for the second half of the season or so.
Cowabunga
Star Player
I'm all for the Vegas/America stuff but I'm so over the BS proganda/kissing the ass of Vlandy's who imo has actually cost the game 100s of millions on the tv deal in covid let alone where negotitions are going to head with DZN owning kayo now which isn't being talked about enough...
A Russian who got his money from the fall of the Soviet union (hmmm) and now the Saudis owning a big percent and will be all sooner then later who have been using DZN for a while now as a straight up propaganda vehicle. As a boxing fan who admits they've done a lot for boxing lately with unlimited funds but is hurting the sport internationally. If you think Vlandys or propaganda is bad, Wait till the Saudis getting involved who if they are going to throw any real money at it through Kayo/DZN, Ya'll ain't seen much yet.
And that goes to them even seeing any money or value really in the sport, Compared to Soccer, Boxing, MMA and WWE which they bring over, NRL has very little audience which is why they are probably trying to fake/prop up the Americans involved with potential, Murdoch helpiing out a mate when he got really helped out in covid.
The AFL got in at absolutely the right time and got as high value from 7 and Fox, NRL is so far behind from the grass roots.
Greenberg also set up the investment fund and started it for all the "profit".
A Russian who got his money from the fall of the Soviet union (hmmm) and now the Saudis owning a big percent and will be all sooner then later who have been using DZN for a while now as a straight up propaganda vehicle. As a boxing fan who admits they've done a lot for boxing lately with unlimited funds but is hurting the sport internationally. If you think Vlandys or propaganda is bad, Wait till the Saudis getting involved who if they are going to throw any real money at it through Kayo/DZN, Ya'll ain't seen much yet.
And that goes to them even seeing any money or value really in the sport, Compared to Soccer, Boxing, MMA and WWE which they bring over, NRL has very little audience which is why they are probably trying to fake/prop up the Americans involved with potential, Murdoch helpiing out a mate when he got really helped out in covid.
The AFL got in at absolutely the right time and got as high value from 7 and Fox, NRL is so far behind from the grass roots.
Greenberg also set up the investment fund and started it for all the "profit".
DIEHARD
Administrator
The Greatest Game of All should remain an affectionate nickname and in joke. I also don't like that kind of in your face promotion.
Like that billboard "real footy" the NRL put up during Origin in Adelaide. I think part of me broke when I saw that. Who ever signed off on it isn't a true ally to the game.
They also way overdo the NO PADS NO HELMETS stuff.
Like that billboard "real footy" the NRL put up during Origin in Adelaide. I think part of me broke when I saw that. Who ever signed off on it isn't a true ally to the game.
They also way overdo the NO PADS NO HELMETS stuff.
DIEHARD
Administrator
I also mourn the NRL rolling over to Nine/News and killing off NRL Digital.