Millions tuned in to see Cleary’s masterclass in Origin decider
The State of Origin decider was the most watched game in the series’ history, with a total TV audience average of 4.290 million and an audience reach of over 6 million.
More than 12 million people watched the three-game series as NSW completed the three-game series with a comfortable 30-12 win over Queensland at Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday night.
The numbers are a big win for the NRL and Nine, the owners of this masthead.
Nine Entertainment has retained the free-to-air rights to rugby league until the end of 2034 after a new broadcast deal was agreed this week.
The total television audience of 4.290 million who watched Origin III eclipsed the record set for the previous game when 4.286 million watched the Melbourne game last month, according to the latest corrected figures released on Thursday.
A crowd of 52,452, mainly Maroons fans, at Suncorp Stadium witnessed Nathan Cleary’s masterclass on Wednesday night as Penrith earned half-time man of the match and man of the series awards.
Its historic television reach of 6.032 million total viewers helped cement the game as the top TV show of the year. The broadcast audience of 1.685 million increased by 70.9 percent compared to the relevant match last year.
