2026 Crowd Watch

[Speedy Gonzales]

Dolphins v Manly 10k
Souths V Dogs 40k
Penrith V Storm 20k
Dragons V Cowboys 11k
Titans V Brisbane 24k
Sharks V Warriors 12k
Eels V Tigers 28.5k

 

[yakstorm]

Dolphins v Manly 10k
Souths V Dogs 40k
Penrith V Storm 20k
Dragons V Cowboys 11k
Titans V Brisbane 24k
Sharks V Warriors 12k
Eels V Tigers 28.5k

You forgot Knights v Raiders.

On a positive note, Sharks v Warriors looks like it might sellout. Presales have been strong, not much left on the hill.

That, Redcliffe, Gold Coast, Newcastle & Easter Monday at CommBank are all realistic chances of selling out.

 

[DIOGENES]

The last 2 years Easter round has been over 200k. This prediction is less than 170k

 

[Sky_Is_The_Limit]

Yep, it will definitely be down this year because the Dolphins are locked out of Suncorp by the Brisbane Roar, and we've got the Sharks at home and the cellar-dwelling Dragons to contend with.

 

[DIOGENES]

Yes, this looks like poor scheduling by the NRL

 

[nko11]

Not great, or even good. But a fraction of the support that a successful Rugby League team on the Gold Coast could draw, terrible timeslots given by the NRL for the first 4 weeks for a 'battleground' area, it doesn't help. Probably what they deserve from the first three weeks. Show some heart over the next 10 weeks and see what grows. It needs to happen now, competition on the Coast isn't standing still.

 

[yakstorm]

Not great, or even good. But a fraction of the support that a successful Rugby League team on the Gold Coast could draw, terrible timeslots given by the NRL for the first 4 weeks for a 'battleground' area, it doesn't help. Probably what they deserve from the first three weeks. Show some heart over the next 10 weeks and see what grows. It needs to happen now, competition on the Coast isn't standing still.

For me it was a par result. It's a poor timeslot for crowds and the form of both teams heading into it meant only the diehards were going to go.

The fact that 12-13K consistently turn out for the Titans, despite their form in recent years, shows there is big upside for the club, even if they just start challenging for the 8 again.

Hopefully last night's result will be the confidence boost the team needs to string together some results.

 

[Hoofhearted]

I think that could be Penrith’s biggest ever home crowd. Certainly bigger than any crowd at Penrith stadium.
actually not: 5 better ones at various odd grounds

Rugby League Tables / Attendances /Penrith

Rugby League Tables - NRL Stats & Tables

afltables.com

I've never been to CommBank, but it always looks half full on TV in the upper tier, even with a full crowd. Is it to do with the seat colours or something?

 

[Frank Burge]

The sun hits your eyes all afternoon when you are seated in the top tier so most people will stand on the concourse between levels, it a great spot to watch the game and close to bars. There is always a few thousand that choose this option

 

[kurt faulk]

Yep, it will definitely be down this year because the Dolphins are locked out of Suncorp by the Brisbane Roar, and we've got the Sharks at home and the cellar-dwelling Dragons to contend with.

The problem for the saints is they're hopeless and boring. Who wants to go watch a boring team play when they're also losing every week? It's not a good combination.

They need to find a coach with some flair. These coaches for the last 15 years, they have, that love five hit ups then a kick while losing has ruined the supporter base.

.

 

[yakstorm]

Rabbitohs have put bay 409 on sale... $96 for adults, quite the step up from the $23 seats that were on sale in 410.

411 is now exhausted, whilst 412 is have gone.

 

[Raiders_Premiers]

17,457 in Canberra

Source: Channel 9

Play that against a bigger team and it would've been 20k

Play it in a new central stadium and it would've been 25k

The Raiders are in a strong spot support wise in Canberra. Compare that to the Brumbies, who drew under 9k against their biggest rivals (Waratahs) on Friday night. We've completely turned the tide on them over the last decade

 

[newc18]

Rabbitohs have put bay 409 on sale... $96 for adults, quite the step up from the $23 seats that were on sale in 410.

411 is now exhausted, whilst 412 is have gone.

I don't understand the pricing structure for some NRL clubs. Is it not better to try and fill the stadium and create a culture of attending games?

Where are the $10 tickets from last year?

 

[Billythekid]

Play that against a bigger team and it would've been 20k

Play it in a new central stadium and it would've been 25k

The Raiders are in a strong spot support wise in Canberra. Compare that to the Brumbies, who drew under 9k against their biggest rivals (Waratahs) on Friday night. We've completely turned the tide on them over the last decade

Yeah a new stadium and the raiders could become a powerhouse in the NRL crowds wise.

 

[yakstorm]

Update on the Newcastle Stadium situation: https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/...y-cap-prevents-mitch-barnetts-knights-return/

The Knights are facing a massive $500,000 revenue shortfall this season and are seeking state government compensation with the top deck of the Andrew Johns Stand at McDonald Jones Stadium closed to the public until October due to a damaged roof.

Stadium management will spend up to $10 million to replace the damaged roof of the eastern grandstand with work on the project set to kick off as soon as the contract tender process is finalised.

As many as 3700 seats will be out of play, with the stadium's capacity reduced to less than 26,000 as a result.

 

[Sky_Is_The_Limit]

Hopefully we see a pax update later today for Good Friday (was quite a lot of fun estimating the crowd based on progressive pax updates last year).

I am planning to go to the game but hanging out for a few more options to be released from a ticket perspective (so I will at least have a pax update later in the week)!

 

[RedVee]

Update on the Newcastle Stadium situation: https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/...y-cap-prevents-mitch-barnetts-knights-return/

Id love WIN to be reduced to 26,000 capacity

 

[League Unlimited News]

Average Home Crowds after Round 4

NOTE: Average home crowds exclude neutral venues, double headers & Magic Round.

Team Name	Average	Games
Brisbane Broncos	43,488	3
Sydney Roosters	31,776	2
Parramatta Eels	25,573	1
Warriors	23,808	3
Melbourne Storm	23,255	2
Penrith Panthers	22,813	1
Newcastle Knights	21,682	1
Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs	20,572	1
North Queensland Cowboys	18,965	2
Dolphins	18,094	2
Wests Tigers	17,367	1
Manly Warringah Sea Eagles	16,814	3
Canberra Raiders	15,590	2
Gold Coast Titans	12,241	1
St George Illawarra Dragons	11,511	1
Cronulla Sutherland Sharks	11,322	2
South Sydney Rabbitohs	-	-

 

[stratocaster]

Play that against a bigger team and it would've been 20k

Play it in a new central stadium and it would've been 25k

The Raiders are in a strong spot support wise in Canberra. Compare that to the Brumbies, who drew under 9k against their biggest rivals (Waratahs) on Friday night. We've completely turned the tide on them over the last decade

You can see from google trends for 2025 in Canberra - Raiders (blue) have more than twice the total interest and peak interest of the Brumbies.

It actually grows to 3x the interest if you include NSW too, where the Raiders have further fan interest in Southern NSW.

GWS is yellow for comparison.

 

[Sky_Is_The_Limit]

Got my ticket for Good Friday but no pax listed on the ticket?!

Ticketmaster doesn't use pax?