If the NRL are serious about memberships, and crowds, then they need to clearly define what a 'membership' / 'season ticket' is.
Then they hire an independent, well credentialed auditing firm to ensure all clubs adhere to this policy.
Then the numbers are put up on the NRL website.
Membership numbers, for mine, should be tallied and posted up by the auditor/NRL by Rd 1 kick off.
As for the crowds, with all the freebies, kids jr tix, etc etc clubs pass out...the same auditors should be at each and every game and only scanned tix - members, ticket purchases, jr passes (as defined by NRL once again), go to the match day crowd tally. I've heard some places include bloody Ch 9/Fox employees and catering staff in the crowds...FFS!
And if they - the NRL - establish up their own ticketing company and centralised membership area for ALL clubs as I've discussed in other threads around here, the NRL could take a cut and bank it from ALL ticket sales.
Just a thought.