2026 Crowd Watch

[Desert Qlder]

One thing is for certain, NT loves both codes.

The Top End is much stronger for Rugby League. A greater history of shared culture/immigration from Queensland.

Central Australia has a much stronger SA-influenced cultural history, and Rugby League has all but died off there. It battled well for decades but demographic change saw it finally succumb.

 

[i0Nic]

Yep Darwin and surrounds, where most of the NT population lives, is at the very least 50/50 league afl though I’d argue might be shifted more towards league. The more rural outposts are afl land.

 

[Ian Douglas]

I’d take 12.5k crowds in Darwin over 12.5k crowds in cronulla every day of the week and twice on Sunday.

 

[i0Nic]

Probably should find a way to get a couple games a year in darwin.

Take a low drawing game there and include a qld team.

maybe like Cronulla vs Cowboys or something.

 

[yakstorm]

Whilst things weren't looking great for League outside of Darwin, I'd argue there has been some really positive signs in the past few years. Areas like Gove and Katherine, which were almost dead in the mid-2000s now have strong junior leagues - Katherine runs a 3 team junior league from 5 - 18s and enters a side the Darwin competition at 14, 16, 18s levels; Gove also has teams from 5 -18s and now extends to Echo Island.

Central Australia is still surviving, with four clubs (Brothers, Wests, Bulls and Dragons) and the Tennant Creek/Barkly league is reforming. Still a long way to go, but NRL NT appears to have some momentum, and in credit to the Dolphins, they have embraced the NT community leading up to last night's match, traveling out to Katherine earlier in the week, attending the NRL NT kick off at Territory Stadium today, plus pretty much visiting all the clubs in the area over the week.

Anyway, steering back to other games this weekend, Eels v Bulldogs has seen some significant movement in the past few days. I don't think it will sell out, but it is definitely on track to go close.

 

[Desert Qlder]

Central Australia is still surviving, with four clubs (Brothers, Wests, Bulls and Dragons) and the Tennant Creek/Barkly league is reforming.

Sorry but your info is a bit out of date/incorrect. The CARFL hasn't run a full comp since 2023. Wests were/are the Dragons, they still survive with a few volunteers active. United is effectively defunct. Central Bulls in limbo while the comp looks to get back on it's feet.

Brothers are the only active club and they run juniors currently. The juniors situation isn't bad but AFL dominates in the countrymen community.

Talk of a 9s/11s comp this August but volunteers are pretty thin.

I'd be amazed if there was ever enough interest for a 'league' in Tennant/Barkly. Tennant can sometimes scrape together a rep team but haven't seen that for a few years.

Rugby League has had a great history in frontier territory of CA. But the heyday of the 80s when players could be paid and/or drawn from the eastern states is long gone. The circus around acquisition of Anzac Oval in Alice Springs was a major factor in undermining the game. Plus general demographic change and that's the situation.

The Top End is a different story and things are doing ok there.

 

[League Unlimited News]

 

[Timmah]

Going with 12k for Souths-Saints, 15k for Tigers-Broncos, 20k for Roosters-Broncos, 25k Eels-Bulldogs.

Hopefully more for all, but that leaves us with about 143k. Which is the lowest so far this season, but still above two of the lower rounds in the first two months last year.

Things still going well - hopefully we get closer to 150k and my guesses are unders

 

[Warriors Fever]

Going with 12k for Souths-Saints, 15k for Tigers-Broncos, 20k for Roosters-Broncos, 25k Eels-Bulldogs.

Hopefully more for all, but that leaves us with about 143k. Which is the lowest so far this season, but still above two of the lower rounds in the first two months last year.

Things still going well - hopefully we get closer to 150k and my guesses are unders

Hopefully tigers were able to move a few more tickets with the hill’s being standing only I’m gonna go 17k

 

[cleary89]

Not looking great at souths v saints. Not many dragons fans, not sure why I brought the family... my 3 year old made me buy him a sharks jersey midweek.

 

[horrie hastings]

Going with 12k for Souths-Saints, 15k for Tigers-Broncos, 20k for Roosters-Broncos, 25k Eels-Bulldogs.

Hopefully more for all, but that leaves us with about 143k. Which is the lowest so far this season, but still above two of the lower rounds in the first two months last year.

Things still going well - hopefully we get closer to 150k and my guesses are unders

Broncos doing well playing twice in the same weekend

 

[t-ba]

... my 3 year old made me buy him a sharks jersey midweek.

 

[Sky_Is_The_Limit]

The non-TV side looks pretty decent at Accor, I reckon this might nudge 15k (which is still a poor result for a big Sydney rivalry).

 

[League Unlimited News]

 

[Yosemite Sam]

It's about all we can expect. South's fans are sick of Accor and no Dragons fans wil be interested in travelling to away matches this year. Understandibly so.

 

[Raiders_Premiers]

Campbelltown packed to the rafters. Rugba Leeg is flying

 

[Foreign Legion]

Campbelltown packed to the rafters. Rugba Leeg is flying

Campbelltown Gather Round?

 

[Speedy Gonzales]

Tigers v Raiders at Leichhardt already sold out

 

[yakstorm]

Tigers v Raiders at Leichhardt already sold out

As it deserves to be. The team is playing some great football and whilst it was unfortunate they still lack the ability to find a way to win games like tonight, they are definitely going to win more than they lose this year playing this way.

 

[League Unlimited News]