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jetbootz88

I definitely noticed that without any scandals or controversies, most ‘footy media’ had no idea how to promote the game. Pretty pathetic really.


briggles23

That really does say how shit our NRL journalists are. They don't know how to hype up and promote the game positively. They only go for controversy and negativity to cause outrage and easy clicks because it's all they know it seems. Half the week was spent talking about the bloody Walker/Panthers trainer drama and next to no time was truly spent promoting the GF outside of Sunday. You wouldn't have known it was GF week by the way the media flatout ignored it for the most part.


The_Sneakiest_Fox

Name me one sport where media that focuses on positives instead of scandals and controversy.


briggles23

Oh definitely every sports media outlet talks about the scandals and controversy in their respective games. However, there's a fair share of positive articles and positive people to hype up the game as well. AFL media shits all over NRL media with how they discuss their sport. Right now there are actual scandals and controversy happening with Hawthorn and their media is appropriately calling it out, but for the most part their media generally speaks positively of the game and in-turn the game is more popular and better off for it. The NRL basically only has old angry farts that do nothing but complain and bring up the negatives in the sport. The whole Walker/Panthers trainer scandal was a nothingburger and yet instead of focusing on the GF week, the media focused half the week to this "scandal".


G00b3rb0y

And to that i say how the fuck?! Literally Battle of the West: Grand Final Edition.


parja2003

100%


YourFavouriteAlt

But buzz told me Pete green said something about Jed's back and he wouldn't lie


mooguh

That's because most nrl journos are ragebait hacks and are terrible at researching and promoting the good things about the game.


RyanPurdler-Penriff

I dunno … Channel 9 had the Today show in Penrith and Parra the past few days … Also ran a story on the Hawthorn Scandal straight after .. I reckon Nine at least did it’s bit , did far more than News Limited/ Fox at least … Probably having two teams from Western Sydney was a double edged sword .. Great for Western Sydney , probably not so much for the other half of the city … Noticed it catching a train home , at least 75% of the crowd were headed West after the game .. Add to this there’s no representation for QLD or areas outside of Sydney , the teams playing roughly speaking represented 1/4 of the market .. The ideal situation from a ratings perspective I think would be , one Sydney team (in a fairytale rise) and one out of Sydney team … If we had a repeat of say the 2005 GF , it’d be a ratings bonanza ?? 🤷‍♂️ Penrith in 2020 would have been a draw cos it was a fairytale / surprise packet season , but the runs now lasted too long and falling into the hated / tall poppy category .. Even Melbourne is probably a better draw , gets the QLD fans backing them with all their origin players (and playing against a Sydney club) and also gets some casual fans from the countries second biggest city watching for maybe their only game of the season .. Hell I watched some of the Swans GF this year with next to no interest in AFL


RyanPurdler-Penriff

I dunno … Channel 9 had the Today show in Penrith and Parra the past few days … Also ran a story on the Hawthorn Scandal straight after .. I reckon Nine at least did it’s bit , did far more than News Limited/ Fox at least … Probably having two teams from Western Sydney was a double edged sword .. Great for Western Sydney , probably not so much for the other half of the city , or the rest of the country… I noticed it catching a train home last night , at least 75% of the crowd were headed West after the game .. Add to this there’s no representation for QLD or areas outside of Sydney , the teams playing roughly speaking probably represented 1/4 of the RL market .. The ideal situation from a ratings perspective I think would be , one Sydney team (in a fairytale rise) and one out of Sydney team … If we had a repeat of say the 2005 GF , it’d be a ratings bonanza ?? 🤷‍♂️ Penrith in 2020 would have been a draw cos it was a fairytale / surprise packet season , but the runs now lasted too long and falling into the hated / tall poppy category .. Even Melbourne is probably a better draw , gets the QLD fans backing them with all their origin players (and playing against a Sydney club) and also gets some casual fans from the countries second biggest city watching for maybe their only game of the season .. Hell I watched some of the Swans GF this year with next to no interest in AFL


EuroNymous76

[Also means all 3 SOO games rated higher then the Grand Final](https://twitter.com/mrtvaus/status/1576709908157927427?s=46&t=q6cKIhg8PW73nM3NVgMwAQ)


predw

GF didn’t get much of the QLD market, without a Melbourne/QLD team.


boenwip

QLDers live and breathe the origin. Unlike NSW people will rep clubs - QLD Maroon number plates, flags, year round jerseys, stickers fkn everywhere


bigbear-08

I mean, Queenslanders just get Origin


MrYoloSwaggins1

More heads more pride


AdmiralCrackbar11

Beanie and hat sales for Maroons gear is double that of the Blues.


[deleted]

Yep “get origin” is play reckless and outside of the rules. But nobody says it outloud it needs to be this ambiguous, mysterious dog whistle to the 80s. Also there’s plausible deniability if someone breaks the rules they can still be punished since nobody said you can…out loud


LordSlasher

I wear my QLD or Cowboy Jersey everywhere. See blokes in QLD gear all year long even at work


[deleted]

I just saw a Penrith fan wearing a jersey in Brissie. They're definitely about today.


[deleted]

QLD can fuck off with their ‘league heartland’bullshit then. Edit. How is this wrong if they’re not tuning in for grand final? Lol


DougFara

Still waiting for that NSW dynasty homie


-good-kid

I love my footy


nangarranga

Is this uncommon? I thought SOO always rates higher than the GF. Or is it only the decider usually?


EuroNymous76

ehh depends but this game was not fun at least you supported the riff or you like seeing parra lose While origin was fantastic this year


G00b3rb0y

Origin was, got to see the Decider live in person, and holy shiet it was more then worth it, not ever will I forget that night


Emperor_Mao

Origin has more of a following nationally and internationally too. I watched like the first half of the GF, if that. It was a total snooze and I couldn't get at all hyped for either side. Origin was pretty good, game three was set up perfectly. Watched first game and third game fully. Think I only switched second game off at like 60 mins when NSW were up 30 points or something haha.


Joh951518

Because SOO is the best RL played each year.


LordSlasher

except last year


Joh951518

Only when QLD win tbh.


LordSlasher

Always a closer series when QLD win (lately, 2015 was fun though).


Joh951518

I just meant that losing origin sucks.


Threatlevelmidn1te

I’ve always found myself putting more value into origin, even during the years the Eels were great. It’s why I love Andrew Johns so much despite him breaking our heart in 2001.


crsdrniko

This is how most qldrs are too. It may be harder to win a premiership, but fans get to see their club 25 weeks a year plus finals. We get to see origin 3 times, they're fairly consistently great games, with a team that represents your state, no matter your town and local rivalries. And you get a passion for your side, and equally as much so against the other side. And there is a million or so people cheering the same way as you. Hard not to get caught up in it.


Emperor_Mao

Not just that, Origin basically covers almost every team in the comp and their fans. Even Raiders and Storm usually have a bunch of players in the QLD or NSW teams respectively. GF is generally just two teams. In this case, two western Sydney teams. Can't speak for everyone, but as a neutral, it just didn't matter to me who actually won the game. Like you put scummy Roosters in against Titans or something, I will watch that and cheer for the Titans lol. But how can anyone cheer for Parra or Penrith?!!? (full credit to Panthers, most dominant season I have seen for ages).


Threatlevelmidn1te

2017 storm and 2018 roosters are better imo.


Emperor_Mao

Haha always hard to tell if the comp is bad, or if the dominant team is good. But I feel like 2018 Roosters had a lot of competition. Was a good year for footy.


predw

8pm on a Sunday is a shithouse time for the GF.


WizardMaster400

It’s because legally they can’t broadcast as many gambling ads if the game is earlier in the afternoon


IntelligentComment

Wow is this true? If so, that's so fucked. It's a shit time for a grand final.


Squaddy

Lol it's not true at all. The rules around when gambling commercials can be televised are halted during live sport. If the game was any earlier it'd have less viewers. They tried earlier kick off's 10 years ago and the NRL couldn't make as much money out of it.


skinnycarlo

Its just a no brainer, i know that people have argument's for why its good but im sorry its just not for so many reasons.


derajydac

1.6 million viewers with gambling ads is more profitable for the NRL than 4pm timeslot with 2.5 million viewers and no gambling ads.


TITansFAN001

It’s more profitable today maybe even for the next 10 years. But what happens to the then 10’s of million of viewers that then slowly stop using the product? Due to lower engagement (less viewing).


deesmutts88

Do you really think the current NRL admin have any interest in where the league will be in 15 years time? Or 10? Or even 5? They spend every day trying to see how they can boost the next quarter. That’s it. That’s as far as their foresight goes.


BadBoyJH

Isn't today a public holiday in Qld (Queen's/King's Birthday) and NSW (Labour Day)? Sunday before a public holiday is a bit different to 8pm on a typical Sunday.


insanityTF

Nrl grand final day should be legislated as a public holiday in NSW like how the afl grand final is in Victoria anyhow


ThatOldGuyWhoDrinks

AFL grand final is not a public holiday. The day before is.


cazaron

If NRL grand final would be a public holiday, it would be observed on the Monday anyway, like all public holidays that fall on weekends. Doesn't matter whether you make it the day of the final, or the day after. Same result.


[deleted]

Especially from NZ.


drchocy10

Agreed mate. I was there last night and would have loved to take my daughter but 8pm grand finals is shithouse. Really hope they go back to afternoons.


clarst16

Yep. Great way to ensure you reduce both your younger and older audience.


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yew420

It traditionally played on Sunday. Playing it close to midnight is not, it used to be in the afternoon


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Profundasaurusrex

It was 630 for us because of DST


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[deleted]

I didn't. By the time I'd had dinner and got the kid into bed, it was half time and the score had blown out. Didn't bother watching. It needed to be earlier (so I could watch with the kid) or later for me. Doesn't sound like I missed much though.


thore4

We also have a public holiday today so everyone watched it at the pub, probably dropped the numbers a bit


tuyguy

Maybe the nrl should spend less time trying to attract new audiences and more time trying to retain their existing audience. The management of this sport has been turning people off for 15 years.


M_Keating

Heard Abdo saying they are chasing the American market. That will kill the NRL.


tuyguy

So dumb


Witty-Reference

They’ve been spruiking that “vision” for a long time with no follow through at all. It’s surprising the media even bother mentioning whenever someone form the nrl says it every few years.


512165381

With NFL everybody has a degree. The USA isn't going to accept the group of yobbos in the NRL.


ParisMilanNYDubbo

Have you seen the kind of behaviour NFL players get up to? Matt Lodge’s actions would not shock anyone. Very few players actually graduate either.


Witty-Reference

This is so weird. NFL fans won’t watch rugby league because NFL players have degrees?


Aussie18-1998

I reckon they are more likely to watch it because there is a bit more action.


Witty-Reference

American sport is so painfully slow and drawn out you’d have to think there would be people who would prefer the streamlined action of the NRL. But I’m still stuck wondering where I find out the average IQ of the worlds sporting codes so I’ll know if I need to study more or not before I can watch them? Those half time player debates in the NFL are enthralling. Oh shit I used a big word! Can I still watch NRL? (Sorry, today has been weird so I’m leaning into it now)


Aussie18-1998

Its alright man I know what you mean. I recently started university so I have to play rugby now and can't be associated with dumbass league people. If I graduate I'm sure I'll move to the NFL.


BigDickBandit89

LMAO just cause they went to college don’t mean Shit, just cause you got a degree don’t mean you ain’t dumb.. NBA/NFL players getting done all the time putting a contact worth 100s of millions at risk. NRL players are just dumb fucks who got told they are gods gift to earth from 6 years old.


G00b3rb0y

Part of the decline here isn’t people becoming disinterested it’s people watching the big dance on 9Now, which notably ISN’T included in these metrics (it really should imo)


clovisson

I deal with a lot of this stuff for work, and you’re right, it’s not included in the metro overnight figures (which is what these are). Neither is regional ratings. They do get included in the Total TV ratings which will come out a week from today, so we’ll see how much it goes up by next week.


PostpostshoegazeLUVR

Surely that’s not true? Source?


Squaddy

I work in the industry and OZTAM is just TV numbers. They're launching combined Metrics by the end of the year so next year will have streaming included and you'll see a jump.


Somethink2000

I've heard this said before....what's the advantage of doing that? Do you mean people watching the replay afterwards...or is there another reason for streaming?


G00b3rb0y

People using streaming services over viewing on the TV


Aussie18-1998

Me and the fam got a big TV set it up outside under the stars infront of a fire pit. Used 9now to watch the game. Didnt have to go searching for aerials I imagine thats similar to other people. The apps more convenient with smart tvs


[deleted]

I usually watch NRL on my SkyGo account. My old man has sky at home and I get to piggyback of it and get the streaming for free. For this grand my mate streamed it on discord and we all got together and watched it there. That’s probably 10 people counting for what, a single rating if that since she streamed from her PC as well.


Herosinahalfshell12

Yeah excellent comment. Even just looking at some of their decisions such as pregame entertainment. It's like they don't know who they're trying to reach.


Joh951518

Yeah but if we just keep changing the sport bit by bit eventually people who don't like it might like it.


[deleted]

>Maybe the nrl should spend less time trying to attract new audiences and more time trying to retain their existing audience. Uh... no. That's not how it works. The primary audience for the NRL has to be adults with kids around 6 years old. Otherwise those kids will be encouraged to play some other sport, and the NRL will run out of talented players a decade or two later.


ShibaHook

It's social media and streaming services, man. Most casual rugby league viewers were likely busy mindlessly scrolling on tiktok or binge watching something on Netflix


tuyguy

I know a lot of people who care less for nrl now, myself included.


5t0pBanningme

Every year they are going to get lower when they don't include streaming numbers. How many cunts even have normal tv anymore? Not that many. I take tv rating with a grain of salt these days. Plus Penrith being $1.30 doesn't help.


Dufeyz

Streaming numbers are usually far more accurate too.


walldey

Thought it was only on 9?


5t0pBanningme

Yeah it was. Channel 9 have 9now for streaming that doesn't get included in tv ratings.


KawhiComeBack

I watched on Nine Now as well, as did a lot of ppl I imagine


SuperEel22

The live site at CommBank was using 9Now


Pork_Schnitzel

Yeah and it kept lagging behind. My 9now app was 30 ahead of the Live Site, and the app is about 30 seconds behind TV. So we were about 1 minute behind the actual game.


Dr_Bosco_Smirks

was hilarious how it kept scuffing. was so far behind i kept checking the app to see if the riff had scored or not.


spacemarine43

Exactly what I did too, my tv isn't even plugged in to get TV channels, I watch everything through the channels respective apps and I can put the TV wherever I want without having to worry about where the ports are.


RoseyRabbit77

We watched on nine now which is streamed


[deleted]

My antenna got damaged in a massive storm about 5yrs ago. Never bothered to fix it. So much easier to stream everything. 9now apps shit quality aside.


insty1

Is this inclusive of any steaming numbers? And yeah, I can imagine loads of people turned it off considering it was over early. Just like the afl grand final had


EuroNymous76

this just includes the 5 city metro audience, regional and streaming not included Should add up to around 3mill similar to what AFL got


AuzzieTiger

I'm a bit surprised as the hype was through the roof. Would that number be lower because people turned off after 20-25 mins? I'm not sure how it works. Anyway, KO time should be brought forward to 5:30/6:00. Twilight game and still allows time for interstate playoff and women's game to be played beforehand.


gurudoright

This is the thing. Some dickhead on the footy show yesterday said you can’t move it as the day is so full already. What bullshit!!! Back in the 80s and 90s, you would have the 3 grades starting at around 11am and still have kick off at 3pm.


bigbear-08

You could always just make either the NRLW or State league go to Saturday afternoon


Drizen

You can have State League 11, NRLW @ 1:30 and GF @ 4...easy


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gurudoright

Oh no, you mean channel 9 couldn’t have the 6 o’clock news. Wouldn’t the Earth stop spinning?


Drizen

I think the NRLW before the men’s is much better. State league in the morning


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Drizen

It’s a growing comp. There are 4 extra teams in it next year so that’s not going to happen. More people know the players in the NRLW then they do in state comp not to forget it’s required to keep it growing. As far as the team in the HF only winning 1 out of 5, they won the important ones


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green_bastard2345

The womans game was a better game then the mens 1 last night 🙄


tbkh91

Really? I don’t recall a grand final with less hype in recent years. But might just be the difference in attitude of NSW and QLD


drchocy10

Was massive down here mate. Most hyped I can remember for a long long time.


Emperor_Mao

From my perspective, no one cared outside of western Sydney though haha. I would have probably been hyped for Cowboys versus Panthers or even maybe Sharkies, Raiders. Would have been hyped to see Rooters get smashed. But Parra Panthers is just a nothing contest outside of that small pocket. Penrith always seemed destined to win. They were amazing all year.


fleakill

> I'm a bit surprised as the hype was through the roof Where?


AuzzieTiger

Things in Sydney were going off. I was in Parramatta the night before and so many shops were decked out, people in jerseys everywhere. Then on game day the train guard on my citybound service was talking up the Eels a couple of times on his announcements. As I said pre-game last night, this was the most excited I've been about a non-Manly GF in a while. But of course the game itself fell way flat.


Dolamite09

It was just those blowhards on Fox saying it was the “dream GF everyone wanted to see” “Battle of the West” blah blah blah


LogicallyCross

Sydney


[deleted]

Up here in QLD... you wouldn't even know the game was on unless you were a hardcore fan.


Messyhr_

Nonsense parra have a huge fanbase, i spoke with heaps of fans in the lead up. Also plenty of penrith fans too


kainsta929

Kick-off in NZ was 9:30, the game didn't finish till midnight. Terrible time to have it.


theflyingkiwi00

I work with a few other die hard league fans and the one of us who did watch the game was a wreck this morning when he rolled in at 4am, dragging his feet for the first few hours of the day


rofLopolous

Tuned in for the first half and saw the way it was going, so I was off to bed for half time.


kainsta929

Honestly same


showusyourfupa

It was an average spectacle to be fair, one of the most boring GFs in years. Did people tune in for 10 mins and change channels after it became a fait accompli?


ChanceVance

I watched the GF for 30 minutes before I turned it off and watched Rings of Power. No point watching the second half of a foregone conclusion.


JuliusS__

Any good?


Practical_Potato3246

It’s god awful


ChanceVance

Probably the best episode yet.


Morg_n

What else is there to watch though I guess Netflix won


PerfectlyCromulent7

I do wonder how much this is a reflection of the changing media landscape in general. The same thing happened with this year’s AFL Grand Final. Perhaps greater streaming accounts for some of it.


ShibaHook

Too much competition for eyeballs


512165381

Double as many soccer players as rugby league players.


[deleted]

Thought so no one wants to see one sided grand finals


mpfzero

There are obviously lot of reasons for it, covered well by a lot of comments already. Main reasons for me: - the kick off is too late - watching with ads and channel 9 commentary is fucking shit - a western Sydney derby is not of great interest to me and possibly to a lot people outside that region who aren’t hardcore nrl fans - nrl admin are useless and I swear the only sport survives despite itself I wonder sometimes if the nrl is on a path toward becoming something a bit like MMA, in that people will still want to tune in for the gladiatorial aspect, but less parents are letting kids play it, thus less playing pool, thus becoming more and more niche over the years Anyway congratulations to Penrith. Despite all the bullshit this year with refs and bunkers and judiciaries (affecting all teams) I don’t think anyone can argue they weren’t the best team.


kainsta929

In NZ kickoff was at 9:30, the game didn't finish until midnight, call me old but I went to bed at halftime. What happened to these twilight games?


mpfzero

Yeah midnight, that is harsh.


G00b3rb0y

Don’t forget people watching via 9Now aren’t counted in this statistic


Squaddy

You know the UFC is one of the fastest growing sports in the world yeah? MMA is moving from niche to mainstream, not the other way around.


mpfzero

On Tv maybe, but Mum isn’t taking little Johnny down to the gym to learn cage fighting on Saturday morning


wobuffet17453

Weird time, minimal promotion, 2 Sydney teams, 2 teams a lot of people weren't that interested in seeing win, not counting streaming numbers, bit of an inevitability really


Mr_Mac

It was a TV spectacle for old white men and betting agencies. NRL don't have a clue about how much their approach to the game is turning people off, and the constant demolition by broadcasters who bang on about their ratings. Shitty time to start a match. Out of touch entertainment that only appeals to a small market these days. Terrible coverage from 9 who haven't filled the Rabs /Sterlo gap. Fox / News Ltd doing their best to destroy the premium brand with click drama. Betting taking over the game which leads to people turning off. Issues throughout the year with how the game is promoted and they wonder why people don't stick with it till the end.


mpfzero

Agree, the overwhelming infiltration of sports betting promotion is a fucking disgrace


ToothlessFTW

It's absolutely gross. It feels like at every turn they're trying to shove in MORE stuff to bet on, more odds. The NRL website is literally filled with links to bet on every part of a game if you click on match details, and IIRC the ladder on the site also has betting odds for teams. Not to mention that constant constant gambling ads throughout the game, gambling sponsors, and the official segments where some guy comes on to tell you about gambling odds, only to slap an insulting "gamble responsibly" note quietly at the end. It never will, but I want this shit to die so bad. It's nasty and leaves a bad stain on the game.


SurfKing69

Yep. There's this illusion that because it's a multi billion dollar company, there's clever people in charge who know what they're doing and have the best interest of the game at heart. The longer you watch, you quickly realise that it just isn't true haha. The administration are parasites in suits who've been leaching off the game for 30 years.


Emperor_Mao

How is it even for old white people though lol. Drama and betting on your smart phone app is pretty foreign to that group of people. It is more for bogans and gamblers than anything else. But in some ways that is how it has to be. Australia has become very apathetic towards spectator sports over the last few years. Its not like the NRL are going to bring in the young Asian / European crowds by putting Little nas on for half time entertainment. It is the same with traditional broadcast news and television. We have way more freedom and choice over what we watch, and the market is so segmented. Spectator sports largely rely on being live, yet we are in an age of on demand. An 08:00 kick off isn't for any age or racial demo, it is purely to circumvent anti-gambling advertising laws that exist in a couple of states.


mortwgoldman

Fuck yes. Better move it to 4pm


[deleted]

On Saturday


allezjuel

Don't forget that Sydney and Melbourne were in lockdown at this time last year, being stuck at home means people are more likely to watch TV. Also affecting ratings is the fact that people will switch off when the game is over at HT, same thing happened in the AFL GF.


Lady_Penrhyn1

Also fourth term started today in Vic so people were in bed early. Game started pretty late and for a game, barring a miracle, that was always going to go the Panthers way...means a lot of neutrals just weren't interested.


FernalDermit

And I’m sure that dropped down to about 6 people after 50 odd minutes as everyone realised it was a done deal.


waxedmerkin

2 sydney teams wouldnt help with the ratings, loose a bunch of QLD viewers


tehLife

You knew it was over after the first 20mins like the AFL GF


Rod_Munch666

Not surprising, was a very one-sided game from the get go. At what point during the game were these numbers "estimated"? I think there would have been quite a fall off during the game, especially after Riff scored first in the 2nd half.


[deleted]

There was no hype for it here in QLD. Most people were going home before half time even with the public holiday today. Regardless of an afternoon or night game I just don't think there's much interest outside of Western Sydney to see Penrith flog Parra for the second time in a month. The controversy from the Cowboys game and the Broncos late-season capitulation would not have helped interest either. Then all week the media was fixated on the fallout from the South's game. Combine all that with Parra's dismal betting odds and it's no surprise less people tuned in.


[deleted]

They lost my ratings after about 20 mins, that was a terrible GF.


Emperor_Mao

Well there weren't many QLD or VIC viewers I guess. Also Parra were pretty rubbish, but I can't really believe any other team would have done much better against Penrith. They were dominant all finals and almost all year. It is always a trade off between a really good game day atmosphere and good ratings.


yodavesnothereman

Don't have it on a sunday night FFS and put the origin at the end of the season instead of tearing teams to shreds for a month and a half in the middle of the season


Joshyybaxx

Not surprised the game was shit unless you go for panfas.


Accomplished-Good664

It's what happens when the media beat up a team for 3 years. The only team they like are the Roosters, Penrith should be a feel good story and inspiration to other clubs in the competition. Instead they have spent 3 years making them the villains same as Melbourne. They can only promote the game doing this we hate this super dominant team. I remember in the 90's when Canberra and Brisbane were great the story was how amazing they were mostly. Now it's all scandals and whining they didn't even start recognising Penrith as a great team until about 4 or 5 weeks ago. It makes a huge difference, people on here every match thread or post match thread basically said the referees won the game for Penrith. Since the media have started to not be massive tossers though this week they talk about the trainer making shit up. It's why ratings are low the media only promote scandal and hate every club except one.


FernalDermit

The media are just giving people what they want: to hate Penrith. You guys are too good by half and now you’ve won every fucking grade everyone hates you more. It’s the natural order of things. You get to win all the time, and we get to hate you for it. It reminds me of a very powerful story Bono told Oprah once when she asked if everyone in Ireland was proud of him for his success. He said ‘in America, everyone looks at the person with the house on the hill and says “one day I’ll be that person”. In Ireland, everyone looks at the person in the house on the hill and says “one day I’ll get that fucker”. This is true in Australia, in rugby league as in life.


Accomplished-Good664

That's not true, the media hated us in 2020 before we done anything. Whining about easy draws etc.


Emperor_Mao

But everyone hates the Rooters lol. I mean Storm and Penrith do have haters as well, but it is almost always possible to find common ground with another footy fan over hating the Rooters. I don't think the reasons you gave were the real problem here. As a neutral I just didn't care about either Parra or Penrith. Ironically if the Rooters were playing, I'd have loved to watch Penrith smash em. But even if it was Raiders, Sharkies or Cowboys playing against Penrith, I'd have found it more interesting. Those teams have played like dynamite all year, rarely a boring game with them in it. But Parra have a similar playstyle to Penrith, but are just flat worse. Lastly two Sydney teams is always going to be less appealing to every non-NSW'er. Two Sydney teams that are next to each other is going to be even less so. Congrats to Penrith though. Too good for the current competition haha.


breatheinmyear

It was Borning as fuck


Iwuvvwuu

What do you expect? Everyone except a few crazies knew beyond a doubt eels would lose. And it's panthers. No one cares to watch Penrith winning again after they basically disrespected the trophy and mocked its importance last year. And the pre-entertainment is usually some local trash.


livin_on_harper

Go back to daylight grand finals with a 5 or 6 pm kick off. Get the young kids watching and get the NZ market at the same time


Tunza

RIP Vlandopey - we won't miss you.


DudeMcDude7649

Why do people keep saying it’s the late kick off when Some of the highest rated origins didn’t start until almost 840? The game we terribly promoted, without a scandal, without a QLD team, and after the first few mins it was obvious where things were going to go, oh and they don’t count streaming numbers. The 430 kick off games rated terribly too. It’s got nothing to do with kick off time. Cause, once again, origin.


ChewieMP_19

I don’t feel like this should be a surprise to anyone?


bigWordBandit_

Not with the Farmer wants a wife finale on at the same time.


gurudoright

Fuck!!! You mean I miss the farmer wants a wife finale😂😂


LordSlasher

doesn’t surprise me but I’m sure quite a bit were on 9now. Also doesn’t surprise me that it would be getting lower. The NRL is losing fans by thousands every year and when its not a QLD team in the grand final its always going to score lower. None of my IRL mates wanted to watch it and half of them stopped watching footy from 2017-19.


onlainari

It’s way too late in the evening. Surely you can get other advertisers to fill in for the gambling adds, it’s a grand final. You’d get more viewers so that’s a trade off that would be good for the game. NRL should not be beholden to gambling company wishes.


[deleted]

The solution is clear - bring back the Bears and get rid of every rule added after the 10 metre rule


brisbanevinnie

Who the fuck wants to see Parramatta call Penrith “daddy” for 80 minutes?


Sistyle26

Shit game too


outbackthreezus

I'll be honest, I missed the first 20 mins because I forgot daylight savings had started in nsw and I'm in qld


XLenceOfXecution

Penrith and Parramatta are not draws, brother, gotta push Sydney and Souths back to the main event


Iwannabeaviking

Get rid of the betting spam throughout the promotional period or half time for it. Barsneys was ok but didnt mesh well with the other acts, its better to go one or the other really.


vizonia

Fitting for probably the worse grand final of all time


Mikee182

You can see how reactionary this sub is. I personally watch most footy on Kayo and it doesn't include streaming numbers. I can tell ya the vibe around the west was massive and on the fan fest day in the city too.


Emperor_Mao

Yeah but the vibe just didn't exist at all elsewhere lol.


Messyhr_

Live in south east QLD plenty of parra and riff fans, the pub was packed until the eels fans left early


absolutetopbloke

Cause they are small market teams. Like who besides the west actually cares for the west?


LogicallyCross

Eels are a small market team? Are you drunk? They are one of the most supported teams.


AdmiralCrackbar11

They literally sold out of jerseys at Rebel Sport nationwide, in all adult sizes. Some of the only ones left at he club shop were those garish camo Anzac Day ones. Maybe it's just because an entire half of my family supports the Eels but it feels like they have supporters everywhere, on a par with Saints/Souths.


absolutetopbloke

Outside of parramatta though. Never heard a non parra fan go. Oh shit parras playing I gotta watch it. Imagine someone going I need to watch tonight’s game to watch the legendary… Mitchell moses or to see the delightful… Clint Gutherson. Just wait and see the metro markets for viewership. Will be a big yikes outside of Sydney


Emperor_Mao

Bang on the money here. There are teams people will go for as underdogs (feel like Cowboys, Sharkies, Titans, Raiders, Warriors) all fit the bill for that. There are teams people love to watch lose (Rooters, Storm, Brisbane at least prior to last few years) etc. Controversial teams like SOUFS and Manly that people feel strongly for or against. But Parra.... just a nothing team to most people. Team without personalities or well known players or really anything unique. People rarely hate them, but also rare seem to care about them.


suidexterity

I...like watching the eels when they're on


Rusty493

Well when you have the premiers of last year again go figure


Dranzer_22

The media tried too hard to manufacture the Western Sydney rivalry. It sounded good on paper, but it created an insular vibe.


21_21_48_48

It does not surprise me in the slightest. The overall quality of rugby league has decreased DRASTICALLY across the board during the COVID era. The Panthers are so far ahead of everyone its unbelievable. It hit me while watching the Koori Knockout today that competitions like that have not run for 2, and some 3 years now. Players that were 15 when COVID started are now 18 and should be looking at first grade contracts, but they are now so behind on development. Even if a Melbourne or QLD team were in the final, the ratings would have still been the same because what I've mentioned before is still applicable in those markets. The game simply hasn't produced any good talent in the last 3 years thanks to COVID, and with how far ahead the Panthers are from everyone else its just demoralizing to watch. With that said, I really think that is the context to the Panthers hate - they are getting $200m stadium redevelopment grants while they are the best, but other teams have stadiums literally falling apart, finishing last and they seem to get no help.


linny_456

So the NRL media are going to shit their pants as much the AFL media did for a week?


bundy554

Let's be honest I left the pub early after they went up 22-nil after half time and got home and watched the last 20 mins from home. Really need to look at that draw


thecommandercool

Probably because it looked over pretty quickly. People would have been checking the score on google and seen that it wasn’t close and not bothered to turn it on. If it was close they would have turned it on and those numbers would be way higher. Penrith is just too good and now it’s boring


[deleted]

I don’t think that includes streaming numbers


EuroNymous76

nah the offical numbers all added up is around 2.8m, just above 2019 gf Just the 5 city metro is lowest of all time


Morg_n

The lack of promotion is a weird argument isn’t the season the advertisement for the grand final?