https://www.roymorgan.com/findings/9338-nrl-supporters-june-2023
The latest data from Roy Morgan shows the total NRL supporter base has grown strongly from a year ago to over one-in-three Australians. In 2023 now 7.2 million Australians (33.5%), up a stunning 11.7% from a year ago, support an NRL team. The increase is even more impressive, up by over 2 million (+39.2%) compared to four years ago pre-pandemic in 2019.
The Melbourne Storm have again topped the ladder as the most widely supported NRL club in 2023 with 1,197,000 supporters, an increase of 34,000 (+2.9%) on a year ago to just edge out a resurgent Brisbane Broncos in second place with 1,150,000 supporters, up 94,000 (+8.9%) in a year. The Broncos have had their most successful home and away season for over two decades this year finishing in second place with 18 wins.
The most widely supported Sydney-based club is again the Parramatta Eels with 594,000 supporters, up a stunning 138,000 (+30.3%) on a year ago – the largest increase of any NRL club. The spike in support for the Eels came after the club reached the 2022 NRL Grand Final – its first decider for 14 years since 2009.
The two-time reigning NRL Premiers the Penrith Panthers have experienced another increase in support and now have a supporter base of 359,000, up 35,000 (+10.8%) on a year ago. The Panthers support has increased by a ‘whopping’ 122,000 (+51.5%) compared to two years ago – the largest increase of any club.
Support for the NRL clubs has grown significantly compared to the pre-pandemic period despite the upheavals of the last three years and 14 of the 16 continuing clubs have increased their support compared to 2022.
New club the Dolphins, based in the northern Brisbane suburb of Redcliffe, played their first game in the NRL just over six months ago in March 2023 and already have attracted the support of 232,000 Australians to be the third most popular Queensland club.
All five other clubs to play finals in 2022 increased their support over the year to June 2023 led by the South Sydney Rabbitohs, up 16,000 (+3.4%) to 491,000, North Queensland Cowboys, up 106,000 (+29.7%) and Sydney Roosters, up 45,000 (+12.1%) to 418,000.
Support for the Canberra Raiders was up 19,000 (+9.1%) to 252,000 and support increased for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, up 10,000 to 217,000. However, despite increasing for a second straight year, the Sharks are the only Sydney-based club with fewer than 300,000 supporters.
Other clubs to increase their support included the St. George Illawarra Dragons, up 48,000 (+12.8%) to 422,000, the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, up 85,000 (+33.6%) to 338,000, the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, up 4,000 (+1.4%) to 300,000 and the Newcastle Knights, up 28,000 (+11.7%) to 267,000.
In addition to growth in support for a majority of clubs the NRL consistently rates as one of Australia’s favourite ‘TV products’. Now 6.8 million Australians (31.4%) watch the NRL on TV, up 674,000 (+11%) on a year ago and up by over 1 million (+17.5%) on three years ago.
The most popular NRL product on TV is again the annual State of Origin series between New South Wales and Queensland with 5.7 million Australians (26.4%) watching Origin on TV, up 571,000 (+11.1%) on a year ago and up by 760,000 (+15.4%) on two years ago. Close behind in popularity is the NRL Grand Final with 5.3 million Australians (24.5%) watching the season decider on TV.
Replies
I grew up in the Penrith area. No one went for them back when I was in school. Majority of the fans now are bandwagoners.
Imagine our numbers if our team was as successful as them
Yep my best mates partner all of a sudden starts going for them now. They go to all the goes and are members
I understand all premiership teams have bandwagoners but I've never seen it this bad. Still remember when Penrith used to get 8000 people to a game 10 years ago
8,000 ???
Was that a derby game against the Eels ?
In a way it's good for nrl in the west and will lead to strong juniors for all the west Sydney clubs. Eels need to capitalise
My word whenever i hear someone say "I support Penrith" my first question in reply is "When did you start? 2020? 2021?"
9/10 cannot even say who the coach was before Cleary, hell most cannot even say who the captain was in 2003 GF win.
They can't tell you or you can't understand them ?
🤣🤣🤣
The spineless people running thie club is what's been holding back this sleeping giant.
All that is needed is management with balls. Figureheads to attract corporate sponsors and stand up to the NRL.
I would seriously sell the club's vision and potential and throw multi million dollar contract at Craig Bellamy so he can bring onfield success.
Imagine if this club was winning premiships like Penriff. This club would easily and by a fair margin, be the biggest supported club in the country. It would bring in unrivalled corporate sponsors.
Zip, you make several v good points.
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