KIERSTEN DUKE: UK is next place that should host NRL season opener after Las Vegas success
The sport is entering a golden era and this is where it could next play a competition game overseas.
Rugby league isn’t just holding its ground in Australia’s crowded sporting landscape, it’s charging forward internationally.
Right now the numbers, the ambition, and the global reach all point to one thing … this is a sport on the rise.
Let’s start with the cold hard statistics. The NRL is coming off a record-breaking 2025 season that firmly stamped rugby league as a ratings juggernaut.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.The grand final alone pulled an average audience of around 4.5 million viewers, making it the most watched television programme in Australia for the year. And did I mention it (crucially) eclipsed the AFL decider for the first time in a decade.
Haters will claim it was a one-off spike being the grand final. But it wasn’t. Across the board, under the guidance of Peter V’landys, the sport is trending upward.
Total viewership hit over 224 million across Australia and New Zealand - a jump of nearly 10 per cent year on year.
Finals ratings surged by 32 per cent, while the regular season itself enjoyed double-digit growth.
Even early 2026 numbers show the momentum hasn’t slowed with average attendance (outside of Vegas) in rounds one and two increasing by 30 per cent. Shout out to Alex Johnson for contributing heavily to this increase as fans tuned in to see him set a new league record of 213 tries on Friday night.
What’s driving that momentum is the product itself. The modern NRL game is faster, higher-scoring and built for pure entertainment.
It’s also not just eyeballs on screens. Stats show nearly five million fans attended games in the 2025 season. A figure that has steadily climbed over the past decade. Participation is booming, social media is exploding and younger audiences are increasingly consuming the game via streaming platforms in record numbers.
Now mixed amongst this recent success is an extra layer of ambition. The NRL’s venture into Las Vegas is the clearest signal yet that this code is thinking globally.
The experiment isn’t just a gimmick, it’s already delivering growth, with viewership for the Vegas event up each year and millions tuning in back home.
It’s a bold play. You’re taking a foreign sport and dropping it into the entertainment capital of the world. Yes, the US market remains a long-term project, but there’s no denying the building success. The intent with this move is unmistakable. Rugby league is exporting itself.
Whisper amongst the leaguesphere suggest London feels like the logical next step. The UK is already a rugby league nation, particularly in the north of England, and the idea of a season opener or showcase event there isn’t far fetched. At this point I’d argue it’s inevitable if this growth trajectory continues. Vegas proved the concept. London could cement it.
Now I’m about to trigger some people. AFL fans to be precise, who, respectfully, aren’t hard to trigger. So, let’s compare the figures to the AFL. Granted still a powerhouse, no question, but showing signs of plateauing in key areas. While the AFL continues to dominate attendance, its television numbers have softened slightly. Dare I speculate that fans are converting to the more exciting, now global, sport of rugby league?
OK, enough rage-baiting the AFL fans, this isn’t about declaring a winner in the code wars. It’s about momentum and right now rugby league has it.
What’s driving that momentum is the product itself. The modern NRL game is faster, higher-scoring and built for pure entertainment.
Whether you love or hate rule tweaks like the six again, there’s no denying they’ve contributed to a spectacle that keeps fans hooked. And in a world where attention is currency, that matters.
There’s also a cultural edge. Rugby league feels accessible, tribal and raw in a way that resonates with a broad audience. It’s not just a sport people watch, it’s one they feel.
So, when you put it all together, record ratings, growing crowds, international expansion and a product built for the modern viewer, the conclusion is hard to ignore.
Rugby league is on the rise.
