"So many empty seats": NRL's finals attendance problem laid bare

In the same weekend which saw 100,021 pack the MCG for the country’s first regular season NFL game, the NRL failed to crack 100,000 fans across the first week of finals.

The Sharks v Cowboys elimination final only drew 17,429 on Saturday night but even more concerning for the NRL, Sunday afternoon’s qualifying final between the Roosters and Panthers drew a crowd of just 22, 148.

It has led SEN’s Jimmy Smith to question the NRL’s strategy for finals and what more can be done to attract more supporters for the remainder of the 2026 finals series.

“You know who needs to pull up their socks? All of those people who didn’t go to games over the weekend in Sydney,” Smith said on SEN 1170.

“There were so many empty seats in great stadiums from across the weekend.

“CommBank Stadium is a great stadium. There were very poor crowds for three of the four games.

“28,152 fans for Friday night was unders for Rabbitohs v Knights.

“17,429 is desperate unders for Sharks v Cowboys.

“The Warriors sold their game out. They did their job.

“I reckon the figures (for Panthers v Roosters & Sharks v Cowboys) are fudged as well.

“There was no way there were 22,000 people in that stadium on Sunday.

“It’s really disappointing but now these teams all get another opportunity.

“Roosters v Sharks, Saturday night, Allianz Stadium, in your backyard. There has to be at least 30,000 there. Is that outrageous to say? Am I being conservative?

“Why do we have to say (get to games) to Sydney sports fans? I know for a fact that 82,500 fans would’ve bought tickets to go to the NFL at Accor Stadium.”

As they have done all season, the Warriors were able to sell out their Qualifying Final against the Dolphins at Go Media Stadium. The demand for finals tickets was so overwhelming that the NRL have moved the Warriors’ semi-final against Newcastle to Eden Park.

Warriors CEO Cameron George told *SEN *that ticket affordability is a major consideration for his organisation. George explained that the Warriors would rather sell tickets for less in order to ensure a sell-out every match.

“I understand it will be around 48,500 at Eden Park which would be a NZ record for rugby league,” George said on SEN 1170. “Our ticket sales and our following used to be dictated and governed by the results of the games.

“We have invested more in our game day experience. We want people to come and experience an event and the footy is part of that, not the just event itself.

“We have kids and families in the crowd who are just there for the action around the game. They aren’t leaving the ground completely hung up on the result.

“The experience they have brings them back the next time and the time after that.

“We don’t overprice ourselves either. We could make a lot more money with less people here or we could have a full stadium atmosphere.

“Our sponsors then start to look at paying more money and our merch sales go up.

“I’d rather have a full stadium with $20 tickets than a half filled stadium with $45 tickets.”