NSW claimed a series win over favourites Queensland, with the decider drawing upwards of six million viewers, just behind this series’ game two—making it the second most-watched ever.
Underdogs New South Wales stunned Queensland at Suncorp Stadium on last night night, winning 30-12 in a State of Origin decider that lived up to every bit of its billing. Despite Queensland heading into the match as clear favourites off the back of their game two domination, it was the Blues who found another gear when it mattered, powered by man of the match, Nathan Cleary.
The match wasn’t without drama. Rooster’s Captain James Tedesco was forced from the field with a head knock late in the first half and failed to return after failing a HIA, while Origin debutant Jack Bostock suffered the same fate. Reece Walsh, overlooked for the first two games of the series, finally got his shot in but wasn’t able to bring it home. Blues try scorers included Cleary, Cameron Murray, Bradman Best and Hudson Young. Queensland’s response came through Hamiso Tabuai-Fifita, Selwyn Cobbo and Jojo Fifita.
Fittingly, the ratings matched the occasion. Nine’s coverage of the match delivered a total TV national reach of 6,032,000 and an average audience of 4,290,000, with a further 1,685,000 streaming via BVOD.
The reach eclipses last year’s game three decider, which drew 5,657,000 in reach and was at the time billed as the biggest Origin audience since 2016. Game two in this series drew an average audience of 4,294,000.
Elsewhere, SBS’s FIFA World Cup coverage continued to draw solid crowds, with Switzerland’s penalty shootout win over Colombia pulling in a national reach of 1,893,000 and an average audience of 626,000, while Argentina’s 3-2 comeback against Egypt pulled in 930,000 in reach with an average audience of 453,000.
Quiz shows managed to remain in the top ten with Nine’s Tipping Point Australia coming in seventh with a national reach of 1,550,000 and an average audience of 823,000. Seven’s The Chase Australia was close behind in eight with a national reach of 1,467,000 and an average audience of 723,000.
ABC’s Spicks and Specks returned for a new season, with Adam Hills, Myf Warhurst and Alan Brough joined by guests including Missy Higgins. It pulled in a national reach of 827,000 with an average audience of 279,000.
