Last night’s Origin – won by Queensland in a thriller by 18-14 – reached a high of 2.178 million viewers according to OzTAM metro numbers.

The pre-match coverage managed 1.187 million, while 908,000 diehard fans hung about for the post-match wrap-up.

However, the numbers were down on last year’s opener that managed 2.35 million, which equates to about 172,000 viewers.

Sydney had the most Origin eyeballs with 950,000 tuning-in. Some 746,000 tuned watched in Brisbane and even 273,000 Melburnians enjoyed the match.

Chuck in regional viewers and the numbers inflate to 3.21 million.

Unsurprisingly, Nine easily won the night with a whopping 45 per cent of the audience share. Seven had 20.6 per cent, 10 did 14.6 per cent, the ABC had 14.2 per cent and SBS did 5.6 per cent.

If Origin wasn’t your cup of tea, then the other options were Anh’s Brush With Fame (565,000), House Rules (532,000) and MasterChef (531,000).

Seven news (1.105) million managed to stave off any halo effect the Origin would’ve had on Nine’s 6pm bulletin (937,000).

Other standouts for Seven were Home And Away (692,000) and The Chase (628,000).

In the battle for breakfast, Sunrise (276,000) poached Today (204,000).

10 did well with a buoyant The Project (530,000), 10 News First (444,000) and Five Bedrooms (347,000).

Over at the ABC, its 7pm news did 716,000, 7.30 had 565,000 and The Weekly With Charlie Pickering had 486,000.

Best for SBS was Going Places With Ernie Dingo that didn’t go too far, posting just 158,000.