With anticipation building for the upcoming 2024 Women’s State of Origin series, record crowds and viewership are expected. This year’s series includes three games (one game more than 2023) and the NRLW is hoping to capitalise on the growing momentum of women’s sport.
In 2018, the inaugural year of Women’s Origin, 6,824 people attended. By 2023, this number had soared to a record-breaking 18,275, with over 10,000 more spectators filling the grandstand compared to the initial game.
After a dip in numbers due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the series has seen crowds grow year-on-year since 2020.
According to Natasha Soueid, a prominent columnist for The Cumberland Throw and an online NRLW content creator, there’s a palpable shift in perception surrounding women’s rugby league, driven by the grit, speed, and determination showcased in contests like the State of Origin series.
“I believe although there is a growing positive perception of the women’s game, there is still a slightly negative attitude towards women’s football and sport as a whole at present,” Soueid said.
“These ideas tend to come from those who have not watched nor experienced women’s sporting events, and many minds often change after viewing contests like the State of Origin series.”
Since its inception, there has been a steady increase in both crowd numbers and viewership for the Women’s State of Origin matches.
Viewership numbers have soared, with 2023 Game 1 capturing the attention of 919,000 viewers, compared to 690,000 viewers for Game 1 in 2018.
Soueid attributes this surge in interest to various factors, including the increased visibility of the women’s game on social media platforms and the emergence of individual personalities like Kennedy Cherrington and Jessica Sergis.
“There has most definitely been a boost in interest in the women’s game,” Soueid said. “Social media content and individual personalities like Kennedy Cherrington and Jessica Sergis have definitely played a large part.”
The transition to a three-game series for the Women’s State of Origin will only increase interest in the spectacle.
“I certainly believe that the NRLW moving toward a three game series will increase overall interest,” Soueid said.
“One of the general flaws I believed the initial series structure had was it being a two-game series decided on aggregate.”
The inaugural three-game series has already generated considerable buzz, with fans eagerly anticipating record-high attendance.
Soueid said: “The series is proving to be extremely exciting, with many selection snubs and surprises already preparing fans for what looks to be a thrilling clash.”