A world record crowd for a women’s rugby league match watched Queensland level the three-match State of Origin series against New South Wales on Thursday with a last-gasp 11-10 win.
Some 25,872 fans flocked to McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle, north of Sydney, as popularity of the game soars, a trait seen across women’s sport in Australia.
Torrential rain kept many away with more than 30,000 tickets sold before kickoff.
It follows nearly 77,000 watching a women’s football friendly between Australia and China in Sydney on Monday.
The attendance in Newcastle broke the previous record of 25,492 set in the series opener in Brisbane last month, which NSW won 22-12 with the inter-state showdown heading to decider later this month.
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After demands from players, the women’s State of Origin has expanded from one game in 2022 to two last year, and now three to put them on a par with the men.
Each match since 2022 has attracted more fans than the previous one.
“Women’s rugby league is fast, it’s skilful, it’s exciting, and fans are responding in droves,” NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo said ahead of the match.
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The men’s State of Origin, also contested between NSW and Queensland, is one of the premier events on the Australian sporting calendar.
Queensland thrashed NSW 38-10 in the series opener on Wednesday in front of 77,000 spectators.
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