In the age-old Australian battle for supremacy between the AFL and NRL, it's the AFL that has often boasted the more pleasing backdrop of filled stadiums and greater memberships.
Last week the AFL announced that it had exceeded 1 million members for the first time in its history. Round-by-round attendance figures confirm the code's dominance, drawing more than double the crowds the NRL has to August 5.
Overall the NRL can claim to have attracted more eyeballs to television sets so far this season, but that's down to the two-week head start it has on its rival code.
State of Origin — regularly the biggest TV sporting event each year — is the only thing that brings the NRL temporarily close to matching AFL's weekly TV viewing audience.
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