Comparing the Rugby League World Cup Final attendance to previous years

Yesterday saw Australia defeat Samoa in the Rugby League World Cup Final.

Inspired by a two-try display from skipper James Tedesco, Australia dominated their opponents from start to finish to lift a third consecutive World Cup.

Three was the magic number as Old Trafford became the first ground to host three World Cup Finals.

Suncorp Stadium, Sydney Cricket Ground and Wembley have all hosted too.

Old Trafford holds the record for the highest attendance at a World Cup Final at 74,468 in 2013. Yesterday’s tally of 67,502 fell short but does take third place behind the 1992 final at Wembley and beating out the 1995 final at the same venue.

This means that the top four World Cup Final attendances have all come in England.

The next highest is from 1968 at Sydney Cricket Ground.

The lowest was the last time Great Britain won the trophy in 1972 in France in front of 4,231 fans. This is a long way behind the next lowest which is at Leeds Rhinos’ Headingley Stadium with 18,776 fans watching.

Here’s the full list:

1954 France 12-16 Great Britain – Parc Des Princes – 30,368
1968 Australia 20-2 France – Sydney Cricket Ground – 52,290
1970 Australia 12-7 Great Britain – Headingley Stadium – 18,776
1972 Australia 10-10 Great Britain – Stade de Gerland – 4,231
1977 Australia 13-12 Great Britain – Sydney Cricket Ground – 24,457
1988 New Zealand 12-25 Australia – Eden Park – 47,363
1992 Great Britain 6-10 Australia – Wembley – 73,631
1995 Australia 16-8 England – Wembley – 66,540
2000 Australia 40-12 New Zealand – Old Trafford – 44,329
2008 Australia 20-34 New Zealand – Suncorp Stadium 50,509
2013 Australia 34-2 New Zealand – Old Trafford – 74,468
2017 Australia 6-0 England – Suncorp Stadium – 40,033
2022 Australia 30-10 Samoa – Old Trafford – 67,502