Fantastic attendance recorded at Rugby League World Cup Final as Australia defeat Samoa

Australia have been crowned World Champions once again.

Following in the footsteps of the women’s side who claimed a third consecutive title earlier today as they ploughed through New Zealand, Mal Meninga’s men’s side continued their ultra dominance over international rugby by winning a third consecutive Rugby League World Cup Final against a third different opponent.

After losing the 2008 final to New Zealand, the Kangaroos have beaten the Kiwis in 2013, England in 2017 and now Samoa in 2022.

Their wins over the Kiwis and Samoans have both come in the UK at Manchester United’s Old Trafford, home to the Super League Grand Final which earlier this year saw St Helens defeat Leeds Rhinos.

That final brought an attendance of just over 60,000 which was the lowest since 2001 except for the 2020 and 2021 finals which were both hit by the pandemic.

Today’s double header of World Cup Finals saw 67,502 fans in the stadium in what organisers called the highest grossing game of all time going into the fixture.

It is unsurprisingly the highest attendance of the tournament beating out the two 40,000 strong crowds for both the opener between England and Samoa at St James’ Park and last week’s semi-final between England and the same opposition.

It doesn’t top the accumulative attendance from last week’s semi-finals either which was 68,000.

It is also lower than the 74,446 attendance attracted by the 2013 final at the same venue.