LeagueNews.co | Jess Malloy
The NRL's embarrassing reality was laid bare during the preliminary finals action, as the AFL proved its dominance in the code war.
The AFL's finals series has been filled with excitement and intense competition, while the NRL has also had its fair share of thrilling moments.
However, when it comes to attendance, the AFL left the NRL in its wake, with a difference of over 13,000 fans.
The NRL can no longer deny that the AFL has the upper hand in terms of crowd numbers, thanks to its larger stadiums and passionate supporters.
Even the most ardent rugby league fans would have to admit that the AFL is the clear market leader in this area.
The scenes from Friday night's game only highlighted the widening gap between the two codes.
It seems inevitable that the NRL will have to adopt Super League's approach of inflating crowd numbers, much like a Trump inauguration.
This desperate tactic may be the only way for the NRL to keep up with the AFL's impressive attendance figures.
It's clear that the NRL has some work to do if it wants to compete with the AFL in terms of attracting fans to games.
While both codes have provided plenty of entertainment on the field, the NRL needs to find a way to fill its stadiums and create a more vibrant atmosphere.
The AFL's dominance in crowd numbers is a harsh reality that the NRL can no longer ignore.
It's time for the NRL to take a hard look at itself and come up with a plan to reverse this trend.
Otherwise, the gap between the two codes will continue to widen, and the NRL will be left trailing behind its rival in terms of popularity and support.