LeagueNews.co | Jess Malloy
In an embarrassing turn of events, the NRL's decision to have the Penrith Panthers play their home preliminary final against the Storm at Accor Stadium has backfired.
The crowd turnout was disappointing, with only 35,000 fans showing up compared to the raucous crowd at the MCG for the AFL's preliminary final.
The Panthers showcased their dominance, proving why they are the back-to-back reigning champions of the NRL.
Led by Nathan Cleary and their formidable forward pack, they obliterated the Storm with a scoreline of 38-4.
However, fans have expressed their disillusionment with the NRL's decision to move the game away from Penrith's home ground, BlueBet Stadium.
With a capacity of only 22,500 fans, the stadium was deemed too small for a preliminary final.
There were concerns that the Panthers would struggle to even fill half of the 83,000-seat Accor Stadium.
To add insult to injury, Accor Stadium members were offered two-for-one ticket deals, while others obtained free entry using online codes.
Despite these efforts to boost attendance, the atmosphere fell short of expectations.
According to Aus Stadiums, a little over 35,000 fans attended the game at Accor Stadium, which is only 44% of its capacity.
In comparison, the AFL preliminary final between Collingwood and GWS at the MCG drew a crowd of 97,000 fans, creating an electric atmosphere.
The stark contrast between the empty stands at the Panthers' home game and the vibrant AFL crowd has drawn criticism from viewers.
These disappointing crowd scenes have raised concerns for NRL bosses, who may need to have a serious discussion in the coming weeks regarding the handling of next year's finals.
The NRL will need to address the issue of attracting larger crowds and creating a more engaging atmosphere to compete with the AFL's success in this aspect.