The conclusion of the State of Origin series has set new broadcasting records, establishing itself as the most-watched game in the event’s history. Game III, which aired in 2026, achieved the distinction of being the highest-rated television program of any genre for the year, attracting a peak audience of 4.29 million viewers.

In total, an impressive 6.032 million individuals tuned in at some point during the match, which included a significant streaming audience of 1.685 million. The decider for the 2026 State of Origin series marked a historic moment in the television broadcasting of this interstate rugby league competition.

Just days after the National Rugby League (NRL) secured a groundbreaking $5.3 billion broadcasting agreement—the largest of its kind in Australian sports history—Channel Nine announced that yet another record had been surpassed.

The average audience of 4.29 million viewers witnessed New South Wales triumph over Queensland to reclaim the Origin shield on Wednesday evening. This figure narrowly surpassed this year’s Origin II, which recorded 4.286 million viewers, making it the highest-rated match across the 45 editions of the three-game series.

Moreover, the latest figure reflects a notable 9.2 percent increase compared to last year’s decider. The match not only claimed the title of the highest-rated television program of 2026 but also topped the ratings for the night in major cities including Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, and Perth.

Additionally, the streaming audience of 1.685 million represented a remarkable 70.9 percent rise compared to the equivalent game in 2025.