The four remaining teams in the race for the AFL Premiership Cup are now decided and the TV ratings are in.
While Saturday in the NRL, both the Storm and Cowboys got to flex their muscles.
Seven screened the final match of the second weekend of AFL Finals.
Nine showed two games with the final match of the first weekend of NRL Finals to be played Sunday afternoon.
AFL headline number: Giants v Lions 912,000 Total TV National Average
As the third quarter of the GWS Giants and Brisbane Lions game started it looked like it might be curtains for the Queensland team. Nearly halfway through the quarter the Lions trailed Giants by 44 points. But then successive runs of five goals and then six in the last quarter saw the Lions win by five points.
It’s being called the ultimate choke by the Giants and one of the greatest comebacks ever in AFL Finals.
AFL TV ratings Giants v Lions
2,601,000 Total TV National Reach
912,000 Total TV National Average
NRL headline numbers
Cowboys v Knights 718,000 Total TV National Average
Storm v Sharks 567,000 Total TV National Average
The evening match between the Cowboys and Knights in Townsville not surprisingly drew the biggest TV crowd. After trailing at half time, the Cowboys got the score back to 16-all near the end of the match. The Cowboys look the one thing that might stand in the way of a Storm-Panthers NRL Grand Final. It was another finals away loss for Newcastle who have not won on the road at this time of year since 2013.
See also: Why the NRL wants Paramount to enter bidding war for next round of NRL TV rights
NRL TV ratings Cowboys v Knights
1,530,000 Total TV National Reach
718,000 Total TV National Average
92,000 BVOD National Average
Melbourne Storm looks unstoppable after another demolition. The gap between the two teams was just four points at half time. But the lead blew out in the second half with Storm scoring four tries. The Sharks will need to regroup for next week after losing their seventh straight finals appearance on Saturday night.
NRL TV ratings Storm v Sharks
1,377,000 Total TV National Reach
567,000 Total TV National Average
63,000 BVOD National Average