The AFL can usually turn to their superior crowd numbers when debating which code is the biggest in Australia.

Not this weekend.

League enjoyed a rare win over the AFL after NRL crowds outdid their AFL counterparts by more than 9,000 people throughout the weekend’s semi-finals.

The NRL’s match between Parramatta and North Queensland drew 42,187 at the Olympic stadium while down the road Greater Western Sydney drew just 14,865 for their match against the West Coast Eagles at the Sydney Show Grounds.

It was the worst AFL crowd at a final since World War I.

The dismal AFL crowd was also dwarfed by the 17,000 who watched The Matildas beat Brazil 2-1 in a friendly at Penrith's Pepper Stadium.