Fans in regional areas took the number of people tuning in to both games to more than 1 million nationally and along with the Storm-Broncos clashes in round 26, which drew a television audience of 723,000 in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Perth, they were among the three most watched regular season matches.

Red and green all over again: Sam Burgess. Credit:Getty Images

The return of Burgess after a 12-month stint in English rugby union should ensure even bigger viewing numbers this season, with the hype around the dual international likely to be similar to that when Sonny Bill Williams joined Sydney Roosters in 2013 after a five-year absence from the NRL.

Burgess' decision to quit Bath and return to Souths on a three-year deal dominated weekend headlines in Australia and England and he will be an even bigger star than he was before he left at the end of the 2014 season after leading the Rabbitohs to their first premiership in 43 years.

However, Fairfax Media was told Nine and the NRL were well advanced in discussions about the 2016 draw before the return of Burgess was confirmed last Friday and intend to stick with their plan for the Cowboys to host the season opener after winning the grand final.