I recently came across this feature from The Daily Telegraph that was published in its Monday sport section Final Score on July 25, 2005. In the middle of the liftout (and the newspaper itself) is a two-page photo spread and article on the AFL and NRL fixtures played the previous day, which attracted large crowds
The main photo is from the Round 20 NRL match between Wests Tigers and South Sydney that was played at Leichhardt oval. The photo features the hill at full capacity with the match proceeding under shade in the foreground. A ground record was set that day - 22,877, which still remains in 2025. Wests Tigers won 42-20 and would go on to become the NRL premiers that year
Source: Hooper, J. 2005. "Sydney's day in the sun". The Daily Telegraph, July 24: 36-37.
On the top right is a photo of Sydney Swans fans cheering their team onto victory against the West Coast Eagles at the Sydney Cricket Ground in Round 17 of the AFL Premiership. Sydney won (13.10 ) 88 to West Coast (9.13) 67. Just over 37,000 were in attendance, and for the West Coast Eagles, it was just their second loss of the 2005 AFL Season.
The Sydney Swans would also go on to become AFL Premiers in 2005, their first in Sydney and their first in 72 years since they were known as South Melbourne. Coincidentally, they defeated the West Coast Eagles in the 2005 Grand Final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Below that photo, there are two photos from the St George Illawarra vs Cronulla NRL match at Kogarah Oval. Another "full house" with 17,000 attending the local derby and grudge match between the two southern suburbs sides. St George prevailed 16-10.
On the left are two photos from the Wests Tigers vs South Sydney match. At top left are fans sitting on the roof of a home backing onto the stadium, and below a group of youngsters captured by a photographer in the crowd.
