I suppose the big difference is that the NRL has some sort of international league & they do visit other countries, for example the RL world cup is held in England & the final held in Old Trafford, the famous home ground of probably the most famous (not successful) team in the world, so the League media over there would understand how big football is.
Whereas the AFL media wants their people to think they invented women's sport & introduced sport to China, such a bubble they are in.