The NSWRU managed to take it to the edge through their arrogance and belittling of the fanbase. The QRU really don't want to take that risk, especially with the ARU in such financial dire straights.
At the end of the day, people support the game for a variety of reasons: habit, traditions, nostalgia for the older ones amongst us. The thing is, we have an ever-diminishing support base, even if our teams are winning and playing wonderful rugby. That's because the game is an acquired taste, and very people every year have the opportunity to acquire the taste. Fewer schools are playing the game, the advent of professionalism has changed the amateur ethos which produced lots of volunteers to run junior and even senior teams, and of course our main competitors are swamping the media - particularly, of course, FTA.
On the other hand, for all your reminiscences of the golden age of the nineties, I remember attending a Test match against France in the sixties which drew the princely crowd of about 7,000 at the SCG. So maybe the cycle will turn again, although I did think that the Tahs winning the comp would generate a revival, at least in Sydney.
Apparently not. As for the Reds, their fall for grace is absolutely stunning. I really fear that this time around, lost fans are lost permanently, there is far too much competition for people's leisure time.