Unfortunately you are spot on. A large number of my friends, nearly all of whom grew up playing rugby, do not watch Super Rugby with any commitment. Maybe a few watched an occasional game in Super Rugby AU. Some of them will go to club rugby a couple of times a year. Nearly all of them watch Rugby League. Every week. Multiple games. They know all the players and they talk about it.Riiiiight.
Australians will turn away from watching the premier rugby league and Aussie rules comps in the world to watch 3rd and 4th rate rugby players have a go.
All because a Sydney team has the chance to beat a Qld or Perth team?
Most Australians won't care about a domestic comp when they know that as soon as any Australian team plays against real competition, whether at Super Rugby or Test level, they are likely to get walloped.
RA has to hope they can drag these fans back to watch rugby.
Dyed in the wool NRL or AFL fans could not give 2 shits about rugby.