NRL in Vegas: Travel Chaos, Star Sightings & Player Adventures
LAS VEGAS – The arrival of the NRL in Las Vegas hasn’t been without its bumps, both on and off the field. While the excitement builds for Saturday’s tripleheader at Allegiant Stadium, logistical challenges and a bit of star power have marked the lead-up to the historic event.
NRL leadership, including Peter V’landys and Andrew Abdo, experienced a travel hiccup on Wednesday Australian time when their charter flight was forced to turn around due to air conditioning issues. The unexpected return to Sydney caused a stir, with passengers’ phones buzzing with messages as they landed just two hours after takeoff. Despite the disruption, there was ultimately little concern once the issue was deemed quickly resolvable.
Among those on the flight was 2GB Continuous Call commentator and former Bulldogs and Dragons centre Josh Morris, who arrived in Las Vegas well-prepared, sporting Qantas pyjamas and enjoying eight hours of sleep during the 13-hour journey. Rugby League Players Association chief executive Clint Newton was also observed in conversation with V’landys and Abdo throughout the flight.
The flight wasn’t solely occupied by league officials, and players. It was heavily populated with fans of the Newcastle Knights, who nearly depleted the plane’s supply of James Boag’s beer during a 90-minute stopover in Sydney. A total of four charter flights transported supporters, executives, staff, and media to Las Vegas for the event.
The off-field entertainment extended to a meeting between St George Illawarra Dragons players and cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia at UFC headquarters. Opetaia, presented with a Dragons jersey, playfully revealed his allegiance to the South Sydney Rabbitohs, citing a childhood connection through former teammate Willis Meehan. “I’m a Souths boy and I bleed [NSW] blue,” Opetaia said. “One of the boys made Souths when we were young, Willis Meehan. He started getting gear, so we started wearing Souths gear around.”
Opetaia, currently preparing for his next bout against Brandon Ganton, acknowledged the publicity often garnered by NRL players venturing into boxing, stating, “If you’re a good fighter, the world titles will come, so just shut up and do your job.”
The Dragons also took advantage of their time off with a round of golf at the Las Vegas National Golf Club, where recruits Daniel Atkinson, Damien Cook, Blake Lawrie, and Hamish Stewart emerged victorious.
Meanwhile, Canterbury Bulldogs forward Harry Hayes found himself unexpectedly immortalized on a billboard adorning Allegiant Stadium. “We drove past [the stadium] on the way in the first night, and we drive past it every day. The first day, Harry Hayes was up on the screen. He was very impressed with himself,” remarked Bulldogs second-rower Jacob Preston.
The Bulldogs continued their preparations with a training session at the UFC gym, where they crossed paths with mixed-martial arts Hall of Famer Forrest Griffin and UFC featherweight Diego Lopes. Hull KR, fresh off their World Club Challenge triumph over the Broncos, also utilized the UFC gym for training. However, due to the quick turnaround from that match, the Hull KR squad will delay their exploration of Las Vegas nightlife until after their Saturday clash against Leeds Rhinos.
On the field, the schedule at Allegiant Stadium promises a compelling start to the NRL season. The day will kick off with a Super League battle between Hull KR and Leeds Rhinos at 4:00 PM local time (11:00 AM AEDT), followed by two NRL matchups: the Newcastle Knights versus the North Queensland Cowboys, and the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs versus the St. George Illawarra Dragons. Fans attending the event will have the opportunity to win “The Ultimate Aussie Travel Experience,” including round-trip flights, accommodation, and tickets to the NRL Grand Final in Sydney, by scanning a QR code at the stadium and completing a memory match game. A runner-up prize, a Caesars Entertainment Package, is also available.
The Roosters are also contributing to the international expansion of the game, with their men’s team coached by premiership-winner Luke Keary and featuring emerging players like Lachie Dooner. Roosters chairman Nick Politis has long advocated for growing the game in the United States, particularly in California, and established the LA Roosters last year.