The NRL is just a fortnight away from taking over Las Vegas for the season opener and NFL legend Rob Gronkowski is front and centre of the advertising once again.
The four-time Super Bowl champion with the Patriots and Buccaneers has been a big supporter of rugby league’s venture into the United States and believes the game has room to grow and become popular in another sports-centric country.
This year’s ad campaign kicked off on Wednesday afternoon (AEDT) with a short clip posted via the NRL’s social media channels, narrated by US media personality Colin Cowherd and brief comments from Gronkowski over a highlights package.
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“All right America, you need to see this,” Cowherd says as Reece Walsh dives over for a try in last year’s grand final win for the Broncos.
“It doesn’t ease you in, it just hits you. This is rugby league and when you bring that energy into Las Vegas, that’s your off-season solved.”
Gronkowski simply said into the camera “it’s football, but not as you know it – no pads, no armour, no timeouts” with a series of big collisions from recent seasons.
The timing for Gronkowski and Cowherd to amp up that the NRL would be coming soon is perfect, just days removed from the Seattle Seahawks claiming the Super Bowl with Australian punter Michael Dickson playing a starring role.
The first two years of the NRL season kicking off in Vegas has been a success, with tens of thousands of fans flocking to Allegiant Stadium and garnering plenty of buzz.
Canterbury and St George Illawarra will headline this year’s triple-header, with that match to be broadcast live and free on Nine and 9Now.
In the earlier matches, Super League clubs Leeds and Hull KR will do battle before the Knights and Cowboys officially start the 2026 NRL season.