Welcome to our live coverage from Las Vegas as the National Rugby League kicks off the 2026 season in Sin City.

In the game’s third year under the bright lights of Vegas, a stripped back schedule will see Super League clubs Hull KR and Leeds Rhinos do battle, before Newcastle takes on North Queensland and Canterbury begins its campaign against St George Illawarra.

Follow all the action and talking points in our live blog below.

STARS WILL TURN HYPE INTO HITS

– Brent Read

After all the talk, it’s time for some action.

Plenty has been written about the fans who have flooded into Las Vegas, the way it is a showpiece for the game and how it puts the NRL on the world stage.

Now it’s over to the players to live up to the hype.

After all, as well as the ultimate showcase of the game, it is also the opening round and has the potential to define the season for these clubs.

Canterbury, St George Illawarra, Newcastle and North Queensland completed their preparations with separate captain’s runs at Allegiant Stadium on Friday (local time).

Bulldogs chairman Adam Driussi has declared that Stephen Crichton will go down as one of the greatest signings in the club’s history as the inspirational skipper prepares to launch Canterbury’s premiership assault in Vegas.

Crichton has been a revelation since joining the Bulldogs from Penrith and was rewarded with a five-year mega-extension late last season that aligned his future with that of coach Cameron Ciraldo and head of football Phil Gould. The deal reflected his impact on the club since his arrival – Crichton has become not only their captain, but their talisman.

He, along with Knights captain Kalyn Ponga, Cowboys skipper Scott Drinkwater and Dragons counterpart Clint Gutherson will be the ones expected to lead the way in the US.

Driussi compared Crichton’s aura to Brisbane sensation Reece Walsh and believes he will finish his tenure at the Bulldogs being spoken about in the same breath as club legend Terry Lamb.

“I think he is one of the greatest signings we’ve had, for sure,” Driussi said.

“Right now with Terry Lamb, he’s on the podium, He’s fantastic the way he’s transformed (the club) …. having a captain like that has been a huge thing as well.

“You see it on the field. When he’s on the field, he’s the one essentially coaching them when they’re out there.

“It has been incredible. I actually said this to Gus (Gould) the other day, do you think Critter (Crichton) himself knew when he came just how good a leader he was going to be because he wasn’t even in the leadership group at Penrith? I was excited that we recruited him, but I didn’t realise we were getting the leader that we got – and I didn’t realise that a single player could have such a big impact on a group of guys.

“It’s everything; from the way that he brings music to the bus and to the training sessions, to the way he speaks to the players about the expectations, it’s the way he lifts them on the field.

“It’s a unique sort of captain. He’s a modern-day captain with how professional he is. The rest of the players just want to do what he does.”

Crichton’s challenge now is to lead the Bulldogs to a title – they won their last premiership more than 20 years ago. It’s been too long between drinks for one of the most passionate supporter groups in the NRL.

Crichton, though, has given them genuine hope that another premiership is around the corner and they have the opportunity to stamp themselves as title challenges against St George Illawarra at Allegiant Stadium.

The Dogs will head into that game as clear favourites after making huge strides last year – they finished in the top four but were bundled out in the finals in straight sets.

“He’s an amazing guy, he’s got a real aura around him within the club,” Driussi said.

“You see that with his teammates. It’s just this aura-X factor that’s around him – his teammates look up to him and respect him.

“But then you’ve got an event like at the Fan Fest where I just thought it was rock star material. He’s just got that.”