\n
\n
\n
![\"Former](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/amz_2466.jpg\"\/)
\n
\n
\n Former Storm halfback Brodie Croft will be one of Leeds’ key players in Vegas.
\n \u00a9SWPix
\n
\n <\/p>\n
Leeds coach Brad Arthur has ordered a Vegas dress rehearsal in Yorkshire next week – and Cameron Smith is at the centre of it.<\/p>\n
But the former Australian captain and Melbourne hooker will not be involved as the Rhinos continue their preparations for the Allegiant Stadium clash with Super League champions Hull KR on February 28 – instead a testimonial for the Rhinos back rower of the same name will be used to prepare the glamour Yorkshire side for the change in training routine necessary in Nevada.<\/p>\n
Leeds play newly promoted Bradford at Headingley on Saturday, January 24 with the 27-year-old Smith allowed to keep a large share of the gate, as per the British convention.<\/p>\n
\n 599″, “>809”, “>959″]”
\n data-eqio-prefix=”video-post-screen”
\n ref=”root”
\n ><\/p>\n
\n
\n Up Next
\n
\n
<\/p>\n
\n
\n \/
\n
\n <\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n Replay
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n Play Next
\n
\n
\n <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
NRL stars keen to build on Vegas success<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s a good opportunity for us to practice what the week might look like in Vegas,\u201d Arthur said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll be dictated to on what days we can train so it will be a bit of a practice run for the Vegas game which is in round three.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor Cam\u2019s testimonial, our main session will be two days out from the game. It\u2019s a Saturday, Thursday will be our main session, our opposed session.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn Vegas we\u2019re going to have to train on Wednesday because of our travel. It would have been nice to be able to split \u2018day on, day off\u2019 but we\u2019re going to have to go back-to-back so we\u2019re going to practice the next week.\u201d<\/p>\n
Leeds are at home to York on Friday, February 20, two weeks into the season proper.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve got the weekend off and travel on the Monday,\u201d Arthur said. \u201cWe\u2019re taking 21 players and we return the next day after the game and we\u2019ve got the Sunday game against Castleford.\u201d<\/p>\n
Halfback Brodie Croft said Arthur and his staff had already done their utmost to minimise the distraction the Sin City visit might be to players.<\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n Former Storm halfback Brodie Croft will be one of Leeds’ key players in Vegas.
\n \u00a9SWPix
\n
\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cWe spoke about it very early on,\u201d said Croft. \u201cThe backroom staff have been very good at just setting up the itinerary and making sure it\u2019s all set before the season starts so that once we get to the season, it\u2019s just go from there.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s round three for us. It\u2019s a big occasion round three, definitely, but it is round three.\u201d<\/p>\n
Arthur agreed a poorly managed Vegas trip could wreak havoc on Leeds\u2019 season and said he had never faced a comparative challenge in his coaching career, which at the top level started at Parramatta in 2012.<\/p>\n
\u201cNot really – because of the length of travel and we haven\u2019t got the luxury of going two weeks early so it\u2019s a week,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut our staff have been looking at a lot of the time zones and trying to work out the boys\u2019 sleep so we\u2019ll have a conversation with the players once we get a bit closer to that.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s just way too much at stake with the Challenge Cup games and rounds one and two for us to be worrying about that too early in the piece.<\/p>\n
\u201cThen obviously when we come back, the recovery part of it\u2019s going to be important. We\u2019re really grateful to the Super League that we\u2019ve got a Sunday game on the back of it so that will help.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen we come back – I don\u2019t want to get too far ahead – we might have to look at maximising the strength of the squad and giving some other guys an opportunity.\u201d<\/p>\n
On the injury front, youngster Alfie Edgell (ankle) is set to miss the round one clash with Leigh while Arthur said there was still a slight doubt over winger Maika Siva, who missed all of last year with a knee injury.<\/p>\n
\n 599″, “>809”, “>959″]”
\n data-eqio-prefix=”video-post-screen”
\n ref=”root”
\n ><\/p>\n
\n
\n Up Next
\n
\n
<\/p>\n
\n
\n \/
\n
\n <\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n Replay
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n Play Next
\n
\n
\n <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Maika Sivo’s 2024 try-scoring season<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s a big man so we\u2019ve probably taken it a bit slower and we need to make sure we get it right,\u201d Arthur said of the Fijian star.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s 27 rounds. It\u2019s a long season so we\u2019re just making sure that he\u2019s completely comfortable, we\u2019re completely comfortable, we\u2019ve got enough run into him … just the timing of when he comes back in.<\/p>\n
\u201cIs it round one? Is it a couple of days after that? We need to get a run before that. It\u2019s a week-to-week proposition. He\u2019s extremely close but it\u2019s hard to put a date on it.\u201d<\/p>\n