claims from St George Illawarra coach Shane Flanagan that his highly controversial moment late in their Las Vegas Golden Point thriller was \u201ca loose carry every day of the week\u201d.<\/a><\/p>\nFlanagan took aim at the refereeing after his side suffered a heartbreaking loss in extra time, courtesy of a clutch Stephen Crichton field goal, saying the game was \u201cnot decided in the right way\u201d.<\/p>\n
Towards the end of extra time, Canterbury gained their strong field position after Dragons backrower Ryan Couchman was penalised for stripping the ball from Xerri \u2013 a decision Flanagan blasted afterwards.<\/p>\n
Speaking himself after the game however, Xerri disagreed.<\/p>\n
\u201cDefinitely a strip,\u201d he said. \u201cI was confident and if [the referee] had said it was a knock on I would\u2019ve definitely told Critter to challenge it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Then told how Flanagan said it was a loose carry every day of the week, Xerri continued: \u201cNah, nah, nah, I practice that [holding the ball] every training session. It was definitely a strip.\u201d<\/p>\n
But as for how he was feeling that moment the Steeden came out?<\/p>\n
\u201cAh, look, I just hoped the ref would make the right call,\u201d the Bulldog shrugged. \u201cBut like I said, I back myself. And if he didn\u2019t make the right call I would\u2019ve told Critter to challenge it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Crichton lucky to avoid the bin? | 00:33<\/p>\n
NFL REPORTER\u2019S STUNNING PRAISE FOR NRL STARS<\/p>\n
An American NFL journalist has heaped praise on Australia\u2019s rugby league stars after covering his first NRL Las Vegas experience, declaring: \u201cI think you guys aren\u2019t only as tough as NFL players, but tougher\u201d.<\/p>\n
Speaking high up in the Allegiant Stadium media box on Saturday night, Las Vegas Raiders beat writer Mike Dixon heaped praise on the NRL athletes after covering the entire week for Vegas Sports Today.<\/p>\n
Dixon told us that while this was his second year at the event, he had initially attended in 2025 as a fan.<\/p>\n
\u201cLast year I came as a spectator,\u201d the NFL journalist explained. \u201cTickets to this event are really affordable, and I chose not to work as media because I really wanted to have a true fan experience, understand why this game is so big in Australia.<\/p>\n
\u201c[Laughs] And that first time around, I didn\u2019t even know what a try was. Didn\u2019t know it was a touchdown.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut now this year, I\u2019ve been given an even better insight again.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve learned so much more covering the players, the coaches \u2026 and your fan base is awesome too.\u201d<\/p>\n
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – FEBRUARY 28: Supporters during the round one NRL match between Canterbury Bulldogs and St George Illawarra Dragons at Allegiant Stadium on February 28, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock\/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n
So as for how Saturday night\u2019s games compared to his usual beat?<\/p>\n
\u201cNRL players are so powerful, so durable,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd to see these guys doing it without constructed plays like in the NFL, it really is incredible. You guys just pitch the ball and go. You just drop the shoulders with no pads, no helmets, it\u2019s absolutely brutal, man.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou guys aren\u2019t only as tough as NFL players, but tougher. I really believe that.\u201d<\/p>\n
So you\u2019re a fan?<\/p>\n
\u201cAbsolutely,\u201d Dixon grinned. \u201cNow, I just have to pick a team.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd I\u2019m an underdog guy. I\u2019m from Florida. A big Miami Dolphins fan. So I have to find my Dolphins in the NRL \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
Um, mate, we have a Dolphins.<\/p>\n
\u201cReally? Perfect,\u201d he grinned. \u201cI\u2019m going to look into those guys.\u201d<\/p>\n
HEAVY HITTERS DESCEND ON ALLEGIANT<\/p>\n
There were plenty of heavy hitters inside Allegiant Stadium for the 2026 NRL Las Vegas blockbuster. Among those in the VIP section were the likes of James Packer, Nick Politis, Mark Bouris and DAZN founder, Len Blavatnik. Las Vegas Raiders guard Atonio Mafi was also there, seated alongside defensive tackle Thomas Booker IV. Up in the press box, there were also 20 accredited journalists from various US outlets including CBS, Fox 5 and the New York Post.<\/p>\n
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – FEBRUARY 25: Daniel Vidot, Shingirai Hlanguyo and Esteban Tupuola pose together during a Newcastle Knights NRL training session at Kelogg Soccer Complex on February 25, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock\/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n
US PROSPECT ON NRL CLUBS\u2019 RADAR<\/p>\n
NRL scouts have been urged to keep a close eye on a hyped American prospect whose 100m PB is 10.52 seconds \u2013 and has been likened to barnstorming Penrith winger Brian To\u2019o.<\/p>\n
On Friday night here in Las Vegas, Shingirai Hlanguyo was part of an American Hawks team that came home to beat Scotland 28-20 after trailing by two points at halftime. A group of Hawks players were also then spotted inside Allegiant Stadium on Saturday night, celebrating their win under new US coach Adam Woolnough.<\/p>\n
A former South African sprint champion, Hlanguyo currently represents the LA Roosters and has received high praise from Woolnough, who told us this week how the destructive runner \u201creminds me of Brian To\u2019o\u201d. Twice crowned South Africa\u2019s junior 100m champion, the livewire arrived Stateside after accepting a scholarship from the California State University.<\/p>\n
“Sandon slotted in perfectly when needed | 09:42<\/p>\n
FRONTRUNNER EMERGES FOR GLOBAL ROUND<\/p>\n
London is the new clubhouse leader for the NRL\u2019s global push, ahead of Miami, Nashville, Dubai and Singapore. There has even been talk of playing a match as part of a World Club Challenge double header next year. Of course, such a move comes with several complications given Australia\u2019s Club Challenge entrant won\u2019t be known until October. When it comes to next year\u2019s Las Vegas event, Parramatta are being whispered as the first team to lock down a spot of the potential contenders.<\/p>\n
COWBOYS ALL CLASS IN VEGAS<\/p>\n
Despite losing their NRL Las Vegas season opener, a huge shout out must be given to the North Queensland Cowboys, who were easily the most accessible side in the build to Saturday\u2019s Allegiant Stadium. And it started on day one, when the club offered up both Reed Mahoney and Matt Lodge to travelling media. The Townsville boys are also set to prove a huge hit with locals after suggesting they will be donating all their training gear for a potential rugby league program in Las Vegas. Given the limitations placed on travelling teams regarding equipment, the Cowboys went and bought a heap of gear from a nearby Dicks Sporting Goods store, which will now be passed on to locals looking to grow the game in local high schools.<\/p>\n
‘Ponga plays on,Mikaele is out 6 weeks!” | 02:45<\/p>\n
PAYTEN\u2019S BRUTAL ASK<\/p>\n
Still on North Queensland, and the players must now prepare to go straight from one sporting mecca to another. After opening their season inside the $2 billion Allegiant Stadium, the Townsville boys will now have their next clash inside Sydney\u2019s answer to The Death Star \u2026 Leichhardt Oval. In a serious aside, at least two of the NRL clubs who competed on the weekend have already spoken with players about the emotional dump that will have occurred on Saturday night, and provided ways for them to overcome that in time for Round 2.<\/p>\n
UFC STAR HANDS DOWN VEGAS VERDICT<\/p>\n
UFC middleweight Caio Borrahlo was inside Allegiant Stadium for the NRL Las Vegas games on Saturday, and described the atmosphere and NRL athletes as \u201camazing\u201d. \u201cWhat an experience,\u201d the fighter told us. \u201cIt\u2019s amazing to see how high intensity sports can link cultures. And when you put this in a stage like Las Vegas, you definitely see that sports become a universal language. I\u2019m blessed to be part of it\u201d. While a scheduling clash kept Dana White away, the UFC boss told us this week he is happy to assist the NRL in growing its footprint Stateside.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Bulldogs superstar Matt Burton has sensationally declared himself interested in becoming an NFL punter, saying of a potential…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":513263,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[559],"tags":[64,63,593,85],"class_list":["post-513262","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-nfl","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-nfl","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/513262","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=513262"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/513262\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/513263"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=513262"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=513262"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=513262"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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