From the minute you step onto the famous Las Vegas Strip, rugby league hits you square between the eyes. The game has taken over the entertainment capital of the world once more.
This time, world champions Hull KR and heavyweights Leeds Rhinos have joined the NRL’s United States extravaganza.
Wednesday’s official fan hub launch showed exactly why the NRL’s Vegas vision need Super League’s presence. Hosted at Resorts World, all six clubs came together for an afternoon dedicated to the travelling faithful: Newcastle Knights, North Queensland Cowboys, Canterbury Bulldogs, St George Illawarra Dragons, Hull KR and Leeds Rhinos.
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High-profile names including James Graham, Sam Thaiday, John Dorahy and Mike Smith were among those soaking up the atmosphere, happily posing for pictures with anyone who asked. Then came the players themselves: signing sessions, selfies, and a captains’ launch played out in front of a packed house.
In that moment, one thing became clear – Super League fans bring the noise.
Hull KR and Leeds Rhinos supporters battled to be the loudest voices in the room, outnumbering their Australian counterparts. Across my first 24 hours in Las Vegas, it has been Rovers shirts leading the way along the strip. Around 12,000 Super League fans are believed to have made the trip to Sin City for Saturday’s showdown, and their presence is impossible to ignore.
“We’re Hull Kingston Rovers” and “We’re Leeds Rhinos” rang out repeatedly during the captain’s launch at Resorts World – the two loudest chants of the afternoon – as players were treated like A-list celebrities. Back home, they are stars within their own cities. But here in Las Vegas, the spotlight feels amplified, magnified by the setting.
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On stage, Mikey Lewis declared that Hull KR boast the best fans in the world.
“The best travelling supporters in the world. Six thousand here – and we want to pay them back,” said the livewire No.6.
Rovers CEO Paul Lakin said Wednesday’s events had truly kick-started an action-packed schedule, while Leeds sporting director Ian Blease acknowledged the significance of representing Super League on a global stage.
“To see Las Vegas being taken over by rugby league – it’s brilliant.”
Meanwhile, clubs have been told that up to 20,000 supporters could descend on the famous Fremont Street experience on Thursday, with all teams, special guests and live music set to fill the historic five-block entertainment district.
“It’s going to be unbelievable,” Blease added. “We’re looking forward to that. Events like this – you’ve got to embrace them.”
And that’s exactly what supporters are doing.
For those making the trip, this is already shaping up to be another lifelong memory – rugby league, Vegas style.