Canterbury skipper Stephen Crichton wore sunglasses at night. Cowboy Rueben Cotter got his mullet cheered. And Knights winger Greg Marzhew … well, he popped a backflip on stage, and just 48 hours out from an NRL season opener.
But hey, this is Las Vegas, right?
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“And I know he does ‘em well,” coach Justin Holbrook told us soon after.
So if it were anyone else?
“Yeah,” he grinned, “I might’ve been worried”.
But not tonight.
No, in what has already been confirmed as the biggest NRL Fremont Street experience ever, a crowd of over 16,000 fans transformed this most famous of strips into one of Australia’s coolest ever street parties.
Over the course of about 90 minutes, all six NRL and English Super League teams took their turn walking the red carpet – Leeds, Hull KR, North Queensland, Newcastle, St George Illawarra, and finally, the Bulldogs.
Forget Elvis Presley, on this night the only king any cared about was Gutho.
While Knights superstar Kalyn Ponga, he also received a huge pop.
“This is wild,” KP said. “It’s insane.
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“To see so many fans here, it’s awesome. Let’s make some noise Knights fans, let me hear you.”
Then, they did.
Apart from the wide-eyed players, every team was supported by cheerleaders, flag bearers, mascots, coaching staff, and enough adrenaline, we reckon, to keep a young bloke wired for hours.
Older blokes, too.
“This is crazy,” Bulldogs coach Cameron Ciraldo agreed when interviewed on stage, and looking about crowd that was heavily painted blue and white.
“The boys are all so pumped. So excited.
“Thank you everyone for coming. Let’s make it feel like a home game on Saturday.”
Asked by an American MC what locals could expect from his daaawgs, Ciraldo replied: “Expect to see a team that works hard, works together.
“A team that believes in what they’re doing. A team that hustles for 80 minutes.”
Crichton, meanwhile, also revealed his shades were actually Meta sunglasses – and recording what is quickly becoming one of the craziest events in Australian sport.
He added that, come day here the world’s entertainment capital “the boys will be ready to rock ‘n roll”.
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Dragons coach Shane Flanagan, meanwhile, heaped praise on the incredible numbers, saying: “We’re in Las Vegas and to have this support — fantastic”.
Here, truly, was a night full of joy.
A truth proved by new Cowboy Reed Mahoney continually being stopped by not only Townsville supporters, but scores of fans from his old club Canterbury.
“Which is great,” he told us. “I’m happy to know I left in a good place with them.”
Elsewhere, Knights star Bradman Best conceded he hasn’t yet met up with American heavyweight legend Mike Tyson, but two days out from the game is still pestering future-father-in-law Jeff Fenech to make it happen.
“I haven’t given up,” he grinned.
Nor could the bar staff along Fremont Street, where the beers are served in plastic cups about the size of, say, Dogs prop Max King.
A fella who dived right into the atmosphere on stage, busting out some of Michael Jackson’s Thriller moves.
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‘Ponga will almost play like a half’ | 03:08
Indeed, on this night a host of players danced.
And shouted out the fans.
And just to ensure it remained overwhelmingly Australian, comedian Jim Jeffries dropped a couple of expletives on stage. Ditto Australia’s cruiserweight king Jai Opetaia, who was playing the role of Random Souths Guy.
“Absolutely a Bunnies fan,” he told us. “I bleed f***ing Blue too.
“I know there is some confusion because I’m living in Queensland, but I’m a New South Welshman.”
Asked soon after on stage for a take, Opetaia shouted: “This is f***ing crazy. Look at Australia … this is something to be proud of.”
Absolutely.
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Elsewhere, Dragons Old Boy Jason Nightingale gave a strong indication of how cool it is even to part of this heaving, cheering, singing rugby league throng.
Surrounded by other retirees like Josh Reynolds, Matt Scott and Matty Cooper, Nightingale was asked if he wished he were playing.
To which, he said not really.
“Because there’s a lot of things you can’t do in Las Vegas when you’re playing,” he grinned.
But as for who should be really concerned reading this?
We reckon that might have to be the better half of that bald Cowboys fan who, jammed up against the red carpet fence in a heaving Fremont Street, had the signatures of several Cowboys on his head.
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Cotter was one you could make out.
And Tommy Dearden another.
So of course we suggested he should get one tattooed permanently, right?
“You know what,” our man said, “I just might”.
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