LAS VEGAS NEVADA – Florida, Barrow, Westhoughton, Perth and Cronulla. They’re just some of the locations from around the world that rugby league fans have flown into Las Vegas from ahead of this weekend’s quadruple-header at Allegiant Stadium.
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The NRL kicked off the 2025 season on Wednesday afternoon (local time) in front of a sea of jerseys at Redtail Sports Bar inside Resorts World — where majority of the teams are staying.
English Super League giants Wigan Warriors were overwhelming winners when it came to the fanfare with their vocal diehards stealing the show singing with beer in their hands as captain Liam Farrell took the stage.
Joining Farrell on stage were fellow skippers George Williams (Warrington), Joseph Tapine (Raiders), Mitch Barnett (Warriors), Isaah Yeo (Panthers), Cameron McInnes (Sharks), Kezie Apps (Jillaroos) and Jodie Cunningham (Lionesses).
The mascots of the Warriors and Wolves did the rounds taking photos with fans, while some of the biggest names in the game — both ex-players and in the media — soaked up the high-energy atmosphere.
NRL and Super League great James Graham, former cricketer and television personality Mike Whitney, Bloke in a Bar’s Denan Kemp as well as ARLC Peter V’landys and NRL CEO Andrew Abdo were among those that attended the launch — which was so packed security had to stop people from entering the venue.
However, the talk of the town wasn’t the big-names in the footy world. It was the fans who had travelled from far and wide to be a part of the best week on the rugby league calendar.
It took Perth locals Dianne and Ross 32 hours to get to Vegas. It was, as Dianne put it, “a bloody long way.”
The couple were actually meant to be holidaying in Japan at this time of year but an illness within their family forced the cancellation of that trip.
As Warriors and Panthers tragics, they couldn’t pass up the opportunity though to watch their teams live in the entertainment capital of the world.
“When we heard the Warriors and Panthers were playing I said ‘that’s it we’re going.’ Vegas has always been a bucket list for me,” Dianne told foxsports.com.au.
Dianne, who was rocking a Panthers jersey, was asked why as a Perth local she chose the Panthers as her team.
“Four premierships in a row — what else can I say? And I was born in Sydney. The Panthers have been my team forever. Nathan Cleary — love, love, love, love,” she said.
Her husband, Ross, is originally from Kaiwaka in Northland, New Zealand. He supports the Warriors and… “anybody that’s playing the Broncos.”
The pair embraced the opportunity to meet other passionate fans like Shawn from Westhoughton — a little town near Wigan.
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Shawn was one of the many “super, super excited” fans proudly donning their Wigan jersey at the Fan Hub.
As was Ian — who actually had a half Raiders, half Wigan jersey on. Ian is English but has spent the last 16 years living in Australia. He now lives in Penrith but has a soft spot for Canberra.
“I always supported the Wigan Warriors. When I moved to Australia I lived in Queanbeyan so I’ve always followed the Raiders,” he told foxsports.com.au.
“Now I live in Penrith and we’ve got the English ladies playing as well so I’ve got an interest in every game.
“I’ve been to America a few times but had never been to Vegas. I knew it would be over the top — it’s perfect.
“This is what rugby league needs — we need to promote the game. Having the ladies play too and not making it the last game… rugby league can be a world game.”
Flying the flag for the American spectators was Brian — a diehard rugby league fan from Florida.
Brian has been following the NRL since circa 2012 and doesn’t miss a game. He’s fallen so in love with rugby league that he’s now the ground announcer for Tampa Mayhem, who compete in the USARL competition.
While Brian is a Rabbitohs fan, he was rocking a Warriors cap and will be cheering them on at Allegiant Stadium.
“Up the Wahs,” Brian said to foxsports.com.au.
“They’re kind of my second team. I always like what they do, they’ve got a lot of heart and it’s just sort of a feeling thing.
“That’s why I go for the Rabbitohs — it was sort of a feeling thing. When I first started paying attention to rugby league it was one of those things like ‘there’s a team named after Rabbits?’
“It was when all four of the Burgess brothers were playing… it was right at the beginning of when Michael Maguire took over.”
Brian got to see his Bunnies live in Vegas last year and enjoyed it so much he simply had to return.
“Where I was sitting (last year) was Latrell Mitchell’s side of the field so when he came out it was like ‘oh come on, this is great!’ The first try the Rabbitohs scored was on my side of the field,” he said.
Brian could hold a conversation with even the most rusted on rugby league fan so it would’ve been remiss to ask who his favourite player is — past or present.
A Rabbitohs player was the expected answer — maybe Sam Burgess or Greg Inglis.
But Brian was full of surprises. His favourite player is Sam Thaiday.
Commentators can’t wait for Vegas action | 05:04
He does, of course, have a soft spot for a couple of premiership-winning Bunnies though.
“Adam Reynolds… I was so depressed when he left,” he said.
“Luke Keary put his body on the line for that team and when he left every time I heard Luke Keary’s name it was like a punch in the guts. Those are the players I really liked.”
He also has a real appreciation for the ex-players who have stepped into the commentary box.
“My favourite thing is listening to commentators break down a play,” he said.
“If you’re watching the game and they say look here and something happens — to me that is amazing.
“I love it when the old players commentate and see those things… I’ve got to rewind the game and go ‘what did he say?’”
Diehard Raiders fan Simon was impossible to miss. He was dressed head to toe in Raiders merchandise, had a Viking helmet on, a flag draped over his shoulders and was carrying a signed drum.
“I’ve followed them everywhere since 1997. It doesn’t matter where they go I always follow them. It doesn’t matter if it’s China, Lebanon, around the world. Wherever they go, I go,” he told foxsports.com.au.
When asked how he went getting his drum over to Vegas, Simon said: “I have to pay money (for oversize baggage) to bring it but it’s ok, it doesn’t matter how much it costs I’ll bring it.”
Meanwhile, John, Ollie and Neil flew out from Barrow in North West England and managed to score front-row seats to the formalities of the launch.
John, who was wearing a Barrow Raiders jersey, made the trip because he’s “just following rugby league… here for the ride, here for Vegas, here for the rugby league.”
All three of them singled out former NRL speedster Bevan French as their favourite Super League player with Neil saying: “he’s a flair player and creates a bit of magic.”
Out the front of the bar was Scott — a devoted Sharks fan who had the ink to prove it.
Scott lived 50 years without getting a tattoo, but Cronulla’s maiden premiership in 2016 changed that.
“My wife thought I’d come home with a shark, but I came home with that (premiership trophy and logo) so she was a little bit upset,” he laughed.
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