Players doing backflips on stage, the deafening chants of English fans and a comedian who dropped a C-bomb on stage – the NRL’s official Las Vegas launch on Fremont Street had it all.
A record crowd of more than 16,000 fans packed into the city’s old precinct to greet the players from the teams featuring in this weekend’s rugby league action.
Bulldogs skipper Stephen Crichton leads the way at the NRL fan event at the Fremont Street Experience. Credit: Getty Images
The sound of the Hull KR and Leeds supporters breaking into song was a clear highlight. Hull KR fans went ballistic when English singer Andy Bell – one half of Erasure – made a surprise cameo to perform the club’s unofficial song, A Little Respect.
ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landys has flirted with the idea of taking games to other US cities, but knows the Fremont Street Experience remains a huge drawcard and something players and fans will never forget.
V’landys confirmed Vegas would remain a league destination beyond 2028 if the numbers stacked up.
“Vegas will always be the anchor event, we’re here for the long haul – as long as we get the revenues, we’ll be here,” he said.
“I thought it was big the first year, we toppled it the second year, now it’s bigger again. I’ve never seen this many people. The English have added so much to the atmosphere, the Aussies have to pick their game up – we need to do better.”
Kalyn Ponga and Knights teammates.Credit: Getty Images
Newcastle player Greg Marzhew performed a backflip when asked to dance on stage, Canterbury skipper Stephen Crichton wore meta glasses, to give fans a point-of-view camera angle of him marching through the masses, and Dragons flyer Christian Tuipulotu grabbed the microphone before telling fans to “show me the money”. It was a nod to his try celebration banned by coach Shane Flanagan last year.
There was an awkward moment when Australian comedian Jim Jefferies dropped a string of expletives, before poking fun at the English supporters for booing his jokes.
“Australians are the biggest gamblers and degenerates on earth, Vegas is f—ing happy to see you,” Jefferies said. “The town has been down since Trump got elected, nobody has been visiting, and we’re here to f—ing fix things.”
Valentine Holmes on Fremont Street.Credit: Getty Images
Crocodile Val
New York Post journalist Mark Cannizzaro thought he had the scoop of the week while interviewing Dragons centre Valentine Holmes at the club’s hugely attended meet-and-greet with fans at Resorts World.
Cannizzaro covers golf as well as the NFL’s New York Jets and Giants for the News Corp tabloid, and Holmes told him he had been Australian junior golf champion – and even once made two holes-in-one in the same round.
Little did the reporter know that the player was pulling his chain at the behest of his former colleague Ben Everill, now the Dragons media director who spent years covering the PGA Tour.
Cannizzaro finally twigged when Holmes told him he had once wrestled a crocodile for $500. Holmes wouldn’t have done it for anything less than $1000.
Gags aside, the State of Origin star was a popular interviewee among the American media in attendance because of his brief flirtation with the NFL.
Fenech back 35 years after Azumah
Jeff Fenech is back in Las Vegas, and did not need reminding it had been 35 years since his controversial draw against Azumah Nelson in the city.
The Marrickville Mauler is here to watch his future son-in-law: Newcastle’s Bradman Best, who dates his daughter, Kayla.
Dragons coach Shane Flanagan.Credit: Getty Images
Asked if he was worried about ever breaking up with Kayla and having to deal with Jeff, Best smiled and said: “I get asked that a lot. He’s still got it. We’ve sat down and watched a few of his fights. I know about the Azumah draw, but we’ve never dissected that one. I do know he still gets treated like royalty in Vegas. He only stays a few days because it gets too hectic for him.”
Golfing Cowboys
Plenty of players enjoyed a round of golf on their day off this week, but Cowboys pair Scott Drinkwater and Coen Hess really treated themselves by splashing north of $1000 for a round at the famous Wynn Golf Club. Caddies were provided, with a handsome tip expected at the end of the round.
The pair are no mugs with the sticks – Drinkwater plays off 14, while Hess has a handicap of just six.
Sauce on screen
Former representative winger Josh Mansour appeared on local TV station Fox 5 News Live to promote the NRL action, and had to bite his tongue when two lacrosse players stood next to him during the same segment and declared their sport much tougher than rugby league.
Josh Mansour appears on Fox 5 News Live
Host Jason Feinberg said he was a Roosters fan after attending a game in Sydney, but added, “I won’t tell my Sydney guys, but I might have to find a new team this weekend”.
Mansour was later spotted in the Resorts World pool with a physique that remains the envy of most current NRL players.
Ziggy Seleck
Some of the new season haircuts sported by the players this week have been nothing short of outstanding, but one of the NRL referees is sure to turn heads this weekend.
Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski rolled into town with the other whistleblowers on Thursday local time rocking a new Tom Selleck-like moustache. It’s a good thing he is only running the line, otherwise the whistle risked getting tangled up in his new facial hair.
Spotted:
Dragons legend Matt Cooper strolling the foyer of Resorts World after driving to LA with Balmain great Tim Brasher.
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