Leeds Rhinos boss hails 'unreal support': vow to send fans home happy after Las Vegas clash v Hull KR

The Betfred Super League round three clash is the first part of a triple-header also featuring two matches in the southern hemisphere NRL, with Newcastle Knights facing North Queensland Cowboys and Canterbury Bulldogs taking on St George-Illawarra Dragons. On Wednesday afternoon, hundreds of fans from all six competing clubs packed into a hotel nightclub on the famous Las Vegas Strip for a fan hub and meet the players session.

It was an extraordinary event, likely to be repeated on an even bigger scale at Fremont Street on Thursday. The players were treated like rockstars and Arthur told The Yorkshire Evening Post: “It is good for the boys. There’s no egos in our group so it’s a nice feeling for them - they should be proud and we don’t want to go home thinking we didn’t enjoy the opportunity. The main focus is playing well, but these opportunities don’t come along very often so we’ve got to make the most of it.”

Though it is a working trip, Arthur was happy for his team to rub shoulders with their fans. “It is part of it, we need to help promote the game,” he added. “We are privileged enough to be over here to play. Our job is on Saturday, but we’ve had a good training day today [Wednesday] and I think our squad is mature enough to know when we are training, we are training, but outside of it we can have a bit of fun and enjoy the occasion. We certainly don’t want to go home having let it go past us and thinking ‘gee, we didn’t get to enjoy it’, but, once we get to Saturday that’s when the real fun is going to be.”

Supporters queued for more than an hour to get into the autograph session and Arthur stressed the squad are grateful to everyone who has made the trip - and determined they don’t go home disappointed. “It is unreal,” he said of Rhinos’ support in Vegas.

“These guys work hard throughout the week, it is not a cheap trip and they come over to support their team. We have to do it justice and make sure they go home happy with the team’s performance. We have got a real commitment to our fans around that and a real commitment to the Super League to make sure both teams put on a spectacle, because it is a privilege and an opportunity of a lifetime for a lot of these guys. We have got to make the most of it.”

Whatever this weekend’s result, Arthur reckons the NRL-organised Rugby League in Las Vegas showpiece - now in its third year - has proved its worth. He added: “We went for a walk yesterday and there’s lots of people on the street who are all here for the same reason, which is the games this weekend. It is good for Vegas, but also good for rugby league.”

While fans are making the most of Vegas’ bright lights, it is a dry trip for the team, at least until after work on Saturday. “We didn’t have to talk about it,” Arthur stated. “The boys know what our standards and expectations are. We are here for work and for our job. We weren’t as fortunate as the NRL teams, we weren’t able to come over last weekend and enjoy it, but if we go and put in a strong performance they can enjoy it on Saturday night.”

The Yorkshire Evening Post’s coverage of Leeds Rhinos in Las Vegas is in association with Betfred Super League. Saturday’s showdown between Rhinos and Hull KR at Allegiant Stadium is an early highlight of a packed year of club rugby league action which also includes the Challenge Cup final at Wembley on May 30, Magic Weekend’s blockbuster return to Everton FC’s Hill Dickinson Stadium on July 4-5 and the Super League Grand Final on October 3 at Old Trafford. Experience live Super League. League Hits Different. To guarantee your place, visit Super League | Tickets.