Viva Las Vegas: reflections on Leeds Rhinos & Hull KR's USA adventure plus a possible financial solution

Players from the six competing teams were treated like celebrities, the famous Vegas Strip was packed with rugby league fans from two nations - amiably rubbing shoulders - and the amount of cash they spent ensured reception from locals was overwhelmingly positive.

Nobody, player, supporter or media, who was at the Fremont Experience Fan Fest last Thursday will forget it and it’s unlikely the teams who took centre stage will experience anything like it in the future. Rugby league needs razzmatazz and Vegas had it in bucketfulls.

There’s no doubt the occasion in Nevada brought new eyes to the sport and created a buzz which is too often lacking, particularly in this country. Whether it actually creates new fans who will pay for tickets - or makes any lasting impact on the American sports market - is questionable, but rugby league is part of the entertainment business and the past week has been, above all else, fun.

There are problems, of course. Vegas is a long journey away from both the UK and Australia, it’s an expensive destination and the political situation in the States at the moment will be a deterrent to some. Also, from a rugby perspective, the fact one of the competing Super League teams has to give up a scheduled home fixture is a major stumbling block.

Hull KR accept they will make a small loss from this year’s adventure, but that has been budgeted for and wasn’t regarded as a reason not to travel. Unfortunately, the number of clubs who can afford that mindset will be limited. If Super League wants to remain part of the concept, that will have to be resolved, potentially by the NRL - whose show it is - putting some money up.

The two games from the European competition so far played at Allegiant Stadium have been one-sided, Wigan Warriors crushing Warrington Wolves 48-24 a year ago and Leeds Rhinos obliterating Hull KR 58-6 last weekend. Those scorelines may not have been the best advert for Super League, but English clubs add massive value to the event off the field. Aussie media and officials were blown away with the atmosphere created by the Rhinos and Hull KR fans’ the two NRL matches might have been more competitive, but in terms of noise and colour, the English clubs won hands down.

Super League becoming a 14-team competition provides a potential solution to the issue of one Super League club having to give up a home match. That could be avoided if one game per season was shifted from Magic Weekend to Vegas, so the teams’ 27th fixture would be played there. It would also allow for three games each day at Magic without the French clubs having to miss out.

In fact, Vegas would be an ideal venue for Magic Weekend, but we’re a long way from that happening. Super League does, however, need to look at ways of creating Fremont Street-type festivities here. It is incongruous to see fans partying in the Nevada sun at a time when so many clubs are failing back in England, but embracing new ideas and daring to be different is the key to rugby league’s long-term survival. Viva Las Vegas.

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.