NRL 2025 round 1 Las Vegas fixtures revealed: Panthers v Sharks, Raiders v Warriors

Sam Burgess is set to take centre stage in the second edition of Operation Las Vegas as the NRL expands its American invasion to include two extra fixtures. Watch the launch.

Sam Burgess is set to take centre stage in the second edition of Operation Las Vegas as the NRL expands its American invasion to include a Super League game between English powerhouses Warrington and Wigan.

The NRL on Tuesday confirmed their plans for the season launch in Sin City next year, broadening the concept to include two of the biggest sides in the English game and a Test match involving the Jillaroos and England.

Those two games will join the season-opening NRL double header involving Canberra, Cronulla, Penrith and the Warriors as part of a rugby league extravaganza, with all four games to be played on the same day at Allegiant Stadium and beamed live back into Australia on Fox Sports.

Canberra will host the Warriors in the early game before Penrith and Cronulla close out a marathon day of NRL. Burgess, in his first year as head coach of Warrington, is already on the radar of NRL clubs but he will get the chance to showcase how far he has come as he features on one of the showpiece events for the game.

The South Sydney legend has led Warrington into the top three of the English Super League in his first year in charge and has already been touted as a future NRL coach.

“Well this is the sequel and we are going to make sure that this sequel is bigger and better,” NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo said.

“So we have four fixtures, not two. We thought very carefully and worked with all of the clubs to get this configuration right.

“Now we are adding a women’s international - the Jillaroos against England. They have not played for many years. So there is quite a lot to this plus a Super League fixture.

“To be honest, I actually get goosebumps just thinking about the rugby league world descending on Vegas.

“That is what is going to happen - we are going to have NRL fans, we are going to have Super League fans. We’re going to have rugby league fans from all over the world coming to see something unique.

“I am not aware of any previous occasion when we have had premiership points up for grabs in Super League and the NRL at the same time. Then you add a women’s international and it has the x-factor.”

Canberra and Penrith have been chosen as host sides for the Las Vegas double header, following on from the success of this year’s maiden trip to America.

The hope is that the NRL can take it up a notch after the success of this year.

“I think it is massive just being able to take it to a whole new scale of audience and a global level, which is something I honestly never thought would happen when I first started playing rugby league and even when I first debuted in the NRL, the thought of this was so foreign and far away,” said Penrith half Nathan Cleary, a fan of the Philadelphia Eagles NFL team.

Nathan Cleary (Penrith) and Sione Katao (Cronulla) will clash in Sin City. Picture: NRL Photos

“Now for it to actually be happening is so incredible and I am grateful to be part of it. It will be up there I think.

“A lot of things have happened that I am so grateful for and I have experienced a lot of things, even being able to play at Old Trafford, which is something I never thought would happen.

“Now being able to play in Vegas at a stadium many NFL teams play at is pretty cool. It is mad. It is like pinch-myself moments.”

The NRL incorporated some celebrity fans in their launch of Las Vegas including former world surfing champion Mick Fanning, a supporter of the Panthers, and Wigan Warriors legend Martin ‘Chariots’ Offiah.

Originally published as NRL 2025 round 1 Las Vegas fixtures revealed: Panthers v Sharks, Raiders v Warriors