Sin City: NRL players and staff warned about Las Vegas ‘sex’ traps, extortion attempts

The top Las Vegas cop hired to run security for Super Bowl LVIII has warned NRL players and staff to avoid the late-night temptations of Sin City. See the three key security warnings.

At least 40 protection guards will be deployed in a multimillion-dollar NRL operation as America’s top Super Bowl security boss warned stars of “sex” traps and extortion attempts in Las Vegas.

This masthead can reveal Las Vegas police boss Kendall Bell was called in on Wednesday morning by the NRL to address players and officials from the four clubs ahead of the code’s historic 2024 premiership kick-off in America.

Bell’s address came just 48 hours after the Broncos’ drunken bust-up involving Adam Reynolds and Pat Carrigan that has triggered fears of a potential NRL scandal in Las Vegas.

Bell, who was in charge of security at last Monday’s Super Bowl, gave players a chilling insight into why Vegas is known as Sin City, detailing the tricks and potential traps when the NRL caravan arrives in the tourist Mecca.

The likes of Broncos superstar Reece Walsh, Souths sensation Latrell Mitchell, Roosters champion James Tedesco and Manly’s Queensland Origin skipper Daly Cherry-Evans are part of the briefings.

The famous Las Vegas sign.

On a landmark occasion for the code, Souths and Manly will play the first club game on American soil on Sunday, March 3 (AEST), followed by the Broncos and Roosters in a double-header blockbuster at Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium.

But amid the gala festivities, Bell, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department lieutenant, warned of the Sin City threat entailing sex, drugs, alcohol and blackmail attempts.

According to sources who were in the meeting, security boss Bell:

• Urged players and officials to avoid the dark temptations of Vegas - most notably alcohol, drugs and sex;

• Flagged the risk of drink spiking, imploring players not to speak to strangers or leave their drinks with groups of people; and

• Warned NRL players to avoid taking women back to their rooms, which would leave them vulnerable to extortion attempts.

Bell, who has given the same address to NFL teams and other sporting organisations travelling to Vegas, revealed another disturbing practice - setting traps to expose high-profile, well-paid male sporting stars.

The Las Vegas police powerbroker recounted cases of women targeting married men by studying them online.

The predators would research the net worth of sporting stars before attempting to put them in a compromising position, which they would then use in a strategic blackmail attempt for ‘hush money’ to avoid public shaming.

The NRL is taking the matter of conduct seriously and expects more than 80 NRL players from the Broncos, Souths, Manly and the Roosters to be exemplary ambassadors in rugby league’s first serious foray into America.

The NRL has inked a five-year deal to play games in Vegas until the end of 2028 _ but a major offshore scandal would leave the code’s potential $200 million gaming-and-broadcast incursion into the US in tatters.

NRL players Aaron Woods, Billy Walters, Spencer Leniu and Campbell Graham attend the NRL Promo Tour. Picture: Grant Trouville

NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo conducted a preliminary visit to Vegas in December and appealed for the code’s visiting stars to stay out of trouble in America’s entertainment capital.

“Taking rugby league to the US is one of the most important strategic initiatives the game has ever undertaken,” Abdo said.

“The information briefing to the clubs and players has been planned for months and was an important step for us towards ensuring our Las Vegas launch event is a positive and safe experience for everyone.

“It’s imperative that the players understand their central role in this venture.

“Players are partners in the game and ambassadors, we want them showcasing their exceptional athleticism and professionalism to a brand new audience.”

With the expertise of Bell, American security bosses are leaving no stone unturned to safeguard the welfare of NRL players in Vegas.

It is understood talks have been held for each NRL team to be supplied with 10 security guards - a total of 40 across the four clubs - during the Broncos, Roosters, Manly and Souths’ stay in America.

All four clubs will spend at least three days at Vegas, with Brisbane and the Roosters (both Los Angeles) and Souths (San Diego) having a lead-up, week-long camp before joining Manly, who will be based the entire time in Sin City.

A well-placed source confirmed the NRL will be provided with military-style protection security to minimise the risk of off-field scandals or extortion attempts.

“The Americans are taking this seriously,” the source said.

“They are looking at providing 10 security guards per team, so that’s 40 protection experts for the four teams.

“These guys specialise in close personal protection.

“The crew running this NRL operation looked after the recent Super Bowl and they want no dramas for the NRL in Vegas.

“They have done a full risk-and-threat assessment and they will be supplying a team of 40, so that’s high-level security.

“We don’t need anything happening over there that is detrimental to anyone’s NRL career.”

Brisbane chief executive Dave Donaghy is adamant the Broncos will respect the NRL brand in Las Vegas in the wake of their alcohol-fuelled drama involving Reynolds and Carrigan.

Patrick Carrigan and Adam Reynolds front the media to address their late-night scuffle. Picture: Steve Pohlner

“We have made huge improvements, right across the club over the last two years,” he said.

“’Kevvie’ (coach Kevin Walters) has been a massive part of leading that within the football program.

“Whilst we are disappointed with the recent events, I am certain the guys will learn from it.

“Our hope is that it will further enhance what we are building at the Broncos. Nobody is perfect. We all make mistakes, but if anyone was to question our culture, I counter by saying look at the leadership our players showed in recent days.

“They didn’t have to front up. They didn’t have to talk to the media and therefore the fans, but they wanted to do that.

“They wanted to demonstrate the type of good character and the leadership that they do possess.

“Clearly that fell away over the weekend and I hope it’s only one slip that the guys will learn from.

“Hopefully we can turn this into a positive leading into the season.”

Originally published as Sin City: NRL players and staff warned about Las Vegas ‘sex’ traps, extortion attempts