Sport Confidential: Cameron Munster breaks silence on Andrew Johns sledge, NRL’s 2024 Las Vegas dates revealed

SPORT CONFIDENTIAL: Cameron Munster hopes he hasn’t ruined his relationship with Joey Johns, as the NRL reveals the preferred date for the 2024 Las Vegas games.

Andrew Johns and Cameron Munster. Picture: Supplied

Maroons star Cameron Munster hopes he hasn’t upset Immortal Andrew Johns after poking him on live television about his public fallout with brother Matty.

A feud has erupted between the Johns brothers after NSW Origin legend Andrew accused Matty of “rapping Queensland” during a radio segment. They reportedly haven’t spoken since.

‘Joey’ looked less than impressed on the Sunday Footy Show after Munster ended a live cross from Camp Maroon with: “Joey, have you made up with your brother yet?’”

The jab prompted Maroons coach Johnathan Thurston to burst into laughter, but Channel 9 cameras panned to a stone-faced Johns.

Andrew Johns (L) did not see the funny side of (R) Johnathan Thurston and Cam Munster's joke.

That gag apparently went down like a lead-balloon with Johns, who was less than impressed given he has maintained a public silence during the feud and was put on the spot by Munster.

After helping the Maroons clinch back-to-back series wins at Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday night, Munster said he had a good relationship with Johns and hoped the Blues assistant coach wasn’t offended.

“Me and Joey get along like a house on fire,” he said.

“It is water off a duck’s back. I hope he didn’t take too much offence to it.

“There was no arrogance. I wasn’t having a go at him about anything else. I just wanted to see how he was going.”

Munster is one of the NRL’s more entertaining characters and is always good for an entertaining quote.

LAS VEGAS KICK-OFF DATES REVEALED

Mark Saturday, March 2, 2024 into your calendars.

That’s when the NRL will make history in Las Vegas.

The NRL is set to broker a 10-game deal in America after US authorities backed plans for the Telstra Premiership to kick-off the 2024 season in Las Vegas in early March.

Sport Confidential can reveal March 2 is the historic date the NRL is proposing for rugby league’s double header in Sin City.

ARL Commission boss Peter V’landys is finalising precise schedules with American stakeholders, but the NRL is considering kick-off times of 5pm and 8pm on Saturday evening in Vegas.

That would mean the NRL’s American double header is screened from 11am and 2pm (AEDT) on Sunday, March 3 to fans in Australia.

The times have yet to be formally locked in pending final negotiations with broadcasters, but March 2 is the target date for the NRL’s bold Vegas venture that will be billed as ‘Australia Week’ in America.

V’landys confirmed the kick-off date and explained how the first round of the 2024 Telstra Premiership will work.

Andrew Abdo and Peter V'landys at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

“Some landmark agreements on the Vegas double header will be reached in the next week or two and then we can take things to the next stage,” V’landys said.

“How it works is that we will have a split round for round one.

“There is no other sport on that day (March 3) in Australia.

“The double header will be played on the 2nd of March in Vegas, then the remainder of the round will be played the week after.

“It’s a split round essentially, but we’ll call it round zero in Vegas.

“By splitting the round, the four teams that travel to Vegas will have a week off to recover from the travel and jet lag.”

The NRL’s groundbreaking American double header will be played at the 65,000-capacity Allegiant Stadium in Vegas.

The NFL Super Bowl will be played at Allegiant on February 11 next year, giving Vegas stadium chiefs a three-week runway to have the venue ready for the NRL’s blockbuster.

“We are having some discussions around stadium availability but I’m confident that will be sorted out,” V’landys said.

“We have a bit to unpack.

“We have to sort out hotels and logistics and a lot of the work will be done on the other sporting and cultural events that will be held during that week, which will become Australia Week in Vegas.”

The ARL Commission will formally announce the Vegas venture in the next fortnight and the next step will be working out which four teams will be the NRL’s Sin City pioneers.

The Broncos are red-hot favourites to be the first team chosen.

Other frontline contenders are Penrith given their status as two-time premiers, South Sydney, Melbourne and Manly, who have links to legendary actor Hugh Jackman, who is set to be an Australia Week Vegas ambassador.

But under the five-year contract to be rubber-stamped by the ARL Commission, all 17 teams will get a taste of NRL action in Vegas.

Panthers boss Brian Fletcher is adamant the Panthers must headline the NRL’s first trip to America.

“We should be one of the four teams to go,” Fletcher said.

“If the NRL gives our fans enough notice, I believe 5000 Penrith fans would go to America and help fill the stadium.

“I don’t think you will have any trouble getting four teams to put their hand up to go.

“But I believe the Panthers are a no-brainer. We are the reigning premiers and we have been the best side of recent years.

“We’ve got genuine stars of the game, including Nathan Cleary, Dylan Edwards, Jarome Luai and Brian To’o, so we would be a great advertisement for the NRL.”

Originally published as Sport Confidential: Cameron Munster breaks silence on Andrew Johns sledge, NRL’s 2024 Las Vegas dates revealed