Locker Room: The words that will hit every Las Vegas critic like a hammer

We’ve heard what the narks are saying back home. That the Australian media in Las Vegas have congregated on the Strip as Peter V’landys passes around a glass of Kool-Aid. Not quite, writes DAVID RICCIO.

Yeah, yeah.

We’ve heard what the narks are saying back home.

That the entire Australian media pack in Las Vegas have congregated in a circle down on the Strip as Peter V’landys passes around a yard glass of Kool-Aid.

Not quite, although plenty of other fluids have definitely been consumed.

To the narks, meet Jackie and Billy Cross.

They’re kind of a big deal in this town. They are the founders and co-owners of Australia’s Thunder from Down Under, the male revue show that has performed in Las Vegas since 1991.

10 million people and counting have watched the shows.

Jackie and Billy were standing on Fremont Street, in downtown Las Vegas on Friday night, at the time of the NRL’s launch party for historic double-header on Sunday afternoon.

With a crowd of 5,000 fans, it was a street party that rugby league has never seen.

As the four team mascots flew over head on a flying fox, Billy stepped forward to offer something that should hit every critic back home like a hammer.

“I’ve never seen Downtown this busy before in the 30-years that I’ve been here,” Billy said.

“They’ve had Superbowl launch parties, they’ve had all the major events here on Fremont St, but this, this is crazy.

“It’s so good for the NRL.

“The Las Vegas tourism bureau would be frothing at this because it’s just amazing.”

Yelling at Billy because of the wild mass of noise that erupted as Payne Haas tossed his Broncos scarf into the sea of fans, I asked the questions that really only time will be able to answer.

Is this first double-header in Las Vegas just a sugar hit of fun and frivolity and does the NRL truly have a product that can be sustained for the next five-years?

“No way is it a sugar hit,” Billy said.

“Because there’s so many Aussies here, there’s so many expats and then there’s the world that comes to Vegas.

“Americans will start to understand the sport and they love combat sports.

“You look at NFL, UFC, they’ll love this sport with no pads and no helmets.”

Watching alongside the Australian press pack was an American with an experienced eye. To the narks, meet writer Mark Cannizzaro.

Cannizzaro has been with the New York Post since 1993, having first served as the New York Jets beat writer from 1993 to 2010 before moving over to write columns on the Jets, New York Giants, NFL, NCAA basketball, soccer and numerous other sports.

He has covered more than 30 Super Bowls.

Cannizzaro is here to cover the NRL’s arrival and season kick-off in Vegas for The Post.

“This is coming from someone completely unfamiliar with the game. I have only watched it from afar,” Cannizzaro said.

Tim Tszyu, the World Boxing Organisation light-middleweight champion, greets fans during the NRL season launch at Fremont Street Experience. Picture: Getty Images

“But I thought the spectacle of the season launch was awesome.

“I was just here for the Super Bowl three weeks ago and that’s such a gigantic spectacle.

“However the fans can’t get close to the players like they did last night.

“There was an intimacy which was cool and unique for me to see.

“You weren’t seeing the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers parading down a red carpet in the middle of town two days before the match.

“The fans here could literally reach out and touch the NRL players.

“There was obviously a huge party of Australians, but there were also plenty of curious Americans too.

“There’s certainly a curiosity factor here and there will be for the matches tomorrow as well.

“I’m sure there’s going to be a decent amount of Americans in the stands to see what all this looks like.

“There’s 40,000 tickets sold and that’s amazing. You get this (Allegiant Stadium) two-thirds filled, this place is going to be rocking.’’

Then Cannizzaro added with interest. “The turnout to the fan event shows you that the NRL isn’t getting ”lost in Las Vegas.’’

NRL Fans flocked to the NRL season launch at Fremont Street Experience. Picture: AFP

As Cannizzaro rightfully points out, and of which what every nark back home needs to appreciate, is that the NRL is up against U2, Madonna, NASCAR and even the Dave Matthews band, who are all hot ticket items in Las Vegas this weekend.

Shaking her head in sheer delight was Gold Coast Titans co-owner Rebecca Frizelle.

One of Australia’s most resilient and successful businesswomen, Frizelle knows a thing or two about a return on investment.

“With this stake in the ground, we’re going to see Australian’s booking tomorrow to be here next year,’’ Frizelle said.

“Absolutely we want the Titans to come.

“We’ll learn from the mistakes and the opportunities and run with it.

“What I would like to do is recognise the courage and vision of Peter V’landys and Andrew Abdo.

“You rarely see entrepreneurs like this and they are extraordinary in what they’ve pulled together.

“They were planning for this during Covid-19 when we were all in our pyjamas.’’

Drink.

Originally published as Locker Room: The words that will hit every Las Vegas critic like a hammer