Special report: How the four NRL Las Vegas teams plan to combat the smaller Allegiant Stadium field

Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium is six metres shorter and five metres narrower than a regulation rugby league field. This is how the four teams plan to combat the changes.

Never before in the history of the NRL has a season kicked off in the US.

There’s also another first.

Never before has the NRL played a premiership game on a smaller field.

Allegiant Stadium, the ground where this year’s Super Bowl was held earlier this month, will play host to the NRL’s season opener between the Rabbitohs and Sea Eagles and Roosters and Broncos.

With a closed roof and airconditioning, Allegiant Stadium will be six metres shorter and five metres narrower than a regulation rugby league field (a 13% reduction in total area).

NRL players are normally used to the field being 68 metres from sideline to sideline and also 100 metres from tryline to tryline.

Allegiant Stadium, six metres shorter and five metres narrower than a regulation NRL field.

It has led to all four teams spending the past month preparing on specifically smaller training fields.

In a bid to understand how all four teams will navigate the smaller stadium, this masthead spoke to several of the most influential figures involved in the blockbuster.

SEIBOLD SAYS SIZE DOESN’T MATTER

Manly coach Anthony Seibold said his side have worked overtime to be prepared for the smaller stadium.

“The things we have done in our last four sessions is we got Brookvale Oval marked to the dimensions of Allegiant Stadium,” Seibold said.

“So we had four sessions there, the players and coaching staff were able to do a bit of problem solving.

“Then at Heritage Park (in Las Vegas) we had a smaller size field - the same dimensions as here. So we probably had our last seven sessions on this size field.

“Being here now we think the field doesn’t look too bad other than the corners. What actually does feel a lot tighter - and I think it is because of seating being right on top of you - is the length of the field.

“It just looks like you are going to be able to roll down the field reasonably immediately. I don’t know whether that is just the grandstands in the background.

“It is a great challenge for us. Unless you have played in England, none of our players have played on a smaller field.

“Unless you have played in England, none of our players have played on a smaller field.

“Over in England there are smaller in-goals, sometimes they are a bit shorter.

“So a bit of problem solving and trying to find some solutions to how we want to play, which we have done.

“The last three sessions (in Las Vegas) before we play will be on the same size field like Allegiant.

“So that is seven sessions there where we have played on the dimensions.”

WING AND A PRAYER

South Sydney hooker Damien Cook said outside backs are feeling cramped when receiving the football during training on the smaller field.

“Wingers and centres are running out of room a lot quicker,” Cook said.

“Speaking to them, as soon as they’re catching the ball, they’re feeling like they’re having to come back infield.

“We’ll have to change something up just to keep it tighter through the middle. But in saying that, when you’ve got players like Cody (Walker) and Latrell (Mitchell) they seem to find space.”

Latrell Mitchell can find a gap when it appears there’s minimal room to move. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Rabbitohs halfback Lachlan Ilias added: “You can really feel it. Whether you’re kicking or playing some shape, the wingers are running out of room real quickly.

It does change, but it doesn’t change our mindset of wanting to go through the middle.“I don’t think speed is as much as a factor on the smaller field.”

GAME FOR THE MIDDLE MEN

Rabbitohs star Latrell Mitchell quipped that Cook would relish the tighter surroundings.

“Honestly, I’ve been talking to Damien Cook and he reckons it suits his game, straight up the middle,” Mitchell said.

“He’s feeling fast this year. I honestly think he’s got a second quicker.”

Broncos coach Kevin Walters agreed with Mitchell’s focus on the middle of the field.

“It’s going to be harder to get through and around the defence,” Walters said.

“It will be interesting to watch the Manly-Souths game first for some ideas and if they make any changes to their attack to suit the field size.

Amazing at ground level pic.twitter.com/bn5Klq7OwP

— BUZZ ROTHFIELD (@BuzzRothfield) March 2, 2024

“It’s going to be very compressed in the middle.”

Roosters forward Nat Butcher added: “We have trained on (the shorter field) the last two sessions and we’ve had meetings about the benefits we’ll get in attack and defence.

“There could be a little (squeeze) but if we generate enough power through the middle then we create more space for them.”

GOOD LUCK SILENCING US

Dynamic Broncos duo Reece Walsh and Ezra Mam respect the field size restrictions, but think they’ll still get a chance to showcase their speed and skill.

“We have come up with a little game plan,” Walsh said.

“With the field being a bit smaller, we want to play flat and fast and we have a great forward pack to do that.

“If our forwards play well, it’s up to us spine members to play off the back of it.”

Walsh added: “It’s good, I think it’s a good challenge for myself. I have set a few goals coming into this year and playing on that narrower field, I will be trying to implement some of them and work on the things I want to work on.

“I want to get involved more this year. I want more carries and more quality touches. If I do that, it’s going to be good for the side.”

Brisbane five-eighth Ezra Mam punched holes in Penrith’s defence in a dazzling display to start the second half. Picture: Adam Head

KICKING GAME

Sydney Roosters halfback Sam Walker said the smaller dimensions could play havoc with both the in-game and dead-ball kicking situations.

“Your bearings could be a little bit off. Grubber kicks with the extra shorter in-goals. You’ll have to take a little bit off them,” Walker said.

“Even when you’re placing the ball for goal kicking, you’re usually thinking in your head about where you should take it but you might be a couple of metres off.

“Those inches make such a big difference. That’s what our games are, really.”

At Souths, Ilias has noticed a natural shift in where he’s positioning his attacking kicks on the smaller training field.

Sam Walker knows the fine margins will be important on the Allegiant Stadium turf. Picture: NRL Photos

“We’ve been training the last few weeks with a smaller field,” Ilias said.

“We’re well prepared for it.

“The shorter field length wise gives you a chance to put the ball up (in the air) and give yourself an actual kick-chase.

“I think that will be a good opportunity, as would kicking early too.

“With the middles not having to run as far, they can also front load their energy.”

Seibold insisted field position would be key.

“They have a great kicking game with Lachlan Ilias’ long game and Cody Walker’s short game,” he said.

“We have Daly Cherry-Evans and Brooksy (Luke Brooks) - both are decent kicker as well.

“I think the kicking game is going to be important. I think definitely field position is the key. If you think about the field we have here, playing down the other end of the field is going to be really important.

“So kicking is a big part of that.”

DEFENCE

“It is (significant),” Seibold said.

“Five metres, that is a defender. So you need to preserve space. Playing a bit more direct is important.

“The same principles apply - we have to create momentum, we have to try to suffocate Souths with their defence.

“They are going to have a good plan in place - JD (Jason Demetriou), their coaching staff and senior players like Cody (Walker) are really smart.

“We have to try to disrupt them and play our best footy. But it is a unique experience, playing with a roof, 21 degrees airconditioning.

“If you watch the Super Bowl, punters were kicking the ball a bit further which may have to do with the atmosphere inside.

“We don’t have to change our systems. It is just a smaller field.”

Defence will play a key part. Picture: Jenny Evans/Getty Images

BIGGER 10 METRES, FEWER POINTS

“It could be a low scoring game. You’d think that if there’s less width to the field, there’s less opportunities to score,” Cook said.

Walters didn’t disagree.

“Look, space is going to be a lot tighter and defensively, it’s going to be a lot harder to make breaks and score tries. In saying that, I feel we have the right players to adapt, but it will change things that’s for sure,” Walters said.

Seibold suggested the referees might make adjustments to their policing of the 10-metres.

“I think attack-wise, you do need to play direct because you need space on the edges,” Seibold said.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if the referees open up the 10 metres. It is a shorter field, so potentially you are going to march down the field a bit quicker.

“Whatever happens, it is not fatal for either side.

“We have 23 more games. But we just feel like we are ready to play.”

Peter Badel travelled to Las Vegas courtesy of the NRL

Originally published as Special report: How the four NRL Las Vegas teams plan to combat the smaller Allegiant Stadium field