Jillaroos set to be cut from 2026 Vegas schedule as Peter V’landys attempts to rectify error

The NRL’s second Las Vegas expedition was largely a success but the 10-hour footy marathon left fans fatigued and change is coming in 2026.

Peter V’landys is set to sensationally ditch the women’s game from next year’s Las Vegas schedule after many NRL fans felt burnt out by a four-match-10-hour footy marathon.

Rugby league’s second venture into Las Vegas was an overwhelming success but crowd numbers for the final fixture between the Panthers and Sharks showed the length of the footy extravaganza went just a little too long.

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While the feature match between premiership heavyweights Penrith and Cronulla was both high quality and intense – two things the NRL wants to showcase to America – the other three were blowouts, leading to fans trickling out of the gates as the day progressed.

The crowd of 45,209 bettered the 2024 attendance but after a large drop off following the Jillaroos’ 90-4 battering of England, V’landys admitted they will need to cut down to three games in 2026.

And with a Super League game here to stay, the women’s game is most likely to be surplus to requirements.

“I learned a lot more this time than I did the first occasion because we were in with the unexpected in the first year,” V’landys said.

“(But) Four games was probably too much.

“I think we’ll go back to three games. I think four was too long. You could tell because the fans left their seats, so when their game was over there were empty seats.

“You want them to stay there and I think if you had three games they probably would have.

“With four games it’s a long day. I got there at one o’clock and left at 11 o’clock, well that’s a long day for anyone.”

Pictured Jillaroos left and Peter V'landys right. Image: Getty

Many felt the Jillaroos game was where the NRL missed the mark in 2025 due to the one-sided nature of the affair.

In the aftermath, there were suggestions of changing the game to Australia v New Zealand or even Game I of the women’s State of Origin.

However, V’landys hinted it would be surplus to requirements, with the NRL moving to cut down the 2026 schedule to three games.

“As passionate as I am about rugby league, it’s still a very long day,” he continued.

“You want to shorten that a little bit and have the three games.

“We really do want to keep the Super League partnership because that worked exceptionally well.

“It generated a completely new atmosphere and a vibe that I’ve never seen so that probably continues.

“We look, we’ll go home, do a post-mortem, and we’ll just see how we do it next year.’’

The crowd was packed for the opening game (pictured) but by the time the Panthers and Sharks ran out, thousands had already called it a night.

It is a belief NRL commentator Andrew Voss shares, telling SEN the Super League match is a must as is two NRL games and the reality is the women’s international match options are simply not competitive.

“At the last Rugby League World Cup, I saw Australia beat New Zealand by 50 in the final at Old Trafford so don’t think you are going to get a close game there,” Voss said.

“The Super League is now here to stay. The English involvement has been a huge plus this year to last. I would have Wigan play St Helens next year. Two very strong clubs.

“Two NRL games is obviously a must so therefore, four NRL clubs must be here.”

Peter V’landys said an English Super League Vegas game is here to stay. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Peter V’landys won’t rule out women’s game returning to Vegas

However, despite conceding the women’s game will likely not feature in the US in 2026, V’landys said he will work out a way to showcase the NRLW stars to the world.

“I’m the biggest supporter of the women’s game, so I don’t want to discount them,” V’landys said.

“Australia were just too strong (against England in Vegas). It just shows that when you have a professionally run semi-professional rugby league competition, you’re gonna be that far ahead of anyone else in the world, and we have the best NRLW competition.

“It’s professionally run, the women have reached a level at this stage of their evolution that I’ve never seen.

The Jillaroos thrashed England on Sunday 90-4. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

“They are so far advanced, they’re so good, so skilful, they’re so brilliant that the poor old English never had a chance. In saying that, I was proud to show them off, to show how good our women are, the entertainers they are. They didn’t let me down.

“Unfortunately the English competition isn’t NRLW and it will take some time to catch up to us.

“International football for the women’s game is important and we need to think about how we help other countries with their development and growth.

“We will have a review and think about what the right opportunities are to showcase the women’s game to an international audience.

Originally published as Jillaroos set to be cut from 2026 Vegas schedule as Peter V’landys attempts to rectify error