NRL Vegas day 4 video special: Warrington coach Sam Burgess fails to board team flight to Las Vegas after US visa dramas
English powerhouse Warrington has set off for Las Vegas and the rugby league extravaganza that awaits – but there was no room for high-profile coach Sam Burgess. Plus, the Raiders and Panthers get a taste of the NHL.
Sam Burgess has been officially grounded. The Warrington coach was left behind on Monday morning (AEDT) while his Wolves side jumped on a plane and headed to Las Vegas.
Burgess was forced to skip Warrington’s flight after failing to resolve his visa issues.
The likes of former NRL players Paul Vaughan, Matt Dufty and George Williams took their seats on the plane minus their famous coach.
Burgess is still waiting formal visa clearance to allow him to enter the US.
Those close to Burgess remain confident that he will be able to travel in time for the game but just how much of the lead-up to the match he misses remains unclear.
He is still no certainty to take his place in the coaching box when his side play Wigan as part of the four matches at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas
Burgess travelled to London in an attempt to expedite his visa.
NRL TAKES TO THE RINK
All four NRL teams were keen spectators at ice hockey games on Saturday night (Sunday AEDT).
The Cronulla Sharks walked from their team hotel to the Crypto Arena where the Los Angeles Kings took on Utah.
Meanwhile, Las Vegas-based Penrith, Canberra and New Zealand — the latter of whom only touched down in Sin City four hours earlier — headed down the Strip to T-Mobile Arena where the Vegas Golden Knights did battle with the Vancouver Canucks.
Canberra’s Joe Tapine did a jersey swap with the Golden Knights’ Tomas Hertl the day before the game, so there was no second guessing where his allegiances lay during the game as the Raiders took over Bay 221.
One bay over were the New Zealand Warriors.
The clubs were given a shoutout on the big screen, while a whole row were given tickets to the match and one punter gifted a Penrith retro jersey. Tapine and Isaah Yeo took part in a passing competition on the ice at the end of the second period.
Originally published as NRL Vegas day 4 video special: Warrington coach Sam Burgess fails to board team flight to Las Vegas after US visa dramas
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