The rugby league circus rolled into Las Vegas on Sunday for the code’s historic season opener, and with it came a host of rich listers eager to be a part of chair Peter V’landys’ bold march into the United States.
The double-header featuring the Manly Sea Eagles taking on the Rabbitohs, and the Brisbane Broncos battling the Sydney Roosters, brought James Packer once again front and centre in the gambling capital of the world – this time supporting the Bunnies, which he part owns, rather than seeking to build his already extreme wealth via casinos.
Packer was there alongside his longstanding representative on the Rabbitohs board, Sam McKay, who now runs his own Point King Capital out of Sydney.
Former federal sports minister and ex-Packer key staffer Mark Arbib was on hand, as was Kelly Morton of Skye Capital Advisory, who is tech billionaire and Rabbitohs part-owner Mike Cannon Brookes’ rep on the club’s board.
Their fellow investor, Hollywood actor Russell Crowe, was in Europe on a film shoot and had to miss the day but sent his man, Mikael Borgland, a long-time film and entertainment exec, to fly the red, white and green flag.
Souths boss Blake Solly was also along for the event.
Front and centre for the Roosters were its chairman and millionaire car dealer, Nick Politis, and director Mark Bouris, chair of Yellow Brick Road Wealth.
Exiting Venues NSW boss Tony Shepherd, who is also chair of AFL club the GWS Giants, was also spied roaming about, as was former Queensland Labor premier Peter Beattie.
News Corp chair Lachlan Murdoch was in town for the blockbuster event, with News the majority owner of the Broncos.
Talk of the eventing, however, was the NRL box filled with hundreds of corporate guests. The hospitality left many puzzled given its position behind the goalposts and at ground level, which arguably gave the VIPs the worst view in the house.
More Coverage
MCA backs itself into corner over unwelcome guest speakers
Another day, another dreadful call by an arts institution, this time Sydney’s Museum of Contemporary Art, which has got itself in a tangle over a bash booked by Greens senator Mehreen Faruqi for International Women’s Day.
Team Mike v Team Annie: Cannon-Brookes staffer ordered to hand over phone, laptops, passwords
Amid a $23bn divorce, Mike Cannon-Brookes is suing the absolute pants off of a once-trusted family office executive, claiming corporate skulduggery has been afoot.