War of words continues over NRL’s cheeky Las Vegas’ advertisement

Peter Beattie has doubled down on claims that rugby league is the number one sport in Australia, and thrown a few jabs at ex-Victorian premier Jeff Kennett along the way.

The NRL ad on the Allegiant Stadium page.

ARL commissioner Peter Beattie has doubled down on claims that rugby league is the No. 1 code in Australia and offered to take former Victorian premier Jeff Kennett to a game in Melbourne to show him how good it is.

Beattie fired back at Kennett after the ex-Hawthorn president hit out (see below) at rugby league over advertising in Las Vegas that claimed the NRL was the country’s biggest code.

The ads sparked a war of words between some of the most prominent figures in the country’s major football codes.

Beattie weighed into the debate on Wednesday as he claimed rugby league had become the premier code under the leadership of chair Peter V’landys.

“I worry about the impact the NRL is having on Jeff’s blood pressure,” Beattie said.

(L-R) Peter Beattie and Jeff Kennett.

“The NRL’s expansion plans are obviously making him nervous.

“I would love to take Jeff to an NRL game in Melbourne in 2024 as my guest to show him how good the game is.

“He would not only enjoy the game but end up better educated from the experience. For years the AFL was better organised than the NRL.

“That is no longer the case. Under Peter V’landys’ leadership the NRL has now become the premier sport in Australia.

“As a former Premier, Jeff should recognise a good Premier. I do.”

Beattie pointed out that the NRL had been the first to return from Covid, had a flourishing competition in the Pacific and was about to take their games to America.

He added: “NRL has a Chairman the game wants to stay. The AFL??”

AFL MELTDOWN OVER LAS VEGAS NRL AD

A former Victorian Premier, an ex-AFL chief executive, a legendary player and thousands of Australian Rules fans have gone into a jealous meltdown over Las Vegas’ boast that rugby league is “Australia’s biggest sport.”

“Crap,” roared former Premier and ex-Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett while AFL grand winner Kane Cornes claimed the NRL’s statement was “delusional.”

Racing NSW CEO Peter V’landys torments Racing Victoria – and he is now upsetting the AFL as rugby league commission chairman.

A giant LED light display adorns Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, to kickstart an advertising and promotional blitz for rugby league’s double-header in March, with the slogan: ‘Australia’s biggest sport unleashed in Vegas.’

The international exposure for rugby league in the glitzy gambling mecca of the world has triggered some resentment from the AFL. While the AFL looks to play a season-opening double-header in Sydney, rugby league will be on the world stage.

Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas advertises the historic NRL double header in March. Credit: Twitter

The Facebook page AFL Memes Official, which has 67,000 followers, posted: “Australia’s Biggest Sport … by what measure exactly?” It was followed by a laughing emoji and hundreds of comments from sooking AFL fans.

“We’ve got V’landys the maestro in charge and rugby league is off to Vegas. It’s further proof why rugby league is Australia’s biggest sport. The AFL can go and play at Punt Road,” said former NRL star Benny Elias.

And one rugby league club CEO said: “V’landys has got under their skin again.”

Asked about rugby league’s “Australia’s biggest sport” self-praise, former Hawks boss Kennett said: “Crap. Facts don’t support that argument. AFL is spread throughout the country, which rugby league cannot argue.”

Predicting the Vegas game would fail to sell, Kennett added: “I wish them well and I hope they can use new technology to fill the stands in Las Vegas with people lookalikes.

“They may need to provide all those that attend with a diamond for the women and a cigar for the men. They will need a real incentive won’t they?”

Jeff Kennett was having none of the NRL’s advertisement. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Aaron Francis

Former AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou added: “I think the numbers tell a different story but if Peter (V’landys) wants to think they’re the biggest sport then fine.

“All I would say is that everything Peter does is big. I will be interested to see how it goes in Vegas, it’s a good town.”

And former Port Adelaide star Cornes added: “It’s delusional to promote it as Australia’s biggest sport. That cheeky boast is inaccurate, they’ve got it wrong.

“Probably football (soccer) would be Australia’s most popular sport, then the Australian cricket team, AFL would be third and NRL fourth.”

AFL fans on Facebook had a hissy fit over the Vegas sign with one posting: “They are dreaming, AFL by a landslide.” Another said: “Saw this and laughed so hard. Dream on, NRL.”

NRL fans revelled in the insecurity of their AFL counterparts.

“The AFL’s response is to play two stand-alone games in Sydney. Where do you think fans would rather go?” one posted. And this: “The Yanks will love it because it‘s similar to their own game but without the padding.”

One fan took a jab back, saying: “League guy: We‘re going to Vegas, baby. AFL guy: Well, well, we’re going to Kardinia Park.”

More than 13,000 tickets have already been sold for the game, many travelling fans from Australia.

In 2018, Port Adelaide and Gold Coast Suns played in China before an official attendance of 10,689.