Las Vegas Confidential: Xavier Savage proposes to partner Taliah Simbolon at the Bellagio

It wasn’t quite a shotgun wedding at the infamous Elvis chapel but Raiders star Xavier Savage pulled off the perfect Las Vegas proposal after months of planning. SEE THE PICTURES

Raiders winger Xavier Savage after proposing to his partner, Taliah Simbolon, in front of the Bellagio Hotel and Casino fountains. Picture: Sam Gibson

Love is in the air in Las Vegas.

While his Canberra teammates Hudson Young and Morgan Smithies have hogged the limelight following their hotel lift bust-up, Raiders flyer Xavier Savage has recorded his own memory in Sin City.

Savage proposed to his partner Taliah Simbolon in front of the stunning Bellagio Hotel and Casino fountains on the famous Vegas strip.

The Raiders were given a day off on Sunday (local time) before ramping up their preparations for Sunday’s (AEDT) NRL season opener against the Warriors at Allegiant Stadium.

Savage spent months preparing the surprise proposal and even organised for Raiders photographer Sam Gibson to turn up at the Bellagio right on cue to capture these stunning images.

Taliah said “yes” and Savage will start on the wing for the Raiders in round 1. We asked and the pair have no plans to make the engagement official at a Vegas Elvis chapel.

Xavier Savage proposes to Taliah Simbolon. Picture: Sam Gibson

Taliah said “yes”! Picture: Sam Gibson

PANTHERS’ BRUSH WITH UFC STAR

Penrith players had an unexpected training partner on Tuesday morning (AEDT) when they turned up at the UFC Apex Centre to find Russian Magomed Ankalaev preparing for his upcoming light heavyweight title fight.

As the Panthers players worked out in the gym, Ankalaev — who will fight UFC champion Alex Pereira next week — was using the adjacent hyperbaric chamber.

The Panthers completed a weights session in the Apex centre, where they shoot UFC’s Contender Series, and then moved to the neighbouring high performance institute to do their recovery. The

UFC high-performance centre has become a home away from home for NRL teams in Las Vegas. All four teams used the facility last year and this year’s contingent are set to follow suit — the Warriors departed the venue just before the Panthers arrived.

IN LUKE WE TRUST

The post-Shaun Johnson era has officially begun at the Warriors and experienced fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad says Luke Metcalf is ready for the job.

Metcalf steps into Johnson’s No.7 jersey when the Warriors take on Canberra to kickstart their season. Nicoll-Klokstad is adamant Metcalf won’t be overawed by the extra pressure of directing the team around.

“It’s been cool to see Luke Metcalf step into his own shoes and try and make that jersey his own,” Nicoll-Klokstad said. “He has done a really good job. He has taken every moment with both hands. I can’t wait to see him develop.

“You see glimpses of it. It’s nice to see he has been given the opportunity.”

WARRIORS STAR’S EPIC TV PERFORMANCE

Speaking of Metcalf, the charismatic halfback could have a future in television once his NRL career ends after an eye-catching appearance on local Las Vegas television on Tuesday AEDT.

The 25-year-old joined host JC Fernandez on KLAS’ Las Vegas Now show to talk up this weekend’s NRL extravaganza at Allegiant Stadium and the fan hub on Fremont Street.

But Metcalf didn’t miss the opportunity to convert a legion of Las Vegas fans to the Warriors’ cause when Fernandez asked: “Could you give someone who’s watching, maybe something they could say at the game that will make them sound like a regular rugby fan?”

Metcalf took his moment.

Luke Metcalf presents Las Vegas Now host JC Fernandez with a Warriors jersey after being interviewed live on air at their KLAS-TV Channel 8 studio in Las Vegas. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Metcalf was relaxed as he talked up the NRL. Picture: Jonathan Ng

“One thing you’d say is ‘Up the Wahs’,” Metcalf said. “It’s a slogan that took over the rugby league fandom.

“We’ve got Steve Kerr, the coach of the Golden State Warriors, to say it.

“So if you just scream ‘Up the Wahs’, you’ll have about 20,000 people there wanting to be your best friend.”

Metcalf was a special guest alongside country music band The Texas Tenors, the three-time Emmy award-winning trio and 2022 Texas Country Music Hall of Fame inductees who rose to prominence on America’s Got Talent in 2009.

Luke Metcalf was thrilled to get Fernandez screaming “Up the Wahs” on live TV. Picture: Jonathan Ng

SPOTTED

Penrith Panthers players spent Sunday night at the virtual U2 concert at the Las Vegas Sphere. U2 were the first live concert event at the venue and, with tickets from $140 to $330AUD, the V-U2 An Immersive Concert Film relives the band’s performance. The Panthers were big fans.

SUPER BOWL PARTY HITS VEGAS

Las Vegas is renowned for its celebrity visitors and Vegas Con can reveal some of the biggest names in the NFL have been in town.

A handful of players from the Philadelphia Eagles, who won the Super Bowl only a matter of weeks ago, were at Wynn Resorts at the weekend – just across the road from where the NRL teams are staying at Resorts World.

Leading the charge was running back Saquon Barkley as the players started their evening with a private dinner at Delilah Supper Club before making a trip to XS Nightclub.

Vegas Con was unable to confirm whether Australian Jordan Mailata was among the players enjoying their recent success. If he wasn’t there, it sounds like he missed out.

LEOTA’S AMERICAN FAMILY REUNION

Penrith’s trip to Las Vegas for the season opener has doubled as a family reunion for prop Moses Leota.

Leota has extended family in Miami and will meet many of them for the first time on Saturday.

“I have some family flying over from Miami,” Leota said. “They are originally from Samoa but have pretty much lived here their whole life. This is pretty much going to be my first time I get to see them, so that will be pretty cool.”

Asked wether he would meet them before or after the game, the no-nonsense Leota gave a blunt response.

“After — business first,” he said.

Dana White has reluctantly pulled out of blowing the Viking horn at Allegiant Stadium.

RAIDERS SUFFER HORN BLOW

Canberra have failed in their ambitious bid to have UFC boss Dana White blow the Viking horn at Allegiant Stadium.

Vegas Con understands that White was keen to take part in the tradition but is unable to attend the NRL extravagance in Sin City because of a schedule clash – there is a UFC event on the same day as the rugby league quadruple header.

The Raiders had hoped that White would be able to come to the game, blow the horn and then head to UFC headquarters. However, it is now understood that White will not attend the NRL event, leaving the Raiders to explore alternative options.