NRL Vegas day 4 video special: The latest from the Sharks, Raiders, Warriors and Panthers in the US

The NRL head office is pulling out all stops to lure Donald Trump to the quadruple-header on Sunday, while also striking a deal to promote WrestleMania at the ground. WATCH THE LATEST FROM VEGAS

The NRL continues to hold out hope that US president Donald Trump will be at Allegiant Stadium on Sunday afternoon (AEDT).

Vegas Con understands that head office is pulling out all stops to lure Trump to Las Vegas to watch the quadruple header.

They remain in the dark about his movements. Hopefully it helps that the Trump International Towers is only a stone’s throw from where players and officials are staying in Las Vegas at Resorts World.

LENIU THE TALK OF THE TOWN

Spencer Leniu was the talk of Las Vegas 12 months ago and his name has reared its head again in Sin City as the NRL counts down to their season opener.

There have been murmurs in recent weeks that Leniu is unsettled at the Sydney Roosters and the scuttlebutt has found its way to Las Vegas.

However, Vegas Con can reveal that the rumour has been shot down by both the club and his agent, Joe Nakat.

They insist Leniu has no issues on that front.

His immediate future is more of a concern after being charged with a grade-two careless high tackle following Sunday’s 48-10 loss to Newcastle in Gosford.

The 24-year-old was put on report and sin-binned three minutes into the match for a brutal hit on Knights hooker Phoenix Crossland, with his shoulder connecting with the Knights hooker’s chin.

Leniu can accept the two-game suspension or fight it at the judiciary and risk being rubbed out for three games.

The Roosters will be forced to face Brisbane and Penrith without the fiery forward, in a further blow to their early season hopes.

Trent Robinson will kick off the season without Sam Walker, Brandon Smith, Billy Smith and now Leniu.

NRL’S WRESTLEMANIA MOMENT

The NRL agreed to help promote WrestleMania 41 after striking a deal to work with the WWE in the lead-up to their Las Vegas extravaganza.

Rugby league has already benefited from the collaboration — former player and Triple M radio host Aaron Woods featured on an episode of Raw last week, helping the game reach an audience of nearly 5 million people.

Now it’s the rugby league’s turn to return the favour by helping promote wrestling’s showpiece event in Las Vegas during Sunday’s (AEDT) games.

WrestleMania will be held at Allegiant Stadium on April 19-20. The wrestling world has been abuzz with speculation that Dwayne Johnson — aka The Rock — will make his in-ring return in Las Vegas.

The Rock famously took to social media two years ago in a show of support for the Samoan rugby league team before the 2022 World Cup final.

Aaron Woods and the NRL logo made a short appearance at WrestleMania.

STRIPPED BARE

What does it take to turn the bustling Las Vegas Strip into a ghost town?

A fun run.

The famous strip was momentarily empty on Sunday evening (local time) after being closed to traffic for The Rock n Roll running series.

Runners in the 10km and half marathon events went up and down Las Vegas Boulevard without a car in sight, and road closures brought nearby traffic to a standstill.

It was eerily quiet before the runners made their way along the course, but quickly went back to the usual Vegas madness afterwards.

There was another cool element to the run, a giant 40-storey screen — dubbed “the world’s biggest selfie” — was beamed onto the side of the Hilton Hotel in Resorts World where

runners could stop for photos during the 10km and half-marathon races.

The world's biggest selfie on the side of the Hilton Hotel in Resorts World, Las Vegas.

WARRIORS vs. WARRIORS

The respective Warriors – Wigan and New Zealand – will take part in an opposed scrimmage session to help with both teams’ lead-ups to their respective clashes at Las Vegas.

The NRL and Super League club have agreed to a hitout on Friday just days out from their matches where Wigan will take on Warrington and the Warriors play Canberra.

Penrith have already arranged a training session against Warrington on the same day leaving the Raiders and the Sharks as the odd teams out.

The Wigan squad is filled with NRL talent including Bevan French, Jai Field, Luke Thompson and former New Zealand Warrior Adam Keighran.

It will be an important part of each team’s preparations as they adjust to the Las Vegas conditions including the shortened width of the surface at Allegiant Stadium.

New Zealand Warriors coach Andrew Webster has all but settled on his starting 17 with just one bench spot up for grabs.

“We are pretty close,” Webster said. “That No.17 spot we are umming and ahhing but we have our 16. There are not many secrets.

“Every week most teams struggle with who is going to play No.17. You worry about the opposition or the team dynamic. Do we need to carry two hookers, a utility player or an outside back? You just need to give yourself time to see how training goes.”

Aaron Woods on Las Vegas television on Sunday.

WOODSY’S PR TOUR CONTINUES

The NRL are certainly getting their money’s worth out of retired international star Aaron Woods.

Fresh from mingling with sport stars across the country, Woods fronted a local television program called Sports Wrap on KLAS 8 to spread the good word of rugby league to the locals.

KNIGHTS SIGN COWBOYS GUN

Newcastle have taken the first step to replacing Leo Thompson by signing North Queensland young gun Will Sullivan.

Sullivan is a graduate of the Cowboys’ Young Guns program and played a handful of games last year with their Queensland Cup side.

He is on a development deal at the Cowboys this season and it is understood he has agreed terms to join the Knights next year as they look to strengthen their pack following the loss of Thompson.

The Knights are yet to agree deals with a handful of their current forwards. Adam Elliott, Jack Hetherington, Kai Pearce-Paul and Jayden Brailey could all be on the move at the end of the year.

BURGESS RACES THE CLOCK FOR VISA

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.

Sam Burgess missed Warrington’s flight to Las Vegas ahead of the rugby league extravaganza. Picture: Getty

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: The latest from the Sharks, Raiders, Warriors and Panthers in the US