Jillaroos stars keen to take women’s rugby league to Las Vegas in 2025

The men have had their fun, but now the women want in on the action too, plus find out what your club needs to do to earn a start in Sin City in 2025.

The men have had their fun, and now the women want in on it too.

The historic season opener in Las Vegas was a raging success for the NRL and conversations have already started on how to showcase the women’s game in America next year.

Every idea is on the table, from an international test featuring the Jillaroos, a State of Origin opener or an exhibition match – all of which would bring eyeballs and attention to women’s rugby league in Australia.

Jillaroos coach Brad Donald has been in Las Vegas for the past week working on the NRL combine, the Nines competition and referees programs, and says its important to look at ways to expose the women’s game to the land of opportunity.

“The Jillaroos players discussed this at their camp in January and really want to help promote the game in North America, but there’s a number of concepts that could work,” he says.

“There’s probably five or six different ways we could skin it, but we need to make sure it’s an international or State of Origin game at the very least.

A Jillaroos vs. England Test would bring two set sof fans to Las Vegas. Picture: Getty Images

“There’s so many concepts, this is what we’ve got to look into.

“We could introduce them to a Nines concept.

“The Jillaroos haven’t played England since 2013 and they’re travelling really well. Jillaroos v England could bring people from the UK across as well.

“We’ve got to make sure while we’re (in Vegas), we expose the Americans to the male and female product.”

Give them the best possible game and fans will flock.

It’s long been a mantra of the NRL’s elite female players and showcasing the best of the best in Vegas is the ultimate plan.

Women’s Origin would be a great showcase for the game in America. Picture: Getty Images

Playing an Origin game in Vegas would open a logistical can of worms, but from a product standpoint there is no better.

It would go hand-in-hand with NRLW expansion plans too, exposing untapped talent in North America to the possibilities in Australia.

Canberra are already keen on signing American athlete Liz Tafuna from the Vegas NRL talent combine, which showcased 25 men and 25 women in a scouting test for club executives.

Female winners MarCaya Bailous and Megan Pakulis will also come to Australia for elite training.

“It’s an awesome opportunity, if we’re thinking expansion, we’ve got enough talent in Australia already but we’re going to find a whole host of extraordinary athletes in North America who can play, and hopefully it brings fans and people’s eyes to the NRLW too.”

WHICH NRL CLUBS WANT A PLANE TICKET FOR VEGAS 2025 SHOWCASE

The NRL hasn’t ruled out allowing the same four clubs to return to Las Vegas in coming seasons as they prepare to gauge the appetite from the 13 remaining teams for the right to kickstart round one in 2025.

Already it is understood the likes of Penrith, Canberra and Cronulla are pushing their case to be part of the double header at Allegiant Stadium next year.

NRL boss Andrew Abdo said they would look to fast-track the applicant process this year.

“We have a commission meeting planned for the day after the couple header,” Abdo said. “Part of that will be a debrief and discussion of what worked and what didn’t. Immediately we will start turning our attention how we can make this bigger and stronger.

“That includes the criteria for opening up invitations for clubs to compete next year. We will run a process very quickly because one thing we have leaner is the longer leeway we give clubs and fans, the better off we ware.

“We want to waste no time rolling into the plans for next year and that includes the clubs that are travelling.”

Ten clubs put their hands up to take part this year. Only New Zealand, Parramatta, Dragons, Knights, Cowboys, Tigers, Panthers declined.

Could the Sea Eagles be back in Las Vegas in 2025? Picture: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

“That includes the criteria for opening up invitations for clubs to compete next year. We will run a process very quickly because one thing we have leaner is the longer leeway we give clubs and fans, the better off we ware.

“We want to waste no time rolling into the plans for next year and that includes the clubs that are travelling.”

Ten clubs put their hands up to take part this year. Only New Zealand, Parramatta, Dragons, Knights, Cowboys, Tigers, Panthers declined.

Penrith are pushing hard to take a match to the US as their stadium is being redeveloped.

Panthers skipper Isaah Yeo said he was keen to travel to America to play.

“Our CEO is trying to get on the front foot,” Yeo said. “We’ve love to get over there. It would be unreal.”

Penrith is tipped to win a ticket to Las Vegas in 2025. Picture: Mark Evans/Getty Images

Clubs were asked last year to put forward a proposal to the NRL and nominate if they wanted to be the home or away team.

Despite plans to rotate the teams during the course of the NRL five year commitment to take games to Las Vegas, Abdo has not quashed the hopes of any of the four teams – South Sydney, Manly, the Roosters or Brisbane – from taking part again.

“We will invite all clubs to participate,” Abdo said. “It might be that a club plays more than once over the next five years. That is a call we haven’t made yet and the commission will have to think about.”

While Sharks captain Dale Finucane hopes the event is a success.

“I am excited to watch it,” Finucane said. “I’d love to be part of it. I did hear we are in the mix for next year. Fingers crossed.

“I really hope the American’s take to our game. I feel like it would be the type of game that they would enjoy. It’s quite combative. They enjoy NFL, ice hockey and UFC.”

Originally published as Jillaroos stars keen to take women’s rugby league to Las Vegas in 2025