NRL Las Vegas news: Manly coach’s fresh South Sydney swipe opens old wounds

Manly coach Anthony Seibold has reignited his feud with South Sydney and Anthony Demetriou, accusing his old club of failing to promote the game in Las Vegas.

The fuse has been lit for next week’s historic season-opener with Sea Eagles coach Anthony Seibold calling out the Rabbitohs for failing to promote the game in Las Vegas by basing themselves in San Diego.

Manly is the only team to be based in Vegas for the double-header, with the other three clubs setting up camp in California before they arrive in Sin City for the matches at Allegiant Stadium.

That wasn’t lost on Seibold who had a crack at South Sydney coach Jason Demetriou who quipped that he’d put some money behind the bar for Sea Eagles players to enjoy themselves before the game.

Seibold used to coach the Rabbitohs and famously had some words in the media with Demetriou when he moved to Brisbane.

“It would be nice if the Bunnies came and promoted the game in Las Vegas,” Seibold said at Sydney Airport before flying out to the States via Fiji.

“One of the reasons we’re going there 11 days beforehand is to promote the game.

“The NRL have wanted to take the game to Las Vegas so we’re doing our job. All our training sessions are open sessions so supporters and the media are more than welcome to come to all of our sessions.

“We’ve got a lot of corporates and members and supporters coming across so we want to do the right thing by the game.

“I’m not concerned about other clubs.

Roosters set to fly out in a few mins. Looks like Newcastle and Manly will be on the same plane to Fiji. The sea eagles have a short stopover before they get to Vegas pic.twitter.com/JonUzg3r64

— Martin Gabor (@MartinJGabor) February 21, 2024

“Every team has their own way to prepare, but we feel obligated and obliged to promote the game in Las Vegas where the game is being played.

“There have been some comments from others, but that’s okay. We know what we need to do to minimise those distractions. We’ve got a fantastic group of adults in our squad and there’s a lot of trust.

“We want to promote the game and be visible in Vegas.”

PVL ‘RAN OFF THE ROAD

Excitement around the NRL’s venture into Las Vegas has reached fever pitch with fans, with one almost running ARL Commission boss Peter V’landys off a Sydney road on Tuesday night.

At first, V’landys feared he’d found himself in a road rage incident only to discover it was a fan praising him over the season opener in America.

“Someone ran me off the road last night,” V’landys revealed.

“He was beeping (at me). I thought I must have gotten into his lane.

“But in actual fact he was yelling (with two thumbs up) ‘Vegas Vegas’.

“I don’t know why, I can’t explain it but it has captured everyone’s imagination. Everywhere I go, that’s all people want to talk to me about. Before it always used to be about Covid and know it’s just about Vegas.”

INJURED ROOSTER FLIES TO LA

From Gosford Hospital to Sydney Airport, then Los Angeles and finally, the bright lights of Las Vegas.

Injured Sydney Roosters star recruit Dominic Young was among the Tricolours flying to the US on Wednesday morning ahead of the club’s season opener against Brisbane on March 3.

Young, who was taken from last weekend’s trial against Manly in an ambulance to Gosford Hospital for neck scans, isn’t expected to play in Las Vegas after the Roosters said in a statement the flying winger sustained a “soft tissue” injury from a Tof Sippley crusher tackle and was being treated “conservatively” by the club’s medical staff.

Dominic Young arrives at Sydney Airport ahead of the flight to the US. Picture: Rohan Kelly

Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, who announced on Tuesday this would be his last season, was also at the airport with his bags packed for the Roosters’ training base at the prestigious University of California (UCLA) before heading to Vegas where he will be a spectator due to a suspension.

Skipper James Tedesco has declared champion forward Waerea-Hargreaves has “set the benchmark” for front-rowers and that “it won’t be the same” when the three-time premiership winner leaves the club at the end of the year.

RABBITOHS’ KID LAROI OFFER

Australian hip-hop artist The Kid Laroi is hoping to play host to his favourite footy team, the Rabbitohs.

One of the most successful solo artists in the world, Laroi is eager for South Sydney’s training schedule to coincide with the team being able to visit his mansion in Los Angeles.

The Rabbitohs have just arrived in San Diego to commence their preparation for a historic Las Vegas kick-off against the Sea Eagles.

The Bunnies players will be given leisure time during their training schedule to take in the sights of the US following a training session on Friday.

Laroi is a tragic Rabbitohs fan having been born and raised in the heart of South Sydney, in Waterloo.

Greg Inglis presents Kid Laroi with a Rabbitohs jersey. Picture: Facebook

Laroi grew-up in housing commission before emerging as one of the biggest solo performers in the world, with mega-hit Stay in 2021, with Justin Bieber.

The Kid Laroi has 3.9 million followers on Instagram, with his followers including Rabbitohs superstar Latrell Mitchell.

In 2022, Souths legend Greg Inglis gifted Kid Laroi a Rabbitohs jersey.

“Glad to present @thekidlaroi with an old school South jersey from an old school guy (me),” Inglis wrote on Instagram.

“The Kid Laroi told me he’d go past Redfern oval back a few years ago and while we would be training, he was planning his dream about making music and performing on the big stage.

“Fast forward a few years and here he is absolutely owning it. Good to see he has returned back to where it all started.”

Originally published as NRL Las Vegas news: Manly coach’s fresh South Sydney swipe opens old wounds