By Michael Chammas, Adrian Proszenko and Danny Weidler
Australian musician Delta Goodrem has been forced to withdraw as the headline entertainment act at rugby league’s season opener in Las Vegas this weekend.
Goodrem and the NRL had been in discussions to have the 40-year-old perform at Allegiant Stadium, however the impact of the Los Angeles wildfires derailed those plans.
Goodrem evacuated her Los Angeles home during the January fires and has been spending more time in Australia as a result.
It was unclear if she would be in town for the event and both parties agreed that this year would be difficult to lock down.
The NRL has instead secured LA-based Australians the Stafford Brothers, multi-ARIA award-winning artist Conrad Sewell and New Zealand hip-hop star Savage for the event.
Burgess left behind
Warrington Wolves coach Sam Burgess has been left behind in England after failing to get his visa in time for his team’s flight to Las Vegas.
The Super League club will face Wigan at Allegiant Stadium this weekend and Burgess is no guarantee to be there.
Sam Burgess is sweating on his visa being approved in time for this weekend’s rugby league action in Las Vegas.Credit: Getty Images
Burgess is still at home with his family and hopeful of getting approval in time to join his team.
Burgess recently travelled to London in the hope of fast-tracking the process but is still awaiting approval.
Should Burgess run out of time, or even be denied, assistants Martin Gleeson and Richard Marshall will take charge for the game against Super League champions Wigan, who tuned up for Vegas with a 46-4 thumping of Hull FC on the weekend.
Warrington are expected to hold a scrimmage with NRL premiers Penrith a couple of days before the four games: the Panthers play Cronulla, the New Zealand Warriors and Canberra clash, while the Jillaroos take on England.
Burgess pleaded guilty to three driving offences in 2021, but avoided any conviction and completed a traffic offenders program.
Several NRL players who have had matters dealt with by police, no matter how minor, have had to be interviewed by the US consulate before having their visas approved.
Manly’s Luke Brooks, South Sydney pair Latrell Mitchell and Jack Wighton, as well as Brisbane’s Reece Walsh were among the big names who had to visit the US consulate last year.
This year, players from the Warriors, Cronulla and Canberra, including their trio Josh Papalii, Tom Starling and Joe Tapine, were all formally interviewed before having their paperwork approved.
Penrith star Isaah Yeo and Canberra counterpart Joseph Tapine at the Golden Knights game.Credit: NRL Photos
NRL put on ice
Rugby league isn’t the only sport in town. Local NHL outfit Vegas Golden Knights hosted the Vancouver Canucks at T-Mobile Arena overnight, drawing a large crowd that included the three NRL teams already in Sin City.
Penrith star Isaah Yeo and Canberra counterpart Joseph Tapine were presented to the fans and were involved in a passing competition. The Panthers, Raiders and Warriors took in the action, while the Los Angeles-based Sharks also attended an NHL game at the Crypto Arena.
Brown and out
They once tabled Dylan Brown a contract that would have made him the richest man yet to play in the NRL, but the Warriors have decided not to have another crack at the Parramatta star.
Brown has until round 10 to decide whether to stay or leave Parramatta via a controversial contract clause. The Kiwi international’s management is seeking expressions of interest for his services, with Newcastle contemplating whether to blow the blue and golds out of the water with a long and lucrative offer.
Parramatta’s Dylan Brown on the attack against Newcastle. The Warriors have ruled out an offer for the Kiwi international.Credit: Getty Images
Brown was born in Auckland and the retirement of Shaun Johnson has prompted speculation the Warriors could again be in the mix for his services. However, the trans-Tasman outfit has opted not to get involved in a bidding war.
“With all due respect to Dylan, our club is really excited about Luke Metcalf and Chanel [Harris-Tavita],” Warriors chief executive Cameron George said.
“We’ve got Tanah Boyd and we’ve got Te Maire Martin all shooting for the halves, and we’ve got some good young kids sitting in behind them.
“We’ve never looked any further than those guys and that’s where we sit. From a Warriors perspective, we’re definitely not in either discussions or negotiations with Dylan Brown or his management.”
In 2019, the Warriors tabled Brown a long-term deal worth almost $3 million. It was a mammoth amount for a teenager who had at that stage not even played a single NRL game. On that occasion, the Warriors subsequently found out Brown had already committed to Parramatta, so neither party was able to follow through with the offer.
“I remember back in the day when ‘Sully’ [former recruiter Peter O’Sullivan] and Brian Smith were here, they spotted Dylan playing [junior football] – he was of interest back in about 2019,” George said.
“That’s certainly not the case now. No disrespect to Dylan, but we’re backing who we’ve got and what lies ahead with those kids.”
The Eels have been heavily criticised for allowing player options in contracts – Mitchell Moses and Will Penisini have them in their deals – and have vowed to cease the practice.
Trial and error
Which high-profile club boss apologised to a staff member after he berated him on the field following a trial game on the weekend?
The club boss thought the trainer was ignoring him and jumped the fence to voice his frustrations in front of shocked players and staff from both teams. The trainer explained he couldn’t hear him, prompting an apology from his boss.
Panthers shoulder the load
While Nathan Cleary and Dylan Edwards are expected to be fit for Vegas, there’s a concern a shoulder injury could rule out Liam Henry.
The Panthers have a remarkable record of playing through injuries, and we’ll have to wait and see whether Henry adds to it.
“It comes from the boys wanting to play for each other,” Panthers forward Lindsay Smith said.
“A great example – it probably doesn’t get talked about enough – on that 2021 run we went on, across the team, there were probably about 10 guys who could have missed a game if they wanted to but were all there on grand final day.”
Hawaiian, with extra cheese
If you’re looking for Penrith Panthers football chief executive Matt Cameron in Las Vegas on Tuesday night, he’ll be at the Las Vegas Elvis Wedding Chapel.
Cameron’s best friend and his wife will be renewing their vows to celebrate their 30th wedding anniversary in front of four of their friends. We’re told the dress code is Hawaiian shirt.