JUST IN:NRL In Las Vegas,Panthers rally late as Raiders ease to victory……..Read more 

 

 

A late score from Daine Laurie gave Penrith Panthers victory over the Cronulla Sharks; Canberra Raiders beat the New Zealand Warriors comfortably in the NRL opener as 50,000 fans watch on in Vegas;

Reigning Premiership winners Penrith Panthers produced an exciting late victory as Canberra Raiders eased to a first win of the season as NRL went Stateside at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

An exciting day of action ensued as Rugby League travelled crossed continents in its continuing mission to convert Americans to football without pads, drawing 50,000 fans to Allegiant stadium where the grit of the sport mixed with the glamour of the entertainment capital.

Curious locals mixed with traveling fans of teams from Australia, New Zealand and England on a day that saw four matches: two from Australia’s National Rugby League (NRL), one from England’s Super League and a women’s international between world champion Australia and England.

The day delivered tries galore, big hits and a cliff-hanger finale. The NRL has committed until 2028 to play regular season matches in Las Vegas as part of a strategic plan to win an international audience for the sport.

Australia has been courting the US market since 1987 when it played a State of Origin match between New South Wales and Queensland in Long Beach. Sunday’s crowd was an improvement on last season when 40,746 people watched the Manly Sea Eagles play the South Sydney Rabbitohs and the Sydney Roosters play the Brisbane Broncos.