Peter V’landys makes Las Vegas vow after NRL’s American experiment got off to a sensational start

A delighted Peter V’landys says more is to come for American audiences after the NRL made a sensational start to their venture on US soil.

Over 40,000 fans attended the Las Vegas extravaganza at Allegiant Stadium on Sunday as the Roosters, Broncos, Manly and Souths showcased the best that rugby league has to offer.

Barring a spat between Ezra Mam and Spencer Leniu over an alleged racial slur, the games went without a blemish, and a proud V’landys said that there is so much potential for growth moving forwards. 

‘We’re coming back,’ he said on Fox League. ‘This is just the foundation. 

‘It’s like building a house: we’ve done the foundation, we’ve set a benchmark, we’ve got to improve from here next year. 

Over 40,000 people attended the curtain-raiser for the new season

‘The results have got to be coming through with American viewers. It will be interesting to see how we went on Fox 1 tonight, how many viewers we got. We need to see how many subscriptions we’ve sold on WatchNRL. 

‘It’s not going to happen in the first 12 months, it will take three or four years but I am more confident than ever that we can make tens, if not hundreds, of millions of dollars for the game that’ll go back into grassroots and the Hindy and Fletch Show.’

More than half of the Allegiant Stadium crowd were said by NRL sources to have come from outside Australia and England, in an early mark of success.

And the locals were given high-quality matches to witness, even though some at the back of the Allegiant Stadium press box were left to label the game they witnessed as ‘barbaric’.

As Manly piled on 36 points against South Sydney, Garrick celebrated with a pre-planned ‘Gronk spike’, hoping to earn a shout out from the legendary NFL tight end.

The play of the day belonged to Manu, who produced a wild no-look flick pass to put winger Fetalaiga Pauga over in the right wing to help the Roosters to their 20-10 win over Brisbane.

Manu’s move came in a near identical spot to where Kansas City quarterback Mahomes threw the Super Bowl winning pass to Mecole Hardman in overtime a little less than three weeks ago.

‘I didn’t realise it was that corner,’ Roosters coach Trent Robinson quipped.

‘But Joey Manu, he was here to play tonight.

‘I love that we can put that skill on show. Joey is one of the guys who can do that and pull it off.’