Rugby league supporters packed Fremont Street in their thousands as the NRL’s Las Vegas launch delivered a chaotic mix of fan interaction, player antics and street-level theatre ahead of the 2026 season opener at Allegiant Stadium.
More than 16,000 fans filled the Fremont Street Experience, lining barricades and balconies to watch players from Australia and England walk a red carpet through the historic entertainment strip.
Jerseys from clubs across both competitions were visible throughout the precinct, while chants broke out regularly as teams emerged one by one.
The crowd reaction intensified when Greg Marzhew stepped forward and performed a backflip on stage, drawing loud cheers from supporters gathered below.
The Newcastle winger’s coach Justin Holbrook downplayed the risk.
‘And I know he does ’em well. Yeah, I might’ve been worried,’ Holbrook said.
Newcastle’s Greg Marzhew stole the show at the NRL season launch in Vegas with his dance moves
Marzhew even imitated Olympic breakdancer Raygun on stage to the delight of his teammates
Thousands of Aussies, English supporters and curious Americans flooded in to see the four NRL sides
Newcastle teammate Kalyn Ponga dubbed Marzhew’s dance moves the ‘MVP’ performance of the night, with the outside back also imitating Olympic breakdancer Raygun’s infamous moves.
Cowboys forward Rueben Cotter drew a strong reaction simply by walking onto the stage, with fans cheering his mullet and calling out his name from the front rows.
Stephen Crichton wore Meta smart glasses during his appearance, recording footage as he walked through the crowd, while Ponga acknowledged the scale of the turnout.
‘This is wild. It’s insane,’ Ponga said.
‘To see so many fans here, it’s awesome. Let’s make some noise Knights fans, let me hear you,’ he added.
Supporters from English clubs Hull Kingston Rovers and Leeds Rhinos added to the atmosphere, singing club songs throughout the night and creating scenes rarely seen outside traditional rugby league markets.
NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo said the mix of fans and teams highlighted the event’s international reach.
‘The English fans have added a whole other dimension of tribalism,’ Abdo said.
Cowboys co-captain Reuben Cotter became a cult hit with the US crowd because of his mullet
Dragons star Clint Gutherson soaked up the rock star energy from the crowd at the launch
Thousands of Aussies and English supporters have travelled to Nevada for the event
Players remained on the street long after their scheduled appearances, signing autographs and speaking with supporters.
One Cowboys fan stood at the barricade with several player signatures written across his shaved head and said he was considering making them permanent.
‘You know what. I just might,’ he said.
Boxer Jai Opetaia, who attended the event, summed up the mood.
‘This is f***ing crazy. Look at Australia … this is something to be proud of,’ Opetaia said.
The Las Vegas launch forms part of the NRL’s ongoing international strategy, with ARLC chairman Peter V’Landys reiterating the importance of the American venture.
‘Vegas will always be the anchor event, we’re here for the long haul – as long as we get the revenues, we’ll be here,’ he said.
‘I thought it was big the first year, we toppled it the second year, now it’s bigger again. I’ve never seen this many people.’
Attention now turns to Allegiant Stadium, where three matches will be played as part of the opening weekend schedule.
The action begins with Hull Kingston Rovers facing Leeds Rhinos, giving English supporters who travelled to Las Vegas an early opportunity to see their teams on American soil.
That will be followed by the NRL season opener between the Newcastle Knights and North Queensland Cowboys, before the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs take on the St George Illawarra Dragons to close the triple-header.
Australian viewers can watch all three matches live on Sunday, March 1 (AEDT), with kickoff times scheduled for approximately 10am AEDT, 1pm AEDT and 4pm AEDT respectively, broadcast live on Fox League and Kayo Sports.
