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March 2024 n Volume 14 Issue 3

n Forgive the optimism – this is rugby league after all – but the mood in these opening weeks of the 2024 season isn’t too shabby. Round one of Betfred Super League saw a total attendance across the six fixtures of 76,699, ten per cent more than any other six-game opening round, and also the best ever average crowd for a fir st round of 12,783. Week two saw a sell-out Betfred World Club Challenge at the DW Stadium, a spectacular occasion that put the concept well and tr uly on the map in which Wigan sensationally did the Super League proud as Saints had last year. Penrith – superb in defeat – will be sick of the sight of Poms. And then there was Vegas, with a crowd of just over 40,000 and many a viral moment – Lachlan Ilias’s ankle tap, Joey Manu’s flick pass, Reece Walsh’s swan dive with tongue out... it was a tr uly impressive event and marketing campaign to set the NRL five-year ball rolling. There was widespread local community involvement too, with talk now of the Jillaroos playing, a future wheelchair element and a UK presence in terms of either a World Club or couple of Super League fixtures down the line. A large number of British fans were present without any of that on the menu so adding a couple of clubs, as seen when Wigan and Hull went to Australia, could easily put another 5-6,000 on the gate. Press reaction was largely positive too. Nick Tedeschi in The Guardian summed it up best: “The NRL has proven itself capable of delivering. For once, the clubs are united. Rugby league may not be the world game – yet – but it has proven itself capable of thriving on a global stage.” Senior commentator Andrew Voss posted: “I think I am going to cr y – I’ve spent 38 year s covering rugby league and this is the biggest event of my lifetime.”

Quite an impact: Crowds have flocked to games so far, including Hull’s round four defeat in Perpignan SWpix.com

Vegas ups the ante

n tonyhannan@for ty-20.com philcaplan@for ty-20.com n

Souths talisman Latrell Mitchell said: “This buzz is exactly the same as a decider in Origin in Brisbane or like a grand final... even Magic Round – but on steroids.” The architect, Australian RL Commission chair Peter V’landys, said it was “ver y surreal” being in Vegas, excited for what may come off the back of it. “It gives the

game the biggest oppor tunity in many year s to reach a new market and a substantial market. We never had the oppor tunity because we’ve never had the technology. Apps and different types of platforms of broadcast give us that and we’ve got to take it. We’re a world game. This is star t, this is the foundation.” Lewis Wiltshire, senior vicepresident and managing director, digital, for IMG declared: “Rugby league is a brilliant spor t for this – a sense of community and a love for the game that goes beyond suppor ting just one team. “The NFL communities you see internationally are similar. Spor t at its best – and something to nur ture and protect as it grows.” With the NRL funding a 9s competition for local men’s and women’s teams and running a

combine, together with a senior men’s international and Masters taking place, there was gratitude from USARL and Canada RL, the latter posting: “A special thanks to the NRL for match official, coaching courses, 9s oppor tunities and player talent ID to help us grow the game at grassroots.” The recently reconstituted US governing body, meanwhile, issued a statement saying: “The NRL's commitment to engage the US league community went beyond the matches. This comprehensive approach not only brought professional rugby league action to American fans but also provided an immersive experience for player s and enthusiasts alike, fostering a deeper connection to the spor t here on American soil.” The only downside, apar t

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Match of the Month 15 Wigan are on top of the world

Kiwis go for Stacey 5 Trevor Baxter’s monthly profile Five Drives & A Kick 7 Vegas, league’s women pioneers, farewell Lewis Jones and more The Reality Is... 13 Brian Noble MBE has thoughts on the month’s talking points Refs in the spotlight 18 Red cards spark SL controversy Stand Up for League 21 Ian Boldswor th sounds off London’s tough start 22 Broncos look for positives

teamsheet

The personal touch 24 What makes a head coach? Louie the Lip 26 It’s Louie McCar thy-Scar sbrook Road to Wembley 27 The big guns’ loins are girded! Priim and Proper 29 Danika on the Challenge Cup Championship scene 30 Paul Cooke goes club-by-club... League 1 matters 32 ...and Matt Rigby does likewise

Wheels on Fire 35 Tom Halliwell’s monthly column My Life in League 36 Jodie Cunningham’s journey Development USA 40 Las Vegas wasn’t just about NRL Latham’s Loft 42 Rochdale’s celebrity superstar A call for inclusion 46 James Child likes what he sees League on TV 49 RSW tunes in and turns on Any Other Business 50 Mar tin Kelner feels grumpy

NRL spins the wheel 38 George Clark presents Footy20

March 20243Forty2043