Vegas Again/2025 and WCC

[Jparrish]

https://www.rugby-league.com/article/62937/england-women-to-face-jillaroos-in-las-vegas

 

Big development.. 

[Jim from Oz]

It's all confirmed !

FOUR matches: Penrith v Cronulla, Canberra v NZ Warriors, Wigan v Warrington, Women's Test Australia v England

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/cleary-s-penrith-to-spearhead-las-vegas-quadruple-header-in-2025-20240709-p5jsar.html

[Damien]

 

 

[Jim from Oz]

From the SMH story:

"Wigan and Warrington will kickstart proceedings at 1.30pm local time, or 8.30am in Australia, followed by the Raiders and Warriors, the Jillaroos and Lionesses, and the Panthers-Sharks clash."

[Damien]

 

 

[Jim from Oz]

Four games in a row, with the NRL games split, seems rather … odd !

[eal]

What happens to the WCC if any of these teams win their respective championship?

[Jim from Oz]

https://www.nrl.com/news/2024/07/09/rugby-league-las-vegas-festival-2025---bigger-bolder-better/

[Damien]

Just now, eal said:

What happens to the WCC if any of these teams win their respective championship?

That was my fear from the start if this, it doesn't even seem to have been thought about. 

[eal]

Just now, Damien said:

That was my fear from the start if this, it doesn't even seem to have been thought about. 

Knowing RL, they are probably hoping to get lucky and have none of the Las Vegas teams qualify for the WCC.

[Jim from Oz]

2 minutes ago, Damien said:

That was my fear from the start if this, it doesn't even seem to have been thought about. 

The SMH story that I have linked above notes:

"Where the NRL teams will be based is still being finalised, as is the venue and date for the World Club Challenge."

[Jim from Oz]

https://www.nrl.com/news/2024/07/09/jillaroos-want-vegas-test-to-inspire-next-generation/

[eal]

I did see that, but it doesn't answer the question about what happens if a Las Vegas team also qualifies for the WCC. I'm guessing they'll just take the highest finisher in each league who hasn't qualified for Las Vegas which likely guarantees St Helens vs a random NRL team.

[Damien]

Interesting:

 

[ATLANTISMAN]

12 minutes ago, Jim from Oz said:

Four games in a row, with the NRL games split, seems rather … odd !

Bonkers 

[Damien]

3 minutes ago, eal said:

I did see that, but it doesn't answer the question about what happens if a Las Vegas team also qualifies for the WCC. I'm guessing they'll just take the highest finisher in each league who hasn't qualified for Las Vegas which likely guarantees St Helens vs a random NRL team.

Which isn't a WCC and no one would consider it as such.

[Damien]

That's a long day for even the most committed RL fan.  I couldnt do around 9 hours in a stadium:

Edited July 9 by Damien

[Eddie]

While I welcome this absolutely, the timing of the day seems odd, would be much better over two days with an NRL game in each. There won’t be many in for Wire v . 

[Gerrumonside ref]

32 minutes ago, Damien said:

That's a long day for even the most committed RL fan.  I couldnt do around 9 hours in a stadium:

These marathons never seem to fill the stadium as hoped for and that lesson is never learned by future organisers.

[Phil W]

I'm pleased there's UK involvement here. Well done to Warrington and Wigan for stepping up and organising. I'd rather see us try things and potentially fail than sit and do the same while failing. 

[Henson Park Old Firm]

Great news... hopefully the NRL can see the value of SL and invest. For the people who are complaining about it already, you'd be complaining if the Wigan, Warrington weren't included...So stop having a "keyboard Warrior" whinge and embrace it.

[Henson Park Old Firm]

https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/world-club-challenge-2025-details-as-super-league-las-vegas-plan-mapped-out

[Mark S]

2 hours ago, Damien said:

That's a long day for even the most committed RL fan.  I couldnt do around 9 hours in a stadium:

Tbf there’s plenty of things to do if you fancy a break from the Rugby.

[Dunbar]

I am confused about the whole schedule as it seems to try and cover all the bases and seems to cover none.

The whole schedule is built around the Australian TV audience but the first NRL game kicks off at 11:00am AEDT.  I am very surprised they have scheduled the Women's test match between the NRL games and not before so the NRL games would have been 1.00pm and 3.30pm AEDT.  I guess that shows how valuable the Australians see the growth in the women's game and its profile.

Just the Warrington Wigan game works for the UK tv audience with a 9.30pm GMT kick off - after that, I guess it will be hard core UK fans only watching (or later on catch up).

It will be a good weekend for anyone who goes over, although I share the thoughts that 4 games in a day is a lot for even hard core fans and so the stadium will not be full at any point.

And I am delighted for the England women to get a chance to play the Jillaroos and on such a stage.

[casrhino]

Went last march had a great time,as for 4 games in a row the cheap seats are like comparing first class and cattle class on a plane.Already booked for next year (just happens to drop on my birthday).Only thing is you will need your check book nowt cheep inside.Plus if not been before you need a see through bag to carry owt in.