Hull FC throw support behind Las Vegas concept with playing declaration made

[josie andrews]

Rugby league heads to Las Vegas once again this weekend.

Hull FC head coach John Cartwright has thrown his support behind the Las Vegas concept and would love the Black and Whites to be a part of it in the future.

Super League joins the NRL in heading to Sin City this weekend, with Wigan Warriors and Warrington Wolves meeting at Allegiant Stadium this Saturday. Part of a five-year deal between the venue and the NRL, the northern hemisphere competition is set to feature at the event again next year, with Cartwright up for taking his Black and Whites outfit stateside in the seasons to come.

The Australian head coach was a part of the first rugby league game in Las Vegas last year while an assistant coach at Brisbane Broncos, who met Sydney Roosters, with Manly Sea Eagles also squaring off against South Sydney Rabbitohs.

Speaking on the event, which will see Canberra Raiders take on New Zealand Warriors and Carwtright's hometown club Penrith Panthers meet Cronulla Sharks—not to mention a women's international between England and Australia—the Hull coach said: "It's a great experience for the players—just to be a part of it.

"The Warrington and Wigan lads will be part of history. Whoever goes over there, it's a great experience and a great buzz - you're playing in front of 50,000 people and the whole experience - the lead up to the game, the fans - for rugby league, it's a great occasion, and for us, if we were able to be part of it, it would be great."

Hull FC CEO Richie Myler has previously spoken of the Las Vegas concept, which new club chairman Andrew Thirkill is also behind. Speaking back in January, Myler referenced his dream to play a Hull derby game there. He said: "I'd love to go, but we clearly need to be performing a lot better. That's just being honest. If we were in the top four and playing in the play-offs, then a Hull derby in Vegas would be the dream."

On the concept, he added: "Anything that broadens this game—I love rugby league, and it's all I've ever known, so anything that helps wave the flag for the sport, I'm 100 percent for.

"But our main focus at the moment is to be a better rugby league team. Our job right now is to get it right on the field so we can go and fly the flag for rugby league; our performances last year did not fly the flag for Hull FC or rugby league at all. We need to fix that problem first before anything else happens.

https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/r ... nd-9975402

[Mike]

I doubt we're playing in front of 50K people seeing as we're the first game and the aussies won't be coming in until the second half at least. I'd say we'll be lucky to get 15K in the stadium for our KO.

[fozzie58]

I doubt we're playing in front of 50K people seeing as we're the first game and the aussies won't be coming in until the second half at least. I'd say we'll be lucky to get 15K in the stadium for our KO.

I’d say that’s a fair assessment