Super League’s Las Vegas trip set to be confirmed – with England Women’s Test
THE FINAL touches are being put on Super League’s American dream that will take it to Las Vegas – and England’s women are also likely to feature.
Warrington will take on Wigan in Sin City on March 1 if Is are dotted and Ts are crossed.
And SunSport understands it is only a matter of time before the match, which will be the Warriors’ home game, is announced.
Now it has emerged Stuart Barrow’s side is likely to face a Test against Australia in a four-game schedule to showcase the women’s game.
Allegiant Stadium will host what will be a worldwide feast that day as four of the NRL’s best – New Zealand Warriors, Penrith Panthers, Canberra Raiders and Cronulla Sharks – will also face off in competitive matches.
More than 40,000 fans, including a healthy contingent from these shores, attended the first event this year.
Wolves boss Sam Burgess has played a big part in getting the competition over here involved and after financial arrangements that would not leave an English team out of pocket were put in place, it is now almost all systems go.
A few legal and logistic details need to be sorted, which they will be, then the clash will be rubber stamped.
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Burgess, a friend of NRL chief Peter V’Landys, is keen to get the game sorted.
He said: “Of course I’d go for it. Any chance we get to expand our brand as a club and showcase what we think we’ve got on the world stage, we’d be all over it.
“We’d love it. I’m good friends with Peter and reached out to him two or three months ago saying we’d love to be a part of it.
“I rang Peter but I think it would be a Wigan home game, so I think they’re in the driver’s seat. Nothing’s confirmed yet but we’d love to be a part of it.
“We have a great product and in America they love sports, especially collision sports. We offer a bit of that. The NRL has invested heavily and is doing it right by taking a long-term approach.
“I understand it’s not going to be an overnight success but if this year was year one, it’ll be something special by year five.
“If we’re doing it, it’s got to be marketed properly. Get the players out there before it and get their faces on TV to make them more recognisable so they become more household names.
“For Super League, growing the profile of players and clubs – getting them in places they wouldn’t normally be seen – is a good idea.”