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Next year's NRL Las Vegas participants are using a fact-finding mission to the entertainment mecca to ensure the 2025 edition builds on the stunning success of last season. 

The NRL opened the 2024 premiership with a double-header in front of more than 40,000 fans, with the extravaganza to take on an even bigger scale at Allegiant Stadium next year. 

The home of the Las Vegas Raiders will host a quadruple header, featuring four NRL clubs, two UK Super League teams and a women's international between Australia and England.

Officials from the NRL teams are currently in Las Vegas gathering information and finalising plans before the season opener on March 2.  

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Players and staff have also picked the brains of the sides who participated in 2024, with Harvey Norman Jillaroos star Isabelle Kelly turning to her Sydney Roosters clubmates for advice to help her prepare for the Test against England.

"It's a change having something coming up at the start of the year but it's super exciting for the women's game," Kelly told NRL.com. "We've got to make sure we've got our sights set on the game and starting the year strong.

"I've spoken to a few people at the Roosters, they said it was incredible and to soak it all up, enjoy the experience. For me, it's about making sure we're putting the Jillaroos on a new stage and making women's rugby league go even further internationally."

The Roosters were one of four NRL clubs to feature in the 2024 season opener in Las Vegas, the side prevailing over the Broncos after Manly defeated South Sydney. 

Next year's event will be even bigger, with four matches to take place on a bumper day of rugby league.

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UK Super League clubs Wigan and Warrington will kick off the day before the Raiders take on the Warriors. The Jillaroos will face England in a historic women's Test match, with Penrith to play Cronulla to close out the evening.

The quadruple-header is set to build on last year's success, with tickets selling fast and the crowd likely to exceed 60,000. 

The NRL is using the extravaganza to expand into a new market, with the women's game a key focus in the US as rugby league looks to tap into a surge in interest in female sport.

Roosters coach Trent Robinson was blown away by the fan response and said all signs indicate 2025 will be an even bigger event.

"If any of them want to pull out, we'll go again," Robinson said. "That was the best season launch I've seen in rugby league. It was the most amazing experience that the teams and fans had, and next season will be bigger than ever. 

"I was proud to be a rugby league fan in Las Vegas. It's the best away venue in sport and I was proud of the way the NRL launched the season. It led us into one of the better viewing seasons of rugby league that we've had because of the season launch."

Isabelle Kelly is set to be a headline act in Las Vegas when the Jillaroos take on England at Allegiant Stadium.
Isabelle Kelly is set to be a headline act in Las Vegas when the Jillaroos take on England at Allegiant Stadium. ©NRL Photos

The success of the Vegas season opener provided a launchpad for the 2024 campaign when the competition returned to Australia the following week. 

Excitement among fans was at fever pitch, with attendances and ratings breaking records across the board throughout the year.

The quality on the field also reached new heights, with the season building towards another thrilling finals series. 

The Roosters felt the excitement first hand and Robinson is expecting a similar experience next season.

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"The excitement when we came home was so high," he said. "With how early the NRL put it on, it created this great launching pad for everybody to say 'I want to go'.

"The sin city part [is an old label]. Las Vegas has so many things for families now, so that whole once in a lifetime trip for people in Australia [is an option]. Now with England, wait until you see those fans travel. I don't see why it's not an event every year for a long period of time."

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