NFL legend Rob Gronkowski has found the perfect tonic for football fans suffering from a Super Bowl hangover. Rugby League Las Vegas.
That's the message the retired tight end and fellow Fox Sports personality Colin Cowherd have for fans in a new advertising campaign for the NRL's season opener at Allegiant Stadium later this month.
The 30-second ad is set to hit TV screens in the US to promote the upcoming games in Las Vegas and introduce Americans to the physical and skilful nature of rugby league.
The video opens with Reece Walsh's iconic try from last year's thrilling grand final victory over the Storm, where he beats multiple defenders before slamming the ball down between the posts.
"It's football, but not as you know it," Gronkowski says. "No pads, no armour, no timeouts."
Clips of punishing hits and spectacular tries fill the screen before Cowherd urges fans to pack into Allegiant Stadium for a night of high-octane action.
"It doesn't ease you in, it just hits you," Cowherd adds. "This is rugby league and when you drop that energy into Las Vegas, that's your off-season sold."
"Be there when Australia brings the festival of rugby league to Las Vegas," Gronkowski concludes.
Tickets on sale now
The three-game schedule will be played at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Saturday, February 28 (local time) and will be broadcast live to a massive global audience across multiple markets and time zones.
The Vegas triple-header will start with the heavyweight Super League clash between Hull KR and Leeds at 4.00pm (11am AEDT) followed by two highly anticipated NRL clashes between the Cowboys and Knights, and the Bulldogs and Dragons.
The Cowboys, featuring Tom Dearden, Scott Drinkwater, Jason Taumololo and new hooker Reed Mahoney will take on a Knights team led by superstar Kalyn Ponga and star recruit Dylan Brown at 6.15pm local time (1.15pm AEDT).
The Bulldogs, bolstered by the signing of Kiwis Test prop Leo Thompson, and Dragons, featuring new halfback Daniel Atkinson, will then meet at 8.30pm local time (3.30pm AEDT).
All three games will be broadcast on Fox Sports in the US, with the Bulldogs-Dragons clash airing live in prime time on FS1.
All matches will be live in Australia on Fox Sports, while Channel 9 will broadcast the Bulldogs v Dragons clash.
It's not too late to get your tickets for the NRL's season opener at Allegiant Stadium. Click here to get tickets before they sell out.
