Dragons hooker Damien Cook is eager to see the impact of two years of investment into rugby league in the USA when he returns to Las Vegas this weekend.
The veteran headlines the first crop of players to play in the NRL's Allegiant Stadium season-opener for a second time after turning out for the Rabbitohs in the inaugural venture to the United States two years ago.
While many Americans were unfamiliar with the sport when Cook arrived in 2024, considerable investment has been made to grow rugby league in the country in the time since.
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The 34-year-old has followed the sport's rise in the US from afar over the past couple of years and he's looking forward to getting a first-hand view on the ground next week.
"I've heard there's a lot of talk about it over there already," Cook told NRL.com. "They've been advertising the game a lot and taking over big billboards so it looks like it's building and the people in America are starting to know a little bit more about rugby league.
"That's all we want. The goal was to get the word out there and promote the game. There's a lot of towns over in America that love their rugby league, Jacksonville's big on rugby league as well, so hopefully we can keep building and the game grows in the US."
Match: Bulldogs v Dragons
Round 1 -
home Team
Bulldogs
away Team
Dragons
Venue: Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas
Match broadcasters:
- WatchNRL
The Dragons will depart Sydney for Las Vegas on Saturday for next weekend's triple-header at Allegiant Stadium.
English Super League clubs Leeds and Hull KR will kick off the event before the Knights play the Cowboys and St George Illawarra take on the Bulldogs.
Newcastle playmaker Sandon Smith turned out for the Roosters in 2024, while teammate Dom Young travelled to Vegas but did not play in the match.
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Bulldogs forward Sitili Tupouniua also played for the Roosters in their clash with the Broncos, with current teammate Fletcher Baker playing for Brisbane in the game.
Cowboys winger Jaxson Paulo played for Manly in their match against South Sydney two years ago and Cook's new Dragons teammate Daniel Atkinson came off the bench in Cronulla's loss to Penrith last season.
The halfback will play a different role this year as St George Illawarra's marquee recruit and he encouraged his new teammates to make the most of a unique experience.
"All the boys are calling it a once in a lifetime experience so to be able to do it two years in a row is pretty special," Atkinson said. "I'm excited to see the boys' reactions when we get over there and see them enjoy how good it is.
"You don't realise how big this game is until you get over there. To see Fremont St for the fan event when we got off the bus and walked down the red carpet with all the fans packed in was pretty surreal. That's when you know there's a game on.
"There's a lot of Australian fans who travel over but the game's growing globally and the US is buying in when we're over there so there's lots of Americans interested as well."
Match: Knights v Cowboys
Round 1 -
home Team
Knights
away Team
Cowboys
Venue: Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas
Match broadcasters:
- WatchNRL
The NRL's kick-off in Las Vegas has been routinely compared to an NRL grand final, with a build-up unlike any other regular season match.
The hype and expectation grow all summer as supporters plan their trips to the USA and debate potential starting line ups. It's also the first time off-season recruits turn out in their new colours, with Atkinson, Dylan Brown and Reed Mahoney headlining a list of high-profile stars joining Vegas clubs.
Thousands of fans descend on Las Vegas and pack into Fremont St for a week of festivities and pre-game events.
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With no other football on all weekend, the eyes of the rugby league world are fixated on Allegiant Stadium.
Smith said the 2024 edition was unlike anything he's ever experienced and is determined to soak up the atmosphere before his first match as a Knight.
“It’s so different. It’s not just Round 1, it’s over in Vegas and there's the whole spectacle over the week,” he said.
“The NRL does such a great job with it. The lead-up, the fan fest, then the game, it’s unbelievable.
“I haven’t played a grand final, but I think it would be pretty close to a grand final week.”
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.
