February 28, 2025 • 10 mins
The Rugby League season is under 24-hours away, kicking off in Las Vegas.
Hundreds of fans have descended on the American city as the Warriors are up against the Raiders at 1pm NZT tomorrow.
Rugby League writer Buzz Rothfield is live from Las Vegas and talks to Jason Pine.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from News Talk zedb Rugby League.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Because the twenty twenty five NRL season is nearly upon us,
in fact twenty four hours away or just under. For
the second time, we have a double header in Las
Vegas to get us started this NRL season, and this
time it features the Warriors up against the Raiders one
o'clock tomorrow in New Zealand time. Just hundreds of fans
(00:34):
have descended on Las Vegas for this double header. The
second game is four time defending champion Penrith Panthers against
the Cronulla Sharks. Let's get you to Vegas and bring
in huge league experienced and highly respected rugby league writer
Phil Rothfield, who you can read in the Daily Telegraph
among other publications in Australia. Phil, thanks for joining us
(00:56):
from Vegas. Are you a fan first of all of
opening the season in Las Vegas like this?
Speaker 3 (01:03):
Look? Thanks for having me. I'm a massive, massive fan.
I think it's more than just about trying to get
a footprint into the United States, the world's biggest sporting market.
This is just a spectacular season launch for the NRL.
When there's no other codes playing or look, there's a
(01:25):
bit of rugby union on at the moment, but the momentum,
the adrenaline we get from event like this, I think
was very much responsible for the surge we got in
NRL interest last year with record TV ratings off the
back of what we saw here. Now, anyone at the
FanFest last night down in Old Fremont Street. I've covered
(01:49):
two Super Bowls. I've never seen so much fan engagement
and excitement in the streets in Vegas or anywhere else
I be in the New Orleans of Arizona, never see
anything like it. It is a wonderful, wonderful ocean of
rugby league and it's never going to take over America
(02:10):
at this great, great game. But I think there's a
there's a small space there to you know, garner some
more interest.
Speaker 2 (02:20):
Well, it sounds like it's working over there. Plenty of
in RL jerseys around Philly. You're seeing Look, I mean,
you're at a fan event last night, so presumably their work.
Speaker 3 (02:31):
Everyone's wearing a jersey. I'm about the only one who's not.
I wish I had Macranula Sharks jersey, but I it's
it's and there's a lot of in RL merchandise on
sale here as well, you know, the official merchandise and
wherever you go. And look, I was going to make
a point of this in McCollum next week in that
(02:53):
there's a couple of clubs who have been very reluctant
to commit to come here, and Shane Richardson at the
West Tigers said as much last week in the Daily Telegram.
We know what I think about Shane Richardson. I think
he is robbing his fans of a dream time trip,
once in a lifetime experience. And I think every NRL
(03:16):
club owes it to their supporters to come across here
in the next five years. You're Warriors fans. You should
see how happy they are.
Speaker 2 (03:25):
I can imagine.
Speaker 3 (03:27):
Yeah, And the Warrington and Wigan fans they are m
A D. They're all behaving themselves, but they're singing at
the top of their voices in the the restaurants, the bars,
the cafes, and everyone's just having this massive party here.
And you know what I think, you know, whatever the
(03:49):
television ratings are in America on Saturday, that they're going
to be better than last year because it's on Fox
main channel, free to Wear not cable free to wear
Fox main channel. Last year back in Australia New Zealand
we got record television ratings. They're confident going to grow
and then new rugby league people are watching it. The
(04:11):
AFL fans back in Australia have nothing on, nothing on,
so they it's a bit like Origin. You get those
once a year fans will come in and look at
the game and rugby league could pick up new customers.
Speaker 2 (04:23):
From well, let's talk about a rugby league because Penrith,
the four time defending champions, are one of the four
teams up there. They take on the Sharks. As I say,
your Sharks are in the second game. When you've won
it four times in a row, fill, are you automatically
favorites to make it five?
Speaker 3 (04:39):
Oh? Look, I'm not sure their favorites to win the
comp because again they've lost some championship players, haven't they.
You know, Jerome leuis gone and you know he's just
a wonderful, wonderful player, and you know they've lost crich
in the year before, they lost Kick out of the
Year before that and Matt Burton, etc. But they've got
this wonderful nursery of talent. We saw that while their team,
(05:03):
their first team was in Vegas just arrived. They're reserved
great players. New South Wales Cup players put thirty eight
points on the Manly Seagulls and trial game. That will
give you an idea of the depth they had. They've
got Jack Cole playing on the weekend, you know, for
Jerome Leway is a handy player. Look, I think Melbourne
(05:26):
they are entitled to be favorites because they haven't lost
a player. They've signed you Toy Kamanu from the West
Tigers and yeah, so I think the Panther Melbourne titled
be for but Penrith are going to be desperately hard
to boat again.
Speaker 2 (05:41):
Yeah, and the Storm and the Panthers are there there
two teams you automatically gravitate to and I think rightly so, Phil,
Do you feel as though it's those two and then
quite a gap back to the chasing pack? Yeah.
Speaker 3 (05:53):
Look, I think the Granala Sharks. I think that Cranala
Sharks are next in line, and only because of the
X factor that Adam Vanuah Blake and all your listeners are.
What he's done in recent year is probably the premier
front row in the game and Nikol hines and has
struggled a little bit last year. But with the momentum
(06:15):
that Vanua Blake will drive middlefield dominance, I think Niko's
game will open up. His partnership with Braden Trendle's a
good one. Outside of Storm and Penrith, the Sharks are
the most consistent side in the camp. They seem to
make the finals or top four every year, so look
their a hope and I think they might even beat
Penrith on Saturday. Here Sunday your time. Only reason being,
(06:39):
I think the Panthers have a bit underdone. They've got
a few boys. Edwards Cleary, you're recovering from off season surgery.
Is Al hasn't played in the Charles Lea Martin had
a little bit of time. So it's probably a good
week to be getting the Panthers before they sort of
settle in and get warmed up for the season.
Speaker 2 (06:56):
We have seen plenty of Warriors fans. What do you
predict for the Warriors as a Rugby league team this year?
Speaker 3 (07:04):
I think it's going to be a difficulty. You know,
you've lost Sean Johnson and you've lost Sana Bake and look,
I know You've picked up Fisher Harris and look, I think, look,
I'm not expecting them to make the top eight. But
that's just my opinion, you know, and it's very hard
(07:27):
to sort of make a prediction like that. But I've
just got other teams ahead of them. You know. Andrew
Webster is a good coach. He won Dally M Coach
of the Year before last, so he knows what he's
doing there. He's got a very good staff around him. Look,
they need a bounce to the ball in my view,
a little bit of luck with injuries, you know, if
(07:48):
they're going to make the eight. But there's nothing between
them and Camber. It's really an even money back here
on Sunday. Two sides that I guess are expected to
finish a bit lower down the ladder, but you never know.
There's always a surprise packer, isn't there In the NRL
team will come from nowhere and these two sides are
(08:09):
capable of that.
Speaker 2 (08:10):
You talked about James Fisher Harris briefly there obviously Adam
Vanua Blake going out, James Fisher Harris coming in. Is
that some gain for you, Phil or you still see
Adam as the number one prop on the game.
Speaker 3 (08:25):
Look at this stage of his career, I think he
probably is. But look I don't want to discredit James
Fisher Harris in any way, shape or form. And look,
let's just say the two of them are in the
top three or four front rowers in rugby league with
guys like Tino and Paying hass up at the Brisbane Broncos,
and so look, they basically cancel each other out, don't they.
Speaker 2 (08:49):
Indeed, and just a finished show. You mentioned some surprise
packets and you're right, they always pop up and surprise us.
Any I don't know if dark horse is the right
word to use for but anyone you think might surprise
us as a team in twenty five.
Speaker 3 (09:03):
Yeah, Look, the team I fancy is going to climb
the ad sharply is the Gold Coast Titans, and I
like their meddle forwards. They've got freyd Turkemarno, you know,
the Queensland state of Origin, so he may have fed
a waker the the Queensland State of Origin front rower.
They've got Reagan Campbell Gillard, they've got Tino back, they've
(09:26):
got for feeder on an edge. I think they've got
the quickest back five in the competition. You know, we're
Keno at the back and Jjo for feeder and these
sort of players. They've got speed to burn and Dez
has and knows all about the business, you know, having
terms you know in finals football and I think they'll
climb the ladder for sure.
Speaker 2 (09:45):
Feel great to get the chance to chat to you
on the eve of a new season. Enjoy your time
in Vegas. It sounds as though it's everything you hoped
it would be. We'll look forward to catching up at
some stage again throughout the season.
Speaker 3 (09:55):
Yeah, thank you, jeez, no, thank you.
Speaker 2 (09:57):
Phil. Phil Rathfield, then well known rugby league identity in Australia,
rights for the Daily Telegraph, turns up on television, has
often consulted on his views on a wide range of
rugby league matters in Vegas at the moment and by
the sounds of it, loving it. There are mixed views
about this right taking an Australian competition to the United
(10:18):
States of America for opening weekend.
Speaker 1 (10:22):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to News Talk st B weekends from midday or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from News Talk zedb Rugby League.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Because the twenty twenty five NRL season is nearly upon us,
in fact twenty four hours away or just under. For
the second time, we have a double header in Las
Vegas to get us started this NRL season, and this
time it features the Warriors up against the Raiders one
o'clock tomorrow in New Zealand time. Just hundreds of fans
(00:34):
have descended on Las Vegas for this double header. The
second game is four time defending champion Penrith Panthers against
the Cronulla Sharks. Let's get you to Vegas and bring
in huge league experienced and highly respected rugby league writer
Phil Rothfield, who you can read in the Daily Telegraph
among other publications in Australia. Phil, thanks for joining us
(00:56):
from Vegas. Are you a fan first of all of
opening the season in Las Vegas like this?
Speaker 3 (01:03):
Look? Thanks for having me. I'm a massive, massive fan.
I think it's more than just about trying to get
a footprint into the United States, the world's biggest sporting market.
This is just a spectacular season launch for the NRL.
When there's no other codes playing or look, there's a
(01:25):
bit of rugby union on at the moment, but the momentum,
the adrenaline we get from event like this, I think
was very much responsible for the surge we got in
NRL interest last year with record TV ratings off the
back of what we saw here. Now, anyone at the
FanFest last night down in Old Fremont Street. I've covered
(01:49):
two Super Bowls. I've never seen so much fan engagement
and excitement in the streets in Vegas or anywhere else
I be in the New Orleans of Arizona, never see
anything like it. It is a wonderful, wonderful ocean of
rugby league and it's never going to take over America
(02:10):
at this great, great game. But I think there's a
there's a small space there to you know, garner some
more interest.
Speaker 2 (02:20):
Well, it sounds like it's working over there. Plenty of
in RL jerseys around Philly. You're seeing Look, I mean,
you're at a fan event last night, so presumably their work.
Speaker 3 (02:31):
Everyone's wearing a jersey. I'm about the only one who's not.
I wish I had Macranula Sharks jersey, but I it's
it's and there's a lot of in RL merchandise on
sale here as well, you know, the official merchandise and
wherever you go. And look, I was going to make
a point of this in McCollum next week in that
(02:53):
there's a couple of clubs who have been very reluctant
to commit to come here, and Shane Richardson at the
West Tigers said as much last week in the Daily Telegram.
We know what I think about Shane Richardson. I think
he is robbing his fans of a dream time trip,
once in a lifetime experience. And I think every NRL
(03:16):
club owes it to their supporters to come across here
in the next five years. You're Warriors fans. You should
see how happy they are.
Speaker 2 (03:25):
I can imagine.
Speaker 3 (03:27):
Yeah, And the Warrington and Wigan fans they are m
A D. They're all behaving themselves, but they're singing at
the top of their voices in the the restaurants, the bars,
the cafes, and everyone's just having this massive party here.
And you know what I think, you know, whatever the
(03:49):
television ratings are in America on Saturday, that they're going
to be better than last year because it's on Fox
main channel, free to Wear not cable free to wear
Fox main channel. Last year back in Australia New Zealand
we got record television ratings. They're confident going to grow
and then new rugby league people are watching it. The
(04:11):
AFL fans back in Australia have nothing on, nothing on,
so they it's a bit like Origin. You get those
once a year fans will come in and look at
the game and rugby league could pick up new customers.
Speaker 2 (04:23):
From well, let's talk about a rugby league because Penrith,
the four time defending champions, are one of the four
teams up there. They take on the Sharks. As I say,
your Sharks are in the second game. When you've won
it four times in a row, fill, are you automatically
favorites to make it five?
Speaker 3 (04:39):
Oh? Look, I'm not sure their favorites to win the
comp because again they've lost some championship players, haven't they.
You know, Jerome leuis gone and you know he's just
a wonderful, wonderful player, and you know they've lost crich
in the year before, they lost Kick out of the
Year before that and Matt Burton, etc. But they've got
this wonderful nursery of talent. We saw that while their team,
(05:03):
their first team was in Vegas just arrived. They're reserved
great players. New South Wales Cup players put thirty eight
points on the Manly Seagulls and trial game. That will
give you an idea of the depth they had. They've
got Jack Cole playing on the weekend, you know, for
Jerome Leway is a handy player. Look, I think Melbourne
(05:26):
they are entitled to be favorites because they haven't lost
a player. They've signed you Toy Kamanu from the West
Tigers and yeah, so I think the Panther Melbourne titled
be for but Penrith are going to be desperately hard
to boat again.
Speaker 2 (05:41):
Yeah, and the Storm and the Panthers are there there
two teams you automatically gravitate to and I think rightly so, Phil,
Do you feel as though it's those two and then
quite a gap back to the chasing pack? Yeah.
Speaker 3 (05:53):
Look, I think the Granala Sharks. I think that Cranala
Sharks are next in line, and only because of the
X factor that Adam Vanuah Blake and all your listeners are.
What he's done in recent year is probably the premier
front row in the game and Nikol hines and has
struggled a little bit last year. But with the momentum
(06:15):
that Vanua Blake will drive middlefield dominance, I think Niko's
game will open up. His partnership with Braden Trendle's a
good one. Outside of Storm and Penrith, the Sharks are
the most consistent side in the camp. They seem to
make the finals or top four every year, so look
their a hope and I think they might even beat
Penrith on Saturday. Here Sunday your time. Only reason being,
(06:39):
I think the Panthers have a bit underdone. They've got
a few boys. Edwards Cleary, you're recovering from off season surgery.
Is Al hasn't played in the Charles Lea Martin had
a little bit of time. So it's probably a good
week to be getting the Panthers before they sort of
settle in and get warmed up for the season.
Speaker 2 (06:56):
We have seen plenty of Warriors fans. What do you
predict for the Warriors as a Rugby league team this year?
Speaker 3 (07:04):
I think it's going to be a difficulty. You know,
you've lost Sean Johnson and you've lost Sana Bake and look,
I know You've picked up Fisher Harris and look, I think, look,
I'm not expecting them to make the top eight. But
that's just my opinion, you know, and it's very hard
(07:27):
to sort of make a prediction like that. But I've
just got other teams ahead of them. You know. Andrew
Webster is a good coach. He won Dally M Coach
of the Year before last, so he knows what he's
doing there. He's got a very good staff around him. Look,
they need a bounce to the ball in my view,
a little bit of luck with injuries, you know, if
(07:48):
they're going to make the eight. But there's nothing between
them and Camber. It's really an even money back here
on Sunday. Two sides that I guess are expected to
finish a bit lower down the ladder, but you never know.
There's always a surprise packer, isn't there In the NRL
team will come from nowhere and these two sides are
(08:09):
capable of that.
Speaker 2 (08:10):
You talked about James Fisher Harris briefly there obviously Adam
Vanua Blake going out, James Fisher Harris coming in. Is
that some gain for you, Phil or you still see
Adam as the number one prop on the game.
Speaker 3 (08:25):
Look at this stage of his career, I think he
probably is. But look I don't want to discredit James
Fisher Harris in any way, shape or form. And look,
let's just say the two of them are in the
top three or four front rowers in rugby league with
guys like Tino and Paying hass up at the Brisbane Broncos,
and so look, they basically cancel each other out, don't they.
Speaker 2 (08:49):
Indeed, and just a finished show. You mentioned some surprise
packets and you're right, they always pop up and surprise us.
Any I don't know if dark horse is the right
word to use for but anyone you think might surprise
us as a team in twenty five.
Speaker 3 (09:03):
Yeah, Look, the team I fancy is going to climb
the ad sharply is the Gold Coast Titans, and I
like their meddle forwards. They've got freyd Turkemarno, you know,
the Queensland state of Origin, so he may have fed
a waker the the Queensland State of Origin front rower.
They've got Reagan Campbell Gillard, they've got Tino back, they've
(09:26):
got for feeder on an edge. I think they've got
the quickest back five in the competition. You know, we're
Keno at the back and Jjo for feeder and these
sort of players. They've got speed to burn and Dez
has and knows all about the business, you know, having
terms you know in finals football and I think they'll
climb the ladder for sure.
Speaker 2 (09:45):
Feel great to get the chance to chat to you
on the eve of a new season. Enjoy your time
in Vegas. It sounds as though it's everything you hoped
it would be. We'll look forward to catching up at
some stage again throughout the season.
Speaker 3 (09:55):
Yeah, thank you, jeez, no, thank you.
Speaker 2 (09:57):
Phil. Phil Rathfield, then well known rugby league identity in Australia,
rights for the Daily Telegraph, turns up on television, has
often consulted on his views on a wide range of
rugby league matters in Vegas at the moment and by
the sounds of it, loving it. There are mixed views
about this right taking an Australian competition to the United
(10:18):
States of America for opening weekend.
Speaker 1 (10:22):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to News Talk st B weekends from midday or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio.
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