NRL in Las Vegas: Sea Eagles v Rabbitohs, Broncos v Roosters – live
Key events
Male captain Daly Cherry-Evans has won the toss and will run towards Caesars Palace. Souths skipper Cameron Murray will lead his side towards the Palazzo.
Here are the team lineups for today’s historic Round One match at Allegiant Stadium.
Sea Eagles team: 1. Tom Trbojevic 2. Jason Saab 3. Tolutau Koula 4. Reuben Garrick 5. Jaxson Paulo 6. Luke Brooks 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Taniela Paseka 9. Lachlan Croker 10. Josh Aloiai 11. Haumole Olakau’atu 12. Ben Trbojevic 13. Jake Trbojevic 14. Karl Lawton 15. Corey Waddell 16. Ethan Bullemor 17. Nathan Brown 18. Jakob Arthur
Rabbitohs team: 1. Latrell Mitchell 2. Alex Johnston 3. Isaiah Tass 4. Richard Kennar 5. Jacob Gagai 6. Cody Walker 7. Lachlan Ilias 8. Tevita Tatola 9. Damien Cook 10. Sean Keppie 11. Keaon Koloamatangi 12. Jai Arrow 13. Cameron Murray 14. Siliva Havili 15. Jacob Host 16. Davvy Moale 17. Thomas Burgess 24. Dean Hawkins
Preamble
The NRL is in Vegas, which is weird, so it seems like this is a good opportunity to do things a little differently. Manly men will first take on Souths at the Allegiant Stadium before the Broncos and Roosters face off in the second part of a double-header that aims to bring the game of rugby league to the masses in the US (while they obviously rake in a lot of gambling money). And we thought it was a good idea to force an NFL writer to watch the opening game and give his take on the joys of rugby league, a sport that remains a mystery to so many states in the United States. Expect a mix of wonder, awe, confusion and horror as 26 huge guys collide in a game of football “but maybe not as you know it”.
David will be with you shortly, before Jonathan, in much more familiar territory, takes over for the second game. In the meantime, here’s Russell Crowe to help beginners understand what’s going to happen: