Small detail in America’s NRL coverage proves the code has a huge mountain to climb to make an impact in America

The NRL season opener between Manly and South Sydney was an explosive success, but a photo from the match proves the code still has some work to do to make an impact in America.

Both football matches were broadcast live in prime time on Fox Sports on Saturday evening (Sunday AEST), with the potential for more than 100 million viewers in the US.

Many Americans took to social media to express their excitement about the NRL on their screens, but one small detail caught some fans’ attention.

However, in an image from the start of the Fox Sports broadcast, the rugby league event was described as ‘Major League Rugby’.

‘This Major League Rugby is wild. How can I join the Minor Leagues,” one fan wrote on X.

Manly put on an attacking show to welcome rugby league to Las Vegas on Sunday

“What’s ‘major league rugby’ on the bottom ticker?” replied another.

Meanwhile, Manly put on an attacking show to welcome rugby league to Las Vegas, kicking off the NRL season with a 36-24 win over South Sydney.

After trailing 18-12 early in the second half, the Sea Eagles scored 18 points in the space of 12 minutes to come away with the match at Allegiant Stadium on Saturday evening (Sunday AEDT).

In the city of bright lights and late-night shows, Manly’s 36 points gave them the highest score by any team in a season opener in nine years.

The victory came despite the efforts of Souths superstar Latrell Mitchell, who threatened to make good on his promise to change the Super Bowl venue to Trellegiant Stadium.

After throwing the final pass for a Jacob Gagai try in the first half, the Souths star burst out of the blocks in the second half and threatened to take the game away.

Mitchell gave Souths a 14-10 lead when he took over the line after the break and ran through the Manly defense to score.

Moments later the fullback provided a quick ball to set up Alex Johnston in space, prompting the Manly defenders to move in with a quick catch and pass to make it 20-10.

Souths appeared to have the measure of their opponents at times during the match

Manly scored 18 points in the space of 12 minutes and walked away with the match in Las Vegas

But from then on it all fell apart for the Rabbitohs.

Davvy Moale made a mistake after the kick-off early in the set, and Lachlan Croker was able to move from dummy half to score for Manly.

Richie Kennar then fumbled the Rabbitohs’ next set, allowing Manly’s superstar Tom Trbojevic to get to the line and put his brother Ben over from close range.

And when Reuben Garrick pounced on a Daly Cherry-Evans grubber from dummy half and celebrated his try with a touchdown imitation, the game was over.

Amid fears of a potentially conservative game on a thinner pitch, Manly ensured this would not be the case from their first touch as Tom Trbojevic sent his outside men into space.

Trbojevic was at it again soon afterwards, picking up a loose ball and helping Jason Saab run 80 meters before the flying winger was denied by Lachlan Ilias.

Saab was at the center of another first-half highlight for the Americans in the crowd, intercepting a ball from Mitchell to go 60 yards and score.

Haumole Olakau’atu played with great strength and got Manly’s first try, penetrating three Souths defenders through a scrum from 10 yards out.

Luke Brooks also played and controlled the ball with confidence in his first game for his new club Manly, dropping a ball over the line in the first half before scoring in the second.

The only concern for Manly was a late hamstring injury for Saab, with the flyer limping through the tunnel late in the final ten minutes.