Kangaroos forward Angus Crichton is ready to turn CommBank Stadium into his own Colosseum as the side looks to avenge last year’s shock Pacific Championships final defeat.
Crichton and Jillaroos co-captain Kezie Apps met with the stars of the Gladiators II on Friday, Paul Mescal and Fred Hechinger taking to the SCG to try their hand at rugby league.
The meeting set the stage for Sunday’s Pacific Championships final, with the Kangaroos to take on Tonga, who earned their spot by upsetting the Kiwis 25-24 in Auckland.
A sea of red is likely to descend on Parramatta for the match, turning CommBank Stadium into an amphitheatre of intense atmosphere and emotion.
It's a setting Crichton is ready for and he's confident the Kangaroos will feed off the Colosseum-like setting.
Kangaroos v Tonga XIII – Week 1, 2024
"It's sick to bring [Mescal and Hechinger] out here to the SCG," Crichton told pan66.com. "It was [the Roosters] home for a couple of seasons while they were building Allianz Stadium so I got to know the ground quite well.
"A lot of special events have been here - grand finals, State of Origins, Anzac Day clashes. Running out to a full house here at the SCG is unreal so to show them one of our Colosseums was good fun.
"CommBank Stadium will be our Colosseum next week. It's been a long year so to cap it off with a win with the Kangaroos and to win the [Pacific Championships] Cup would be the cherry on top. I'll be doing everything I can to make sure we get it done."
Russell Crowe explains the rules and laws of rugby league
Rugby league’s links to the Gladiator franchise run deep, with South Sydney owner Russell Crowe gaining global fame and winning an Oscar for his performance as Maximus Decimus Meridius in the original movie.
Crichton spent three years at the Rabbitohs before joining the Roosters in 2019 and has watched the actor use his reach to connect with new fans around the world.
Crowe played a prominent role in the NRL’s push into Las Vegas this year, with both the Roosters and Rabbitohs playing in a double-header at Allegiant Stadium.
The season-opener will expand in 2025, with UK Super League clubs Wigan and Warrington to face off and the Jillaroos to play the England women’s side alongside two NRL games.
Crichton said there's plenty the sport can learn from Crowe to promote rugby league to the US audience and he's eager for the NRL to build on the platform set in Vegas this year.
"Russell is a character and such a big name," he said. "Anyone who's met him knows he's got that aura about him. He's a showman with the way he talks and acts and he's great to have as a fan of our game.
"It was cool to get to Vegas and show our product. Everyone worked so hard to get us over there and it was a huge success. For us players it was so much fun and such a cool experience.
"I'm excited for the next teams that are going across to enjoy it, experience it and put on a good spectacle."
The Jillaroos are determined to make the most of their growing platform to help expand women’s rugby league at all levels domestically and abroad.
The US market has emerged as a key focus area, with a deep talent pool but few opportunities for female athletes to pursue professional sporting careers.
Kiwi Ferns v Jillaroos – Week 2, 2024
With women’s sport booming around the world, Apps said it’s vital rugby league isn’t left behind and the sport makes the most of the current wave of momentum.
"It's really important to build those relationships and connections," Apps told pan66.com. "That's how you grow the game.
"Hopefully we've just got two new fans who will then go on and watch rugby league, talk about it and tell their friends. That's how you spread the love.
"The more eyes on the game the better so it's just about broadening everyone else's perspective and hopefully they will learn to love rugby league as much as we do.
"The NFL is massive in the US to if we can get them to watch rugby league and see how brutal our sport can be, hopefully they'll fall in love with it and continue following it."
