'Show Americans how we play': Vegas Test to expose NRLW to new fans

Jillaroos stars believe the decision to stage a women’s Test at Allegiant Stadium will help build a female audience for the game in the United States and attract more Americans to the NRLW.

The Jillaroos will play England as part of the NRL’s season opener in Las Vegas, which will be bigger, bolder and better, with eight teams from three nations playing in a quadruple header.

For the first time, NRL and Super League premiership fixtures will be played at the same venue, while Jess Sergis, Isabelle Kelly and Ali Brigginshaw believe the historic women’s Test will expose the NRLW to North American fans and athletes.

The four game schedule to be played at Allegiant Stadium on March 1 (local time) will feature:

• Super League giants Wigan and Warrington meeting in a re-match of this year’s Challenge Cup final (4:00pm PST / 11:00am AEST)
• The first NRL fixture of 2025 between the Canberra Raiders and New Zealand Warriors (4:00pm PST / 11:00am AEST)
• The world champion Jillaroos taking on England for the first time since 2017 (6:00pm PST / 1:00pm AEDT)
• Four-time NRL premiers and 2024 grand finalists Penrith Panthers playing 2024 preliminary final opponents, the Cronulla Sharks (8:30pm PST / 3:30pm AEDT) 

With a massive global audience watching across multiple markets and time zones, Sergis, Kelly and Brigginshaw believe the Test against England will showcase women’s rugby league in North America and around the world.

“It's surreal,” said Sergis, who helped Sydney Roosters to the 2024 NRLW premiership. “It's a whole new world, and it's going to be incredible for the girls to witness that.

“I think we can bring some more supporters into the game that support women's footy, so it’s going to be a great for our game, and for the girls to experience that as well.”

The NRL will also conduct a talent combine in Vegas, along with a nines tournament, and Kelly is certain there are female athletes in the United States who could make the transition to the NRLW.

“A lot of Americans are just natural athletes; you see their speed and their strength, so the girls are ready,” the Roosters captain said.

“They want to come over and play in the NRLW and this is going to show them what we can do.

It’s going to be a great game because it is the best of the NRLW playing against the best of the Super League so it is going to make them want to come over.

“It is going to be a great game, and I think that once they see the game and learn the game they could really go far.”

Brigginshaw, who has won three NRLW premierships with the Broncos and three World Cups with Australia, said the Vegas Test was a chance to showcase the Jillaroos to a global audience.

"It’s so exciting to be able to take our game across the world and to be able to show people what we do over here, and maybe have people become part of the NRL,” Brigginshaw said.

“We are going over to showcase rugby league and I have no doubt there will be some Americans wanting to come over and be part of our great game.

“Just with the women’s game, I feel like you can play 10-years or you can come over and play your first year and there is a spot for you.

“If you are an athlete, the women’s game is very accepting of new talent and new abilities so no doubt there is going to be girls over there who will want to come here to play.”

Senior Jillaroos players were informed of the possibility of playing in Vegas at a meeting in Brisbane after the opening match of the first women’s State of Origin series earlier this year.

Brigginshaw said the players were excited about the opportunity for women’s rugby league and there would be strong competition for spots.

“We want to showcase our game, we want to take it world-wide, and I feel like this is the time to take our great game over to America and show them how we play,” she said.

“It is just super exciting to get the Jillaroos out there. I don’t want to be telling people who the Jillaroos are, I want people to just know so this is a great opportunity for our game.”

Sergis was on the sidelines at Allegiant Stadium for last year’s double-header which pitted the Sea Eagles against the Rabbitohs, and the Roosters against the Broncos.

The star centre also attended the NRL’s Vegas Fan Fest, which many players and long serving officials described as the best season launch they had seen as supporters packed the Fremont Street precinct.

“It was very eye-opening, and it is somewhere I am looking forward to going back to with the Jillaroos,” Sergis said.

“I saw [Jillaroos coach] Brad Donald over there and we had a little bit of a chat. He knew that was the next step for us, to get the girls game over there, so it is very exciting.”