NFL stars lend support to Vegas venture as NRL teams settle in

LA Rams star Puka Nacua believes only a select few NFL players would successfully transition to the NRL and has nominated Super Bowl winners Saquon Barkley and Tyreek Hill as two who could.

Nacua, who has Samoan heritage, was an interested observer at last year's NRL double-header in Las Vegas and is expected to be in attendance at Allegiant Stadium on March 1 to support the Warriors.

The LA Rams wide receiver is among the US sports stars lending their support to the 2025 quadruple header as players from the Raiders, Warriors, Panthers and Sharks begin preparations for their season opening matches.

Asked which American NFL stars would make it in the NRL, Nacua nominated Barkley, the Philadelphia Eagles running back, and Hill, who plays wide receiver for Miami Dolphins.

Barkley played alongside former Rabbitoh Jordan Malata as they helped the Eagles to a Super Bowl victory earlier this month, while Hill won a Super Bowl in 2019 with Kansas City Chiefs.  

"I think guys like Tyreek Hill or a Saquon would be great out there. He has the physicality," Nacua said after being presented a Warriors jersey by former NRL star Aaron Woods.

"When I look at rugby players, the way they are built from the lower half down - they are built like linebackers, so you have got to find someone who plays like a linebacker.

"I like to think that I am physical but then I see these guys and I'm like ... 'I don't know if want to run right through this guy',".

The four NRL teams have now settled in the United States, while Wigan, Warrington, the Jillaroos and England women's team are due to arrive in Vegas this week.

After touching down in Los Angeles on Thursday (local time), Sharks players and staff visited the iconic Venice Beach for a taste of LA culture.

Ex-Rams and Atlanta Falcons running back Todd Gurley, who recently trained with Cronulla players at Sharks Stadium while on a tour of Australia, was on hand to meet the team, along with former Pro Bowl guard Trai Turner.

The Sharks also attended the LA Kings v Utah NHL match at Crypto Stadium, while players from the other three NRL teams watched the Las Vegas Golden Knights v Vancouver Canucks play.

Cronulla players - led by hooker Blayke Brailey - visited LAFD Fire Station 11 to thank first responders for their efforts in the recent wildfires that devastated the city.

Cronulla have been training at the University of Southern California over the weekend and will leaving for Vegas on Monday (local time).

While the US adventure has stoked plenty of excitement, captain Cameron McInnes and his troops haven't lost sight of the task at hand.

"In the Origin space last year, I had the opportunity to actually talk to guys from all four teams that went (to Vegas in 2024)," McInnes said.

"The Roosters and Manly had the best time and that's because they won. That's the main thing – you're going there to win the game."

Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon is eagerly awaiting another crack at the Panthers after having their season ended by a 26-6 loss to the champions in September.

"We got a lesson last year from Penrith in the semi-final, so we'll see how much we've improved over the off-season," Fitzgibbon said.

The Raiders, Panthers and Warriors are all staying in Las Vegas and players from the three teams attended the Golden Knights v Vancouver Canucks NHL match.

NRL rookies Noah Martin, Matty Nicholson, Jed Stuart, Owen Pattie, Ethan Sanders and Savelio Tamale are in the 25-man Canberra squad that arrived in Las Vegas on Friday.

“It’s a once of a lifetime trip, I’m disappointed I can’t take everybody, but unfortunately you can’t have the whole squad," Raiders coach Ricky Stuart said.

“I take into consideration a lot of what my senior players are talking about, especially my assistant coaches and you know you always try and come up with that best 17 every week.”

The Raiders travelled to Vegas after a loss in their final pre-season game against the Sharks.

While the result didn’t go Canberra's way, Stuart made the decision to rest many of his Vegas squad after the first half to prioritise their health before the season opener against the Warriors.