Hull KR looking to ‘put stamp’ on Las Vegas as Paul Lakin discusses NRL talks, player reaction and forfeiting a home game

Hull KR and Leeds Rhinos will be looking to put their stamp on Las Vegas after being selected to be part of next year’s rugby league takeover.

The Rhinos and the Robins will play each other at the Allegiant Stadium in Sin City as part of the NRL’s 2026 triple header and they’ll follow in the footsteps of Warrington Wolves and Wigan Warriors.

Wigan and Warrington made the trip over earlier this year to become the first Super League teams to play in Vegas and they certainly made a lasting impression on the NRL. In fact, they made such an impact that Super League was immediately invited back for 2026 with Leeds and KR winning selection over a handful of clubs who demonstrated interest.

KR currently top the Super League table and will be heading to Wembley next month to take part in the Challenge Cup final. As such, they could head to Vegas and cup winners, while Leeds Rhinos are improving rapidly under Brad Arthur and they’ll fancy themselves to secure at least a play-off finish this time around.

The two sides will be well supported, too, with the build-up being almost as big as the event in Sin City, with a raft of events taking place. As such, there is confidence that they will not only do Super League proud, but make Rugby League Las Vegas bigger and better next year.

“It’s a fantastic opportunity for us and last year’s event had 3.1 billion online reach,” Hull KR chief executive Paul Lakin told Serious About Rugby League. “That just shows the magnitude of the event and that’s something we’re really excited to be at.

“Two years ago, would we have been given this opportunity? I’m not sure. Three years ago, we certainly wouldn’t have. I think it does reflect the growth of the club, most definitely. It’s a fantastic next step for ourselves.”

He added: “Our fanbase just continues to grow and grow and clearly Rhinos have got a big fanbase too. I think it will be a really well supported event and I think it’s the right choice. I think it’s the right two clubs.

“The NRL have been all over it. All the clubs that had an interest in going out there had to have Teams calls with the NRL to talk about why they wanted to go and what their aspirations were. It wasn’t a given.

“We’ve spoken to the NRL throughout. It’s about making sure that as big an event it was this year, we can try and make it even bigger and better next year. That’s what ourselves and Leeds want to do. The NRL want to make it bigger and better each year and we want to play our part in that. It’ll be more now off the field in terms of ideas and thoughts of how we can learn from this year and make it bigger and better but also put our own stamp on it as Hull KR and Leeds Rhinos.”

Hull KR give up a home game for Rugby League Las Vegas

In order to be involved in next year’s event as the home team, KR have given up a home game and that means the experience will ultimately come at a loss financially. However, the club are happy to swallow the expense in order to be part of the event that promises to be one of the greatest in the club’s history with season ticket holders being recompensed in some way, too.

“We gave it a lot of consideration but in 2023 we announced putting prices up with a price freeze for 24′ and 25′ so we were going to put our prices up in 2026 and I had budgeted to do so,” Lakin added. “We’re going to reverse that decision now so the financial hit will be internally and we’ll have to restructure our budgets now.

“We’ve absorbed the cost and we’ve done so because we wanted to be the home team and be in as much control of the experience as we can be and as the home team you get a little bit more licence to Hull KR-ify it. That’s what we wanted to be able to.”

Hull KR will be in touch with the NRL for meetings every two weeks from now until February as they share ideas, plan events and get to grips with just what they can expect in Las Vegas.

The 2025 season in Rovers’ immediate priority, though, as they build up to the Challenge Cup final which takes place in June, and look to avenge last season’s defeat in the Grand Final.

“We’re announcing Vegas but our priority is the 2025 season and in a month’s time, Wembley, that’s our focus,” Lakin said firmly. “We officially told the players today about Vegas and they were all really excited but that’s put to bed for them, that’s next season.

“Clearly we’ve got three league games, Huddersfield on Saturday and then Wembley, and that’s Willie Peters and the players’ sole focus.”