Leeds Rhinos captain Ash Handley has mounted a passionate defence of Rugby League in Las Vegas.
Handley is hoping to return from injury when Leeds Rhinos face Hull KR at Allegiant Stadium, in the entertainment-obsessed Nevada city, on Saturday.
That’s the first game in a triple-header also featuring two NRL round one fixtures, Newcastle Knights v North Queensland Cowboys and Canterbury Bulldogs against St George-Illawarra Dragons.
Handley defends Las Vegas fixture
It is rugby league’s third year in Vegas and the second time Betfred Super League has featured after Wigan Warriors and Warrington Wolves took part last season.
Playing a domestic fixture outside Europe is controversial, but Handley insisted: “It puts our sport on a global platform.
“It gets new eyes on it, gets people watching it who might not. It brings a lot of noise to the sport, especially in England.
“It’s great, why not do it – why not branch out and do something new? We need everything we can get to put the game in a positive light for us.”
Handley talks injury problems
Handley missed Leeds Rhinos’ first three competitive games this season after suffering a groin injury during Cameron Smith’s testimonial against Bradford Bulls a month ago, but has been named in Leeds’ 21-man squad for Saturday’s match and is hopeful of being given the all-clear to run out at Allegiant Stadium.
“I’m all right, grateful to be able to be here,” he said. “I have got a chance for Saturday, I’ll just have to see how I go this week.
“I haven’t done that much with the team so far so I want to get into it with the boys and go from there.”
Handley missed the final four rounds of the 2025 regular season – though he returned for the play-offs – with a groin problem which required surgery.
He revealed his current layoff is a new injury and not related to the previous issue. “It’s completely new, a bit freakish, really,” he said.
“It’s a bit of nervy stuff, there’s a bit of scar tissue going on with my previous groin. It’s the same side, but a different thing. It’s nothing major, just one of those things, I suppose.”
The centre admitted it has been a frustrating few weeks. “I felt great,” he added.
“I still feel good, but you train hard, get yourself into a good position and then something like that happens.
“It is part of our game, but I am just glad it hasn’t been a major injury and I can get back out there.
“It is a once in a lifetime opportunity to be able to play here [Vegas]. I’ll be looking forward to it if I get the chance, but I just want to get into the season anyway.
“I just want to get rolling and get going and get back on the rollercoaster of rugby league.”
Handley on Hull KR
Of this weekend’s all-Yorkshire clash, he predicted: “It is going to be a highly competitive game.
“Obviously Hull KR are flying at the moment, they have won it all and we are hungry for that. We want to do something special this year so it’s going to be a massive game.
“They are the best in the competition, the trophies prove that, so everybody will be chasing them down. We will be as well.”
Serious About Rugby League’s coverage of Leeds Rhinos in Las Vegas is in association with Betfred Super League. Saturday’s showdown at Allegiant Stadium is an early highlight of a packed year of club rugby league action which also includes the Challenge Cup final at Wembley on May 30, Magic Weekend’s blockbuster return to Everton FC’s Hill Dickinson Stadium on July 4-5 and the Super League Grand Final on October 3 at Old Trafford. Experience live Super League. League Hits Different. To guarantee your place, visit Super League | Tickets
