According to owner Derek Beaumont, the NRL wanted the Leigh Leopards to play in Las Vegas in 2027 with the club chief promising to put on a show that previous Super League clubs haven’t done.
It was announced last week that Bradford Bulls would face Leigh in Las Vegas and Beaumont has now spoken to BBC Radio Manchester to share insight into how the Leopards’ participation came about, as well as what plans have been made so far.
He also confirmed that 3,000 expressions of interest came inside half an hour, updating that to 5,000 within four hours when speaking to Sky Sports, a substantial percentage of their circa 8,000 weekly attendance.
Beaumont admitted apprehension about going, based purely on his own spend when he went as an individual in 2024, but he asserted that it’s never been more important for Super League to be involved given the current negotiations with the NRL.
He said: “The game will always be more important than me or Leigh and I just think at this moment in time, with the NRL (negotiations), we needed to do it, so it was very easy to discuss with Super League, the NRL, and even easier to discuss with an esteemed club like Bradford.”
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New York party plans revealed with player’s promised incredible experience
Beaumont also echoed what Adrian Lam has said in his mid-week presser, that Vegas is a huge carrot to be used in recruitment and retention of players.
“It’s already doing stuff for Leigh Leopards with the attention we’re getting,” he explained.
“Recruitment is the most important part in rugby league and Hendo (Andrew Henderson) has got a big job over here. We’ve got players leaving that people know like Robbie Mulhern and Owen Trout, and they need replacing so a club that’s going to Vegas next year looks like a more appealing club than one that isn’t.”
One major carrot for players would be Beaumont’s promise of a party in New York when the Leopards fly over to Las Vegas, as he confirmed: “It’s already been booked. We will go via New York and the lads will have a party on the first night in New York because everybody is going to be eager and keen.
“They’re going on their holidays, they’re going and having fun. I don’t want to recruit a team that goes to Vegas and it’s all stale and ultra-professional. When we land in Vegas, it will be ultra-professional but it will be a day after having a party.
“After the rugby has done its talking on the pitch and the Leopards and the brand have done their talking, the players will do their talking creating fun with me the day after. I will make it different than any other team has done, from a player’s point of view.”
NRL wanted Leigh Leopards in Las Vegas
He also underlined the importance of the fan experience with many likely to have to forego other luxuries and potentially even home games to be able to afford to go to Las Vegas.
“The big plan is to enjoy it, to create experiences, create memories and make it a special time for our fans. What you’ve got to remember is that it’s a massive investment for the fans, it’s a bigger investment for them than it is for me or the club.”
As for why Leigh in Las Vegas, Beaumont asserted that the NRL wanted the Leopards to attend as he labelled the club ‘the ultimate Vegas club’ and outlined their credentials as one of the elite teams in Super League.
Beaumont revealed: “I don’t want to talk out of school but the NRL wanted Leigh Leopards involved in Vegas. It’s that simple. That’s how big this brand has become, that’s how much we are. We are a vibrant club, we are the ultimate Vegas club.
“I don’t want to be disrespectful to those that have gone before us, they’ve set the platform and done an amazing job. They’re massive clubs but Leigh’s up there. We aren’t a small club, we’ve been in the semi-finals of the play-offs for the last two years, we’ve been in the play-offs the last three years and won a Challenge Cup.
“There are only three clubs who have won a major trophy in the last three years and we’re one of them. We aren’t whipping boys, we are the real deal. We will go to Vegas and make a big show and make no mistake, the NRL want Leigh Leopards in Vegas.”
Halo@78
May 26, 2026 at 4:00 pm
Yeh sure they did.