This weekend’s Las Vegas adventure can only be good for the sport, according to Wakefield Trinity boss Daryl Powell.
Trinity are at home to St Helens tomorrow (Saturday) afternoon before Betfred Super League heads to Vegas for the first time that evening.
Wigan Warriors and Warrington Wolves kick off a one-day bonanza of rugby league which also sees Canberra Raiders play New Zealand Warriors and Penrith Panthers take on Cronulla Sharks in the NRL, plus a women’s international between England and Australia.
The NRL are in the second of a five-year deal to play games in Vegas and another Super League fixture is likely to feature next season.
A crowd of up to 50,000 is expected and Powell, a former Warrington coach, reckons it will be “an outstanding show for rugby league”.
The Wakefield Trinity boss said: “It should be awesome, I hope it goes really well, it’s a great crowd and a great festival for rugby league.
“We all know the game deserves to have those kind of things happen and the profile it all brings. Hopefully it does a great job for rugby league, I am sure it will.”
Closer to home, promoted Trinity aim to continue their positive return to the top-flight after winning at Leeds Rhinos in round one and last week’s two-point loss to Hull KR.
Powell’s men visit Warrington Wolves next weekend so their start could not have been much tougher, but the coach reckons they’ve already proved they can more than compete – if they hit top form.
“We need to be consistent,” Powell stressed. “I don’t think we need to fear anybody, but we can’t be at anything less than our best, because I don’t think that’s going to be good enough.”
Saints have rattled up 128 points in their opening two games, against Salford Red Devils and Castleford Tigers, conceding only six and Powell noted: “They’ve got some big, physical players, one of the best players in the competition at full-back and all-round they’ve been an outstanding team for a number of years now.
“We know we need to play exceptionally well. We knew when we saw the fixtures the first four rounds were going to be incredibly tough and that’s the way it has proved so far.
“It’ll be the same this week, but we have competed exceptionally well and we are ready to go again. I think there’s a real confidence about us.”
Trinity are boosted by Jake Trueman’s return from illness and Liam Hood and Matty Russell are available following injury.
“We recognise how tough the competition is, but we are looking forward to it,” Powell added.
“We are enjoying being back in Super League and pitting our wits against the best teams. We play the best teams in round one to four and that shows us where we’re at.”
3️⃣🔙
Daryl Powell is able to bring back Liam Hood, Renouf Atoni and Matty Russell back into his Trinity squad for the challenge of St Helens!!
👉🏻 https://t.co/VeRA973tYU#UpTheTrin pic.twitter.com/wLsm0Sw15d
— Wakefield Trinity (@WTrinityRL) February 27, 2025
