- Action for rugby league fans from 11am AEDT on March 1
North Queensland Cowboys NRL coach Todd Payten and his Hull KR counterpart Willie Peters have been spotted working closely together in the lead-up to their respective footy games in Las Vegas this weekend.
The Super League champions lock horns with the Leeds Rhinos in the opening match of a triple-header at Allegiant Stadium on Sunday from 11am AEDT.
Newcastle then feature in the second match against North Queensland (1.15pm AEDT), before the Bulldogs tackle the Dragons (3.30pm AEDT) to round out the fixtures.
It can now be revealed Payten and Peters – who recently guided his team to glory in the World Club Challenge against the Brisbane Broncos – joined forces to prepare for the sporting extravaganza in Sin City.
Both coaches signed a partnership in June to develop on and off-field pathways between the two clubs.
The Cowboys and Hull KR will also have an opposed training session together.
North Queensland Cowboys coach Todd Payten and his Hull KR counterpart Willie Peters have been spotted working together before their team’s respective Las Vegas debuts this weekend
Willie Peters (pictured) recently coached Hull KR to a shock World Club Challenge win against the Brisbane Broncos
‘Any partnership with a team that has enjoyed success like Hull KR, it’s good for our club,’ Cowboys forward Harrison Edwards told 9News Queensland.
‘It’s good to be mixing ideas.’
This year marks the third consecutive NRL season to be opened in Las Vegas.
Anthony Seibold’s Manly Sea Eagles defeated the South Sydney Rabbitohs in the inaugural NRL match played at Allegiant Stadium.
The Sydney Roosters followed suit in the second match of a double-header in 2024, where they toppled the Brisbane Broncos.
Fans then saw the Canberra Raiders and Penrith Panthers record wins over the New Zealand Warriors and Cronulla Sharks respectively last year.
Footy powerbrokers hope to see a record crowd for Sunday’s triple-header, with live coverage on Fox League.