Rugby league legend and host of SEN’s Morning Glory Matty Johns has praised the scheduling of next year’s games in Las Vegas and believes the Super League clash between Wigan and Warrington will help make the event a sell-out.
The NRL announced the schedule today for the league’s second consecutive trip to Las Vegas with Canberra facing New Zealand and Penrith taking on Cronulla while the women’s teams from Australia and England will also face-off.
But Johns said the match-up which will bring a lot of rugby league fans to Vegas would be the meeting between Super League powerhouses Wigan and Warrington.
“I tell you what, Warrington versus Wigan, I reckon that guarantees a full stadium, I think we’ll get at least 10 to 12,000 travelling English supporters,” he said on The Run Home with Joel and Fletch.
“Although (the English fans) don’t have the television coverage, they are hardcore, they just live and die by it.
“Those two clubs have a huge supporter base, Wigan and Warrington will be massive.
“I tell you what, the English supporters, as far as their sports are concerned they do travel, so I’m saying 10,000 but there might end up being more, there might be 15,000 that go.”
Johns said he liked the fact the Australian women’s team, the Jillaroos, will feature at the event but wondered if going against England was the right move.
“The only question I’ve got on it is the gap between the Australian women’s game and the English women’s game is fairly significant,” he said.
“I just hope it’s a tight game.
“If we’re really looking to sell the women’s game, I probably would’ve been more inclined to do the women’s State of Origin.”
The games will be played on March 1, 2025 (local time).