The NRL’s 2024 season started off with a bang, drawing 40,746 fans to Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. The Manly Sea Eagles beat the South Sydney Rabbitohs 36-24, while the Sydney Roosters beat the Brisbane Broncos 20-10. And despite NRL boss Peter V’Landys spruiking the financial benefits of taking the game to the US – which he says could run up into the millions – things weren’t all smooth sailing… Broncos player Ezra Mam was in tears and made a formal complaint against the Roosters’ Spencer Lenui for allegedly calling him a “monkey”. There was also a desert storm, and the start of the first game was pushed to a secondary broadcast channel after a US college basketball game went into overtime. Hollywood star and diehard Manly fan, Hugh Jackman also didn’t show. Regardless, V’Landys has called the international jaunt a success and “the greatest achievement of my career.”