Hull KR and Leeds Rhinos bring colour to Las Vegas as excitement builds
As a traveller, there are few things worse than feeling like home has followed you to your destination.
A holiday is, after all, an escape from the norm.
For one week a year, rugby league has a voice in Sin City and a platform to spread the word.
A curious turn of the head could lead to a conversation – and who knows, even a new fan attending Saturday's triple-header at Allegiant Stadium.
If the amiable Yorkshire accent doesn't draw locals in, their passion for rugby league certainly will.
Hull KR and Leeds Rhinos have a visible presence in Vegas through their ardent supporters, who wear their team's colours with pride whether they are at home, in transit or in the desert.
It is a badge of honour, as evidenced by the sheer number of fans decked out in club memorabilia at Heathrow Airport.
These supporters have not just come for a holiday – they are puffing out their chests and letting everybody know where their loyalties lie in no uncertain terms.
The stories began even before the plane left the tarmac, whether it was the niece of Rovers legend Len Casey recounting legendary tales from the 1980s or fans reliving last week's thrilling World Club Challenge success.
On the ground in Vegas, there is no escaping the rugby league takeover. Amid the bustling crowds, jerseys can be spotted representing clubs from Sydney to Batley.
There are weary eyes – and not just those of this reporter – yet the smiles and laughter tell you that every early alarm and long flight has been worthwhile.
One fan could be overheard saying: "This is the best week of my life – seeing Hull KR here in Vegas. It's unbelievable."
The energy is infectious. Conversations punctuate the background noise as fans swap predictions, recall historic wins and celebrate being in a place far from home with like-minded supporters.
This trip is about creating lifelong memories. Parents point out landmarks to their children; other fans simply take it all in. They won't forget following their team to Las Vegas.
Even casual passers-by can't help noticing the sea of red and white or blue and amber weaving through casinos and bars. Rugby league is muscling its way in on the conversation in a marketplace dominated by proud American sporting traditions.
But more than anything, these fans have come to Las Vegas to watch their team win. Every supporter carries the same mix of excitement and nerves – the thrill of seeing their team on unfamiliar ground, tempered by the lingering fear of the worst-case scenario.
But that is the very essence of sport – the highs and lows, the hope and the heartbreak. In Vegas, those feelings are amplified.
Between now and game day, butterflies will come and go amid the nonstop buzz of Sin City. Whatever the result, both sets of fans will head home wearing their club colours, carrying the same sense of pride that is filling the streets during a rugby league week like no other.