Sports
Viva Las Aussie & the Ultimate Top Ten Las Vegas Films
Wassup, sports fams, and Viva Las Aussie!
by Cam Schuster I 3rd March 2026
That was the theme of last weekend, with the NRL finally kicking off at the home of the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium. (I say finally because I need some fandom energy that Super Rugby Pacific fails to conjure) This was the third outing to Trump land for the NRL as they showcase the game of Rugby League to the American audience. Although recent comments from a cousin who lives in L.A. suggest the only crowd attendance is Australians and Kiwis flying over for the novelty. Makes me think about what the NRL has actually achieved since the Las Vegas openers began, and whether any dent has been made in the USA market, considering the beast that is the NFL.
Viva Las Aussie! The Weekend Australia took over Las Vegas, AKA Sin City, AKA The Adult Disney, AKA The Entertainment Capital of the World. A city I have yet to visit, but lives in memories throughout my years watching film and TV, which is why I will give you my top 5 Las Vegas movies at the end of this piece. Wassup, sports and MOVIE fams!
Since we talking about Aussie takeover I cant get past what happened in Super Rugby Pacific in Week 3 where the Aussie teams dominated, winning all three matches (bar the Waratahs on a bye) the first, on NZ soil when the Force beat Moana Pasifika and the second across the ditch when the Reds disposed of the Highlanders in front of a Suncorp crowd that would remind Broncs Nation of the crowds during the Seibold era. The third was when the undefeated Brumbies pipped the confused Blues at the death in Canberra, breaking the hearts of Blues fans and leaving us scratching our heads on why Christie would kick the ball back to the Brumbies with the lead with 3 minutes to go?
After three rounds, we see Stevie Larkham’s men at the top of the table with the Waratahs trailing in second spot, then the Reds down at 6th position. The Force smashing Moana 35-19 is their first win, taking them off the bottom and into 9th place. Yeah, we get it, Aussie had a great week, so what does this mean? Well, nothing, Championships aren't won in February.
Back at the home of the Brave, the Newcastle Knights couldn't wait to show off their rejuvenated backline, including their newly acquired million-dollar man Ted DiBias… I mean, Dylan Brown. Knights CEO Peter Parr and the Newcastle faithful would've shown a sign of relief when the Kiwi Stand-off earned every bit of his coin during last year's dominant performance for the Kiwis, nailing man-of-the-match honours in the Pacific Championship final win against Toa Samoa. The return of Fletcher Sharp is integral to the Knights' success this year, and it showed when he dominated the start of the match, scoring a try in the 6th minute, breaking 6 tackles, while offering a try assist and 1 line break assist all in a span of 20 minutes before coming off with a (cross your fingers Knights fans) suspected ACL injury. His replacement, Sandon Smith (acquired from the Roosters), fit in nicely with Brown and Kalyn Ponga guiding the Knights to an entertaining 28-18 victory over the Cowboys. Ponga showed his class as if to remind the NRL he’s still got it. Brown was the quietest of the spine combos, but still had a solid performance.
The Bulldogs and Dragons match afterwards was touted as a no-contest for the punters as Canterbury had overwhelming odds. Instead, what played out was a grind. If the previous match was entertaining, then the last match had to be fast-forwarded to Golden Point. That’s one thing that came to mind, Americans hate draws, I mean, look at their sports, all overtime until someone wins. The Doggies Red V match had the potential for a draw, anathema to American sports culture. Americans love a winner and like Highlander, “There can be only one” Anyways, Golden Point happened, Valentine Holmes fell short in his attempt droppie while Critta won it with an impression of his game-winning drop goal sinking England in the 2021 World Cup semis.
Which brings me back to the comments made by my American cousin earlier, “only Aussies and Kiwis attend these Las Vegas matches”. I heard on the radio that only 10-15% in the stadium were just curious Americans having a nosey. Which raises the question: are these Las Vegas events achieving the NRL’s goal? How do we measure the success of these NRL Season openers over the last three years? The answer might lie in our observations, for instance, Major League Rugby (MLR) is still familiar to more American sports fans than rugby league. A lot of overseas rugby players, including NZ and Australia, sign up for MRL teams across the United States each season. Guys like ex-All Blacks Ma’a Nonu (San Diego Legion) or Andy Ellis ( New York Rugby) bring star credentials and experience to the competition. Rugby Union is also represented in Hollywood in Clint Eastwood’s Springboks movie, Invictus, starring Matt Damon. There’s also a scene in Martin Scorsese’s film The Departed where Damon again is playing in a college game of rugby. USA Rugby also has regular spots in the World Sevens and the Rugby World Cup, which they will host in 2031. Also, for the Women’s game, midfielder Ilona Maher has become an ambassador for USA women's rugby and a celebrity, you would too if you had an Amazonian bod in a two-piece bikini with more Instagram followers than the All Blacks and Springboks combined. The NRL still has a way to go to catch up to Rugby Union in America. Showcasing the sport in Vegas is a good start, but it may not be enough if Americans have to wait 12 months for another live event.
So, like I promised, here are my top 10 Las Vegas movies. These films are chosen for their stories, characters, and while based in Sin City, Las Vegas plays as much of a character as the actors themselves. Best quote goes to Bull Hurley in Over the Top, “you ain't got a prayer in Vegas.” Best comedy is number 5, Honeymoon in Vegas, while my number 1, Casino, not only consists of my favourite genre but has great acting, and directing by the legend Martin Scorsese.
Top 5 Las Vegas Movies
10. Ocean’s Eleven (2001)
9. Army of the Dead (2019)
8. The Hangover (2009)
7. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998)
6. Bugsy (1991)
5. Honeymoon in Las Vegas (1992)
4. The Godfather Part 2 (1974)
3. Over The Top (1987)
2. Leaving Las Vegas (1995)
1. Casino (1995)