The NRL recently took the great game of rugby league to Las Vegas, at the home of the 2024 SuperBowl Allegiant Stadium, which has raised a question to the world of Rugby League.

Where does the NRL go next?

Well why not bring it to the rugby league heartland, back home. NRL UK.

Yes, it isn’t an expansion as rugby league is a sport that is played here, and is very popular (especially in the north of England). But, thats not the point.

The NRL as an Australian industry is not very accessible to the european population who may want to view arguably some of the best rugby league in the world.

The NRL, would definitely have the ability to sell out large stadiums in the UK. This is from the fact that the World Club Challenge this year was able to sell out the DW stadium, which is around 24,000 people. Which for a Wigan Warriors game is an exceptional amount of people going off their average attendance of 13,586 people last season.

The NRL could use the UK as a platform for a European audience. And with conversation always talking of a potential NRL takeover of Super League it would be a great way to showcase what NRL organisers could do for us.

And it wouldn’t even need to be the biggest of games. The NFL and the MLB have proven that UK audiences will attend sports fixtures from other countries due to interest built through promotion. If the NRL truly want to expand in a similar way to American sports, europe is a definite place they need to conquer.

According to the NFL last year they sold tickets to 47,000 fans to attend all three of the London games last year. Aswell as having ticket sales figures close to sell-outs on all three occasions. With an average of over 80,000 at Wembley since the first NFL London game is 2007, it shows a clear audience of the British population that are willing to attend sports that come from overseas.

Imagine NRL in a nearly sold out Wembley stadium, something which the Challenge Cup has failed to do for many years. Or even a game at Old Trafford or Anfield to have a greater chance of drawing in the core rugby league fanbase in England.

If the NRL can conquer Europe and America, it could lead to an ability to have great success with the second game of State of Origin that does not have a specific home, due to it being a neutral round. If the NRL expanded enough this would be a definite sell out, as Origin is some of the most brutal, and amazing rugby league that can ever be played.

And hopefully, all this would benefit the British Super League as it would showcase our game to a greater audience. And may potentially increase the numbers that heartland teams bring through the gates. Finally, leaving both Super League and NRL on a similar popularity scale. Which would make the international game much more competitive.

But what are your thoughts?

Leave a comment below as to where you think the NRL could possibly go with their expansion of the game.