NRL Fans Officially Welcome the Start of the New Season at Registered Clubs

For the first time in rugby league history, registered clubs welcomed the start of the NRL season by hosting Official Watch Parties.

The 2025 NRL Premiership was launched for the second consecutive year with two round-one matches played in Las Vegas, along with one UK Super League game and a Test match between the Australian and UK women’s sides.

Under a partnership between ClubsNSW and the Australian Rugby League Commission, Your local club played host to the Official NRL Vegas Watch Party.

In addition, Your local club had 22 Special Event Hubs set up around the state, serving up Vegas-themed food and beverage specials, entertainment and the chance to win one of two double passes to NRL Vegas 2026, as well as official NRL merchandise and other prizes.

_{^{Leagues Clubs Australia CEO Don Hammond, ClubsNSW Executive Assistant Claire Patterson, ClubsNSW CEO Rebecca Riant, ClubsNSW Director Dr George Peponis OAM and Canterbury League Club CEO Greg Pickering at the Official NRL Vegas Watch Party at Canterbury League Club, which was also one of 22 Special Event Hubs.}}

Josh Addo-Carr, Dale Finucane and Jacob Kiraz were among the current and former NRL players who celebrated the start of the 2025 NRL season at the Special Event Hubs by acting as ambassadors for the historic day.

“When you consider what clubs represent, they represent community, they represent junior sport… what better way to launch these types of events in a hub of a community, where we know most of our membership and the community will get behind it,” said Bankstown Sports CEO Michael Clancy.

“The partnership with ClubsNSW and the NRL, I think what they’ve really done is make this a tremendous event, focusing on what people really like to experience… it’s a whole day of football and I think people have really resonated to that on a Sunday afternoon. Where would you rather be?”

To amplify the day, 2GB Radio conducted live crosses to Wenty Leagues, one of the 22 Special Event Hubs, while SEN Radio broadcast shows live from Wests Campbelltown, West Tamworth Leagues Club and Parra Leagues.

_{^{Fans enjoying the day at Wests Campbelltown, one of 22 Special Event Hubs.}}

SEN presenter and former Rabbitoh and Rooster Jimmy Smith, who presented SEN’s Wests Campbelltown broadcast, said that with registered clubs contributing more than $50 million annually to the game of rugby league, it was fitting that clubs played host to the Official NRL Vegas Watch Party.

“All around NSW, all around the clubs, the watch parties are unreal… what’s a little bit overlooked is the fact that, yes, the clubs support the elite level of the game, but the support they give grassroots level is absolutely crucial,” he said.

“I know as a local in the Group 6 area, the support we get from Wests League Club is extraordinary.”

Fellow SEN broadcaster and NRL legend Brett Kimmorley agreed that the Official NRL Vegas Watch Party was a fantastic way of drawing fans into registered clubs for the start of the season.

“The watch parties have been unbelievable… clubs are a big part of rugby league and clubs are a big part of communities… I’m very proud to be out here today,” he said.

ClubsNSW CEO Rebecca Riant, who visited several Special Event Hubs on the day, including at Bankstown Sports and Canterbury League Club, said the partnership will only continue to grow in the years to come.

“We see an amazing opportunity for us to continue working really closely with the NRL and building on this year’s first Your local club Official NRL Vegas Watch Party,” she said.

“We’re already pulling together a list of those that have an expression of interest in hosting a watch party next year.”

_{^{Former NRL player Josh Mansour (right) at Panthers Penrith, an NRL Official Vegas Watch Party Ambassador.}}

Canterbury League Club CEO Greg Pickering said the partnership between ClubsNSW and the NRL was a “fantastic” one for his Club and called on other clubs to be involved next year.

“The roll-up that we’ve got today, 530 people indicated via a ticket process that we put on — free — so that we had some understanding about who was interested in it,” he said.

“It’s open to every club and every club should be a part of it, it’s a great event, and I think members’ money well spent.”

Michael Clancy echoed Greg Pickering’s comments, saying he was blown away by the level of patronage and encouraged all clubs to be involved next year and reap the benefits of the huge opportunity.

“It’s absolutely electric, I don’t think you’ll be able to fit many more people in here today, our restaurants are full, our Brewhouse is full, our Rainforest is full, and I think by 4 o’clock when this main game kicks off, it’s going to be an absolutely spectacular place to be,” he said.

“When they [clubs] see the success of this day and the media behind it and the amount of people we have in here today, I think they’ll want to jump at the chance for the future opportunities, I already know I have some of my external venues wanting to jump at it next year.”

_{^{Parramatta Eels player Josh Addo-Carr at Mounties, one of 22 Special Event Hubs.}}

ClubsNSW CEO Rebecca Riant said that she anticipates the event is going to become part of the annual calendar of events to get patrons back out into their local club and enjoying time with their friends and family.

“We hope in the future that the Vegas Watch Party for the NRL games are going to be a hallmark event alongside State of Origin, alongside big race days and similar to events such as Superbowl.”

_{^{Former NRL star Josh Hodgson at Wyong Leagues, one of 22 Special Event Hubs.}}

Brett Kimmorley agreed that the partnership between ClubsNSW and the NRL provides a big opportunity for registered clubs to become a huge part of the sporting calendar.

“I think this will become one of the big events of the year, clubs will be a big part of it and if you’re not in Vegas at that festival then you go to your local club and become a part of their festival,” he said.

“The Melbourne Cup stops the nation; this is what this day will look like in the future for rugby league.”

Wests Campbelltown and Wests Illawarra patrons Luke Lipscombe and Garry Legge were the two lucky winners of the double pass to Vegas 2026.

Patrons Steve Dablin, Mikhayla Atkins and Benjamin Heaslip of Sharks @ Kareela, Mounties and Revesby Workers’ Club respectively, each won a VB Fridge.

While every club is permitted to badge themselves as an Official NRL Vegas Watch Party, in due course ClubsNSW will issue an EDM to all member clubs, seeking expressions of interest to host a Special Event Hub in 2026.