At one end there was the Warrington fans, the mood growing quite glum as the game slipped away from them after the 20 minute mark – despite three straight tries in the second half.

At the other end, you could be forgiven for thinking it was an English Premier League game, a constant stream of chants and banging of the drums; quite the backing track as their team ran riot.

While they only took up a few dedicated supporter bays, the stadium acoustics amplified it nearly three-fold, at least.

In fact, so much was their vocal dominance, the Wolves’ first try almost slipped by unnoticed for those not paying close attention to the game.

The English Super League game finished on a high with two tries in the final three minutes, bringing both sets of supporters to their feet – but then there was a bit of a momentum drop off – on field at least. Fans had to wait around 30 minutes for the next game with little entertainment.

Daine Laurie celebrates with teammates after scoring. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

In the first real sign of American attendance at the game, the Star Spangled Banner was cheered loudly and proudly, with a fighter jet flyover welcoming the NRL to Vegas.

The excitement switch was then flicked back on, as teams prepared for the first NRL clash of the day, and while there was a good scattering of green around the stadium, they were outscreamed by Warriors fans during the Viking Clap.

The English fans largely stuck around, but by game two there was a bigger audience in their seats, and it was a true rugby league crowd too – fans celebrating momentum gains, booing opponents mistakes and even giving the ref an earful for the call that went the other way.

One area that the NRL didn’t quite learn from last year was the education for newcomers to the sport – the most explanation given over the loudspeaker was the usual “ruck infringement” for a six-again call. Unless you were familiar with the rules you wouldn’t have known why.

Yes, there were Americans trying to learn the game: one asking a more seasoned supporter if “the Warriors are a good side” while wearing a NRL cap and shirt. There were also other “locals” meandering around the venue – definitely outnumbered but displaying their own NBA and NFL attire.

Staff at the ground also found it hard keeping up with the game, most saying they liked it but couldn’t elaborate why apart from that it is “rough” and they had “no interest in playing it”.

They would have been more confused at Joseph Tapine’s sin-binning – somewhat ironic as those type of tackles and physicality have been promoted to them all week trying to get them to the game.

The drum beat that was driving Wigan, was well and truly driving the Raiders – as the Green Machine fan base was in full voice as their team stormed to a 28-4 lead in the second half.

Raiders Fans watching their team play in Las Vegas, 2025.

Soon national pride was at stake as the Jillaroos took on England. With an Ashes feel, there was an initial chanting contest between “Eng-a-land” followed by “Aussie, Aussie, Aussie”. But the biggest cheer came from Julia Robinson‘s first try.

As fans turned to the Mexican wave when the score blew out to an Ashes cricket-like drubbing, they were treated to a Conrad Sewell sing-a-long concert at half time, including rugby league classic “Simply the Best”.

All of the light-shows, music interludes and even the US-style crowd interactions (such as Snapchat filters and prize giveaways) from last year featured again.

Savelio Tamale is tackled. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

While those who specifically came for the physicality soon got what they wished for early in the second half, with Vicky Whitfield needing to be stretchered off the field after a nasty head collision with Sarah Togatuki. As the stadium held its breath, as she was being treated by paramedics, the DJ played “Hit me with your best shot”.

It was nearly as cold-hearted as the Aussies, who barely broke a sweat racing past 90, in the end – England rarely threatened.

The one-sidedness did have an impact on the numbers who stuck it out, around half of the vocal Wigan section singing at the start had vacated their seats by the end. But one of the biggest cheers of the night was when England scored their first try in the dying seconds.

At the end of the game, there was an exhibition for NFL Tag, a new sport at the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028. While sensing a drop in crowd atmosphere, the ground announcer tried to rev everyone up by singing popular songs.

Rather than it being a gradual growth throughout the evening, it was more like one fan base replaced another – Penrith and Sharks fans finding their seats for the final event of the evening, but Allegiant Stadium wasn’t quite as full as the Raiders-Warriors clash.

The NRL probably would have budgeted for interest to wane throughout the day, as four games takes too much energy for most.

Rest assured there was still plenty of support and noise from both Panthers and Sharks supporters – who at their home grounds would have packed the joint out – and they got a thrilling contest to match the magnitude of the occasion.

Those diehards from all competing clubs who stuck out the full day, were the ones who got their money’s worth.