The Dolphins are reportedly favourites to be announced as one of the four teams to play in Las Vegas to open the NRL season in 2025.
According to The Courier Mail, the Dolphins have the inside running to represent Queensland considering the Titans and Broncos didn’t apply to be considered while the Cowboys have withdrawn.
While the NRL haven’t officially decided the four teams to head over to sin city next year, a Queensland team is expected to be selected while the Panthers and Storm appear to be locked in.
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The Dolphins emerged as a frontrunner for Vegas after the Cowboys withdrew their submission in a shock move, considering the Townsville-based club were the NRL’s preferred Queensland representative.
Dolphins CEO Terry Reader travelled to Las Vegas last month on a fact-finding mission, which was enough for the club to declare their interest.
“We are interested,” Reader said.
“We have sent the information the NRL asked for by the due date.
“Our interest is, of course, based on the assumption that the terms and conditions from the NRL to participate will be sufficient to ensure the Dolphins are not worse off for participating, both financially and around our footy program.
“We are still yet to see any of that detail from the NRL in the process so far.
“The Dolphins have already shown that we are willing to take matches to expanding markets by playing a match in Perth last year and again this year.”
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The Cowboys are reportedly eyeing off Vegas in 2026, with CEO Jeff Reibel believing the extra year will benefit the club.
“I want to make it clear we are totally supportive of the NRL’s strategy for Vegas,” Reibel said.
“We are certainly keen to go in 2026, so the next 12 months will give us a longer runway to work with our commercial partners to ensure that when we do eventually go to Vegas, it will benefit all our stakeholders.”
Source Agencies
