VIVA VEGAS... BUT STAY OUT OF THE CLUB

KEVIN BROWN has urged Super League to join the Las Vegas adventure – but not at the World Club Challenge’s expense.

Rugby League hit Sin City (above) for the first time with the NRL’S season-opening doubleheader last weekend.

More than 40,000 fans descended on Super Bowl venue Allegiant Stadium in the first steps towards breaking into the US market.

Super League reps were also there to witness Manly defeat South Sydney and Brisbane tackle Sydney Roosters.

There’s talk of Vegas staging the World Club Challenge in 2025. A big number of UK fans travelled last weekend just to see the NRL clubs while around 14,000 made the trip from down under.

But ex-wigan stand-off Brown (inset), who played for England in the 2017 World Cup final, hopes Super League goes down a different track.

“Vegas does really work,” he said. “I thought it was sensational. It looked great, the fans were passionate and seeing sports stars from all over the world get involved beforehand, like Tom Brady, was quality.

“Super League could do something similar. I’d take the big boys: Wigan, Saints, Leeds and, at the moment, Hull KR. They’re four well-supported clubs.

But I’d like to see them marry up there with the NRL over a weekend: Us one day, the four Aussies the next.

“It’d be like a glorified Magic Weekend. Vegas would be brilliant for that. But I’d be hesitant to take the World Club Challenge.”

Brown believes the title showdown between the Super League and NRL champions is now too valuable a commodity to take on the road.

After years of trying to make the concept work, organisers have finally struck gold.

St Helens produced a stunning win in Penrith last year and Wigan attracted a capacity 24,000 crowd as they edged the same opponents in another thrilling victory 11 days ago.

Brown said: “I was at that Wigan game and it was so special to have so many people supporting the club there for such an occasion. They don’t get many chances to do it.

“Lots of kids who witnessed it wouldn’t have been able to watch NRL superstars other than on TV.

“It’s almost better than a final because you earn the right to have a final at your own ground which no other competition does.

“We’ve been to Australia and beaten them and beaten them here.

“They’ll want to take that back.

“If at a neutral ground, like Vegas, would it be as special?”