To appreciate Nick Politisโ commitment to promoting and growing rugby league in the US, you only have to look at the calibre of Sydney Roosters players he will send to America for the Vegas Nines.
Premiership winner Luke Keary will coach the LA Roosters at the Nines, a low-key event which runs in the week leading up to the NRL double-header โ while two of the NRLWโs biggest names, Millie Elliott and Jess Sergis, will feature in the womensโ competition.
The Roosters were part of the inaugural NRL double-header in Vegas in 2024, and their owner and chairman Politis spent around $500,000 not long afterwards to help establish a league academy on the US west coast while also launching the LA Roosters, a team to feature in the Californian league.
The $200,000 combined prizemoney for winning the menโs and womenโs Nines competitions will mean little to billionaire Politis โ but having the game of rugby league in the spotlight is priceless.
Keary, who won titles with the Roosters in 2018 and 2019 โ he was the Clive Churchill Medallist in 2018 โ and since joined Trent Robinsonโs coaching staff, said he was never going to pass on the Vegas opportunity when approached by Politis.
โNick is dead serious about this investment โ itโs great for our game someone like Nick is trying to grow the game,โ Keary said.
Roosters star Jess Sergis will travel to Las Vegas for the Nines.Credit: Getty
โIโll coach the men and John Strange will coach the womenโs team. Millie and Jess are both playing.
โWeโre sending over a few of the younger boys over who havenโt played first grade, but have played SG Ball and NSW Cup. The final is scheduled for Allegiant Stadium on the Saturday morning of the NRL double-header.
