The NRL will decide in the next three months whether to charge towards a global round, with gradual year-by-year international expansion the likely model.
ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landys has confirmed the NRL boasts a three-year plan for the concept, culminating in double-headers in at least four cities.
The game’s boss also declared to AAP that Las Vegas would stay on the calendar beyond when the current deal ends in 2028, labelling it the league’s anchor event.
But V’landys has made no secret of the fact he plans for the concept to grow, ahead of Saturday’s double-header season opener at Allegiant Stadium.
The NRL is known to be particularly keen on taking a game to London as soon as next year, in what would loom as the league’s next overseas destination.
Miami, Hong Kong, Tokyo and the UAE then loom as other likely options, with the idea of playing NRL double-headers alongside a Super League fixture in each city.
“We’re going to ease our way into it. We are going to have a three-year plan to have at least four (cities),” V’landys told AAP.
“We are working on it now. We’re doing all the business cases so in the next three months we will know.”
Spurred on by an estimated 16,000 fans taking over downtown Las Vegas for Thursday night’s launch, V’landys is growing increasingly confident.
“Vegas is our anchor event, we are always going to be in Vegas,” V’landys said.
“This just proves it. I look at the great time all the fans are having, anything we do will be on top of Vegas.
“We would replicate everything (in other cities). We want to make it a bucket list (item) for fans to go to.
“I’m confident we could get the same response, especially in London if we go there.
“And even in Hong Kong and Japan and the Middle East. I think we can replicate it.”
Canterbury have already indicated they would be open to travelling again next year, however the most likely next outcome for them would be a game in Dubai or Abu Dhabi.
St George Illawarra coach Shane Flanagan on Friday also confirmed his club would be happy to travel again next year, pushing the idea of a general bye for teams if they all travel in round one.
North Queensland counterpart Todd Payten did, however, express concerns about more travel, given they and the Warriors already rack up more kilometres than any other club.
“I’m happy to stay in Asia. We travel enough. London is too far,” Payten said.
“We’re travelling 60,000km throughout the season, which is plenty.”
And Newcastle have also indicated they would be willing to go overseas again soon, but not at the expense of another home game.
“We’d be open to it, but it’s conditional support at this stage,” CEO Peter Parr said.
“We’ve given up a home game in Newcastle for (all the advantage Vegas carries).
“But if we were going to commit to do something in the future, then that would be on the basis of the away team.
“As much as we’re delighted there are 5000 here, that means there are so many supporters back in Newcastle, so we don’t disadvantage them as well.”
V’landys said that concern had been a common theme among clubs, but believed the league could either persuade them or find other ways to make it work.
“We will make it financially attractive for them,” he said.
“Everything is on the table, we are looking at everything.
“And that is the beauty of rugby league at the moment. We will make the hard decisions as long as we have belief in them.
“If it has a business case, we’ll make changes. We’re going to be flexible.”
