Arthur wants Leeds players to enjoy 'crazy' Vegas

Leeds Rhinos head coach Brad Arthur has said he wants his players to relish their Las Vegas experience.

The Rhinos play last season's treble winners Hull KR at the home of NFL side Las Vegas Raiders at 00:00 GMT on Sunday.

Their game, the second Super League game to be played in Vegas after Wigan Warriors' win over Warrington Wolves last season, will be followed by a double-header from Australia's NRL.

"The times we're training, as long as we're focused and concentrated on our job then that's great, but outside of that I want the boys to enjoy it and see the sights," Arthur told BBC Radio Leeds.

"We don't want them to go home and say, 'All we did was train and play'. We don't want them to miss out on the opportunity.

"I think there's a fair level of trust between the playing group, the club and myself that they're sensible and they know what they're here for. I don't need to keep reminding them of that, but at the end of the day we still want them to have fun.

"It's an opportunity that a lot of them never thought they'd get, and I want it to be something they remember when they've retired from the game."

Speaking on Thursday, Arthur said he was finding the city "a bit crazy" but had been impressed by the level of support for the teams.

In a city known for excess, one of his main concerns away from the game was unusually sedate in nature.

"We don't want them to walk too far," he said. "We talked to them about making sure they're tracking their steps, which everyone has been doing."

'I've never seen anything like it'

The 65,000 capacity Allegiant Stadium was opened in 2020 when the Raiders moved from Oakland to Las Vegas.

"I've been fortunate in my career to go to a lot of great stadiums around the world but, from the outside, I've never seen anything like this place," Arthur said.

The 51-year-old Australian, who joined Leeds in 2024 after a decade as the head coach of NRL side Parramatta Eels, wants his side to put on a good performance to showcase the quality of Super League.

"The two teams last year, particularly Wigan, did a really good job," he said.

"It's up to us and Hull KR to put on a good spectacle.

"The boys know the importance of the game, and once they get their first touch or first tackle, they'll be fine."