The NRL kicked off the 2025 season in Las Vegas for the second year in a row, with the four-time defending premiers Penrith in action in Sin City.
Bolstered by a Super League contest and a desperately lopsided women's international between the Jillaroos and England, there was plenty of action in Allegiant Stadium.
Here are the five quick hits.
[Summary NRL]1. Savage's sensational week
It's safe to say that Xavier Savage will look back fondly on this trip to Las Vegas.
First, he proposed to his partner Taliah Simbolon in front of the iconic Bellagio fountains — a far better use of his time than what his teammates Morgan Smithies and Hudson Young got up to a couple of hours later.
But then he starred on the pitch as well.
The 22-year-old Queenslander scored a first-half double, including a length-of-the-field intercept try in a thrilling performance in which he was tested defensively throughout by the Warriors' attack.
"Xavier's maturing," Ricky Stuart said in his post-match press conference.
"He's a great young bloke. He's paying some dividends to the blokes who believed in him.
"That's the maturity in him [getting engaged]. It's lovely for him."
2. Jillaroos dominate sorry Lionesses
Tamika Upton is pretty special.
Four-time premiership winner. One-time Dally M medallist. State of Origin winner …
And she nailed a hat-trick in the first half against England in what was the first top-flight women's sporting event to take place at Allegiant Stadium.
England's Lionesses were left clawless and toothless against the Broncos' superstar fullback, who earned 98 metres from just five carries, with two tackle breaks and a line break.
Oh, that was just in the first half.
She added another two tries in the second half as the Aussies ran in 17 tries to one, Upton furious that England scored at the death to ruin a clean sheet.
Julia Robinson and Jess Sergis both scored hat-tricks, with Tarryn Aiken adding six try assists to humiliate England, falling just short of their all-time record win of 92-0.
3. Horror head knock hospitalises England prop
The Jillaroos were clearly not interested in taking any prisoners at Allegiant Stadium.
And despite leading 38-0, came out firing at the start of the second half right from kick-off.
Unfortunately for England prop Vicky Whitfield, Sarah Togatuki lined her up from the restart and absolutely flattened her with a sickening head knock.
Togatuki got back up, albeit on wobbly legs, and was taken off the field.
Whitfield though, did not, and was left in the care of medical professionals who took their time before stretchering the St Helens forward off the field.
Fox Sports reported the Englishwoman was sent straight to hospital for precautionary scans.
With kick-offs already under the microscope given the risk of heavy collisions, this was another example to cite for those who want change.
4. Kennedy rides his luck in Vegas
Plenty of people have travelled to Las Vegas to ride their luck, and some people have even won every now and then. Will Kennedy can certainly add his name into that category.
With Cronulla defending a slim 4-0 lead in the 23rd minute, Lindsay Smith reached out and looked destined to slam the ball on the tryline, but Sharks fullback Kennedy arrived out of nowhere to knock the ball loose.
It seemed a miraculous try-saver, except that it was knocked directly into the path of Nathan Cleary, who grounded the ball.
Alas, referee Ashley Klein sent it to the bunker as "no try" where Liam Kennedy confirmed Smith had knocked on, despite Smith appearing to have control of the ball the entire time.
"That's ridiculous," former Cronulla premiership player Mick Ennis said in commentary for Fox Sports.
"[Kennedy's] not playing at anything else … gee, that's a tough call to the Panthers."
Two minutes later, Kennedy again denied Cleary with a leaping bat-back to prevent a 40/20, but replays as play continued on showed his toe on the touchline as he jumped.
Never been a better time to go bet it all on black.
5. Peter V'Landys the long jump artist?
While the NRL players were doing their utmost to show off the game in the best possible light on the pitch, Australian Rugby League Commission chairman Peter V'Landys was doing the rounds promoting the game to the punters.
But while there's evidence that V'Landys's vision of rugby league breaking into the US market is making great strides, perhaps it's best to keep him off the microphone in future.
In an interview on Fox Sports, as New Zealand rapper Savage did his bit to entertain the crowd during half-time in the night's opening game, V'Landys said … well, we're not sure what he was trying to say to be honest.
"What about this hip hop music?" V'Landys said.
"I only did long jump, what's this hip hop stuff? Geez this is a bit loud."
Yeah, we don't know either.
V'Landys went on to praise the NRL for getting the match on: "I'm very proud of the NRL team … I'm only one person, there's a whole team behind me, I'm only the captain.
"They should be very proud of themselves because they've put on a brilliant show."
