LeagueNews.co | Jason Patrick
The NRL's bold claim to be Australia's "biggest sport" has sparked outrage among AFL greats, reigniting the age-old footy code wars.
The NRL is set to launch its 2024 season in Las Vegas, with two games scheduled for Round 1 in March.
The Manly Sea Eagles will go head-to-head with the South Sydney Rabbitohs, while the Sydney Roosters will face off against the Brisbane Broncos.
Both matches will take place at Allegiant Stadium, home of the NFL's Las Vegas Raiders, as the NRL aims to expand rugby league internationally and tap into the city's lucrative gambling market.
However, it is the advertisement outside Allegiant Stadium that has caused the most controversy, with the slogan "Australia's biggest sport unleashed in Vegas" infuriating AFL greats.
Former AFL player and coach Mick Malthouse criticized the NRL's claim, stating, "It's laughable to suggest that the NRL is Australia's biggest sport.
The AFL has a much larger following and greater participation rates across the country." Malthouse's sentiment was echoed by other AFL personalities, including former player and commentator Matthew Richardson, who said, "The NRL can try to claim the title, but the fact remains that Australian Rules Football is the true national sport."
The NRL's boastful advertisement has ignited a heated debate between rugby league and Australian Rules Football fans, with social media platforms inundated with passionate arguments from both sides.
Supporters of the NRL argue that the sport's strong presence in Queensland and New South Wales, as well as its TV ratings and attendance figures, make it the country's biggest sport.
On the other hand, AFL fans point to the sport's popularity in Victoria, South Australia, and Western Australia, as well as its international expansion efforts, to claim superiority.
While the NRL's attempt to assert itself as the nation's "biggest sport" may have stirred up controversy, it has undeniably reignited the long-standing rivalry between the two codes.
As the debate rages on, one thing is clear - the code wars between rugby league and Australian Rules Football are far from over.