LeagueNews.co | Cooper McEnroe
In a recent interview, South Sydney Rabbitohs coach Jason Demetriou warned that the altered field size in Las Vegas for the NRL season opening matches will have a significant impact on the game.
This change marks a historic moment for the NRL as it is the first time premiership matches will be played outside of Australia or New Zealand.
However, it is not just the location that will be different, but also the field dimensions at Allegiant Stadium.
Demetriou revealed that although the players may not have immediately noticed the difference, video analysis highlighted the subtle variations in gameplay caused by the smaller field.
To prepare for this unique setting, the team spent a week training on the altered dimensions, aiming to familiarize themselves with the changes.
Demetriou acknowledged that while the players may not feel the difference, upon reviewing the training footage, it became evident that the smaller dimensions indeed affected the dynamics of the game.