That might include staging the 2030 Rugby League World Cup – the United States was one of five nations shortlisted last year – and ultimately lead to one or two north American leagues that would run in tandem with the Super League and NRL seasons.
The collapse of the latter – whose record was expunged midway through the 2020 Super League season when they withdrew citing the financial pressures of the global pandemic – put such expansionist plans on the back-burner, but Jones believes the Las Vegas programme could pave the way for a united approach to the north American market.
It’s an opportunity to put Super League on new international territory, to put Super League alongside the NRL, and for players and coaches to experience something new and very different.
Jones is realistic enough to acknowledge that the NRL – which staged the inaugural Las Vegas weekend last year without Super League involvement – currently holds all the cards in terms of financial and organisational muscle.
In the shorter term, Jones is determined that Super League should seize the opportunity in Las Vegas to strengthen ties with the NRL, while at the same time emphasising it is strong enough to stand alone.
