Nick Politis wants to grow rugby league in America. Look who he’s sending to Vegas

To appreciate Nick Politis’ commitment to promoting and growing rugby league in the US, you only have to look at the calibre of Sydney Roosters players he will send to America for the Vegas Nines.

Premiership winner Luke Keary will coach the LA Roosters at the Nines, a low-key event which runs in the week leading up to the NRL double-header – while two of the NRLW’s biggest names, Millie Elliott and Jess Sergis, will feature in the womens’ competition.

The Roosters were part of the inaugural NRL double-header in Vegas in 2024, and their owner and chairman Politis spent around $500,000 not long afterwards to help establish a league academy on the US west coast while also launching the LA Roosters, a team to feature in the Californian league.

The $200,000 combined prizemoney for winning the men’s and women’s Nines competitions will mean little to billionaire Politis – but having the game of rugby league in the spotlight is priceless.

Keary, who won titles with the Roosters in 2018 and 2019 – he was the Clive Churchill Medallist in 2018 – and since joined Trent Robinson’s coaching staff, said he was never going to pass on the Vegas opportunity when approached by Politis.

“Nick is dead serious about this investment – it’s great for our game someone like Nick is trying to grow the game,” Keary said.

“I’ll coach the men and John Strange will coach the women’s team. Millie and Jess are both playing.

“We’re sending over a few of the younger boys over who haven’t played first grade, but have played SG Ball and NSW Cup. The final is scheduled for Allegiant Stadium on the Saturday morning of the NRL double-header.

“We know how much money and time Nick has invested in the Roosters and the game. To see his passion for America, it’s been cool.”

Strange confirmed Sergis and Elliott would get game time, with Elliott making her official return to the game since giving birth to a healthy girl, Gigi.

Politis became so emotional during a semi-final involving the LA Roosters last year that he and club director Mark Bouris hurled verbal abuse at a referee, which later became the centre of an NRL Integrity Unit investigation.

Meanwhile, Keary said he had enjoyed seeing new recruit Daly Cherry-Evans and Sam Walker work on their halves combination over the summer, but warned fans it would take time for them to click. Keary said it took him most of the 2018 season to truly feel comfortable alongside Cooper Cronk.

“It takes time to build that partnership and connection, and it’s not just about Daly and Sam, Reece Robson has come into the side, so there’s a lot of change to the spine,” Keary said. “When Cooper arrived in 2018, we also had ‘Teddy’ [James Tedesco] join the spine.

“It might click straight away, maybe it takes a month, half a year. When it comes to Daly and Sammy, we are talking about two very good footballers with very high footy IQs.”