'Go out and show out': Gurley urges NRL stars to light up Vegas

Former LA Rams star Todd Gurley has urged NRL players to "go out and make a name for themselves" at Allegiant Stadium, while backing the game's Vegas vision.

Gurley offered praise and advice for the NRL and the game’s stars after visiting Sharks training to promote his MADE Sports Foundation and the NRL’s School to Work program.

“These guys could play anything; they can catch, they can run, they can throw,” Gurley said after kicking and passing NRL and NFL balls with Nicho Hynes and other Cronulla players.

“He (Hynes) was kicking goals from behind the goal posts – it just doesn’t make any sense.”

Gurley was one of the biggest stars in the NFL, winning the 2015 Offensive Rookie of the Year and the 2017 Offensive Player of the Year, as well as two All-Pro honours, before a series of injuries eventually forced his retirement in 2022.

However, he was in awe of the NRL stars, saying: “We look at these guys like gladiators. No helmuts, no pad, no time-outs … I think my career would have been short and sweet”.

After the success of last year’s Vegas venture, the NRL is aiming higher, with English clubs Wigan and Warrington to play on March 1 alongside the Sharks, Panthers, Raiders and Warriors, as well as an Australia-England women’s Test.

“I think they did a great job of promoting it last year, and Vegas love their sports,” Gurley said.

Americans just like sports, period, and I know that there are people over there who watch NRL.

"I think they are going to a great spot in Allegiant Stadium and Las Vegas. I think it is a great way for the NRL to expand.”

Gurley told the Sharks players to "have fun" in Vegas but also said the Round 1 match against the Panthers was an opportunity to put their name up in lights in America.

"You are in a new country where not everybody knows what your name is, so you want to go out and show out," he said.

"You want to collectively play as a team player, but I know if I get a chance to come over here, I want to make a name for myself so try to win the player of the match."

As an NFL fan, Hynes said he was excited by the chance to meet Gurley and play in the same stadium where Patrick Mahomes led the Chiefs to victory in the 2024 Super Bowl.

"I am already pumped and after getting to meet Todd, it was such a good experience to chat about NFL, chat about our game and kick the ball around with someone of his stature," he said.

"He was the GOAT a few years ago, so it is exciting. He said it is going to be an awesome experience for us, and as a kid from Umina who just wanted to play rugby league, you could never dream of playing over there.

You had to be an NFL player to play there.

"The Chiefs won the Super Bowl there last year with Patty and I'm all for him doing it again, so to be playing in one of the best-known cities in the world on the same field he played on is really exciting."