Yvonne Sampson barred from venue as NRL host lifts lid on pitfalls of Las Vegas
Yvonne Sampson has revealed there's one establishment in Las Vegas where "she's not welcome" as the popular NRL host prepares to lead Fox League's coverage of this weekend's games. Sunday will be a feast of rugby league for fans, with Canberra taking on the Warriors before the Panthers do battle with the Sharks.
Australia will also clash with England in a women's Test match, while Warrington and Wigan will play a Super League fixture to kick things off. Sampson will head-up Fox League's coverage of the four games, and is raring to go.
But speaking on SEN radio on Monday night, the popular host opened up on some of the pitfalls of Las Vegas in light of Canberra players Hudson Young and Morgan Smithies being sanctioned by the club for an altercation. The teammates came to blows in their hotel elevator after they returned from a night out only to find one wasn't allocated a room.
When a plea to share rooms was rejected, the players had a physical altercation and security escorted them out of the hotel. The situation - caused by a problem with the hotel's check-in system - was eventually rectified and police weren't involved.
Young and Smithies have been punished by the Raiders but won't be stood down for Sunday's clash with the Warriors. They fronted the media on Tuesday morning and apologised for the incident.
Questions have since been asked about whether the NRL teams in Vegas should have a curfew on players, as well as how much time they should be spending in Sin City in the lead-up to Sunday's games. Cronulla have made a 'calculated' decision to base themselves in Los Angeles to avoid the temptations of Vegas, while the Roosters, Broncos and Rabbitohs did likewise last year.
On Monday night, Sampson shared her own experiences of Vegas after having her hen's night there. "There's only one establishment I'm not welcome back at," she admitted. "My girlfriends and I have made it a regular trip every few years to blow off some steam in the off-season. Every vice you didn't even know you needed is on offer in Vegas. It is such a big party town."
Sampson said she's champing at the bit to be part of Fox League's coverage once again. The pay-TV network have sent a dedicated team to the States, and will have commentators calling the games live from Allegiant Stadium.
Free-to-air broadcaster Channel 9 have sent Danika Mason, Paul Gallen and Johnathan Thurston to conduct their usual sideline roles in person. But Nine will have Mat Thompson calling the games from a studio back in Sydney, and won't have an actual caller at the ground.
"I never thought I'd be in a position to be invited to go there for work and be part of something that feels very significant and groundbreaking for our humble little game of rugby league," she said. "It will be the biggest global event ever for rugby league with the four games."
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Sampson said she expects a few of her colleagues to let their hair down in Vegas, but her bosses at Fox League have laid down some clear expectations. "I will be packing my dignity because it's a work trip," she said. "I can't say the same for the entire Fox crew because some of them do like to party, but I'll be last in and first out."
When asked if the likes of Matty Johns and Bryan Fletcher have to be pulled into line, Sampson said: "They're very particular about [the rules]. We don't single anyone out but we do have an all-encompassing briefing and there are documents we have to sign that say 'I understand my responsibilities'. All of the rules that apply to out workplace (in Sydney) apply in Vegas."
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