The Sunshine Showdown is set to take centre stage in BrisVegas on Sunday, but the 2027 edition could be the Sin City Showdown should the NRL make it an-all Queensland affair at the showpiece season opener in Las Vegas.
As anticipation builds for the first XXXX Derby of the year when Gold Coast make the trip to Suncorp Stadium to face Kristian Woolf's men, so has the intrigue of which four teams will next kick-off the season abroad.
With rumours circulating it could be an intrastate battle, Titans CEO Steve Mitchell has thrown his support behind a Titanic takeover in Vegas to kickstart 20-year celebrations; but has inidicated his desire to be one of the two away teams at Allegiant Stadium.
"We'd like to take an away game to Vegas because we bring a home game up to Magic Round and we don't want to take another game away from our members, fans, corporates and sponsors," he said.
"We don't have a preference in who we play... we just want to go.
"We think there's a lot of synergies between the Gold Coast and Las Vegas. There's a fan base on the Coast with a high level of discretionary spend and we think the support [we'd have] with people travelling over would be significant.
"We're just sitting and waiting to hear and are knocking on the door to find out what's happening. We're excited about how the event went this year and it's quite extraordinary what the Commission has been able to do over there and we want to be part of it.
"In saying that, we also know though there is larger things at play.
"We have a NRL program we need to get consistent that gives our members and fans something to be proud of.
"We want to go to Vegas, but we want to be on the right end of the table over and above going to Vegas."
'It's been some of the best footy': Mitchell
Dolphins CEO Terry Reader is also in advanced talks with the NRL to punch a ticket to the 2027 showpiece with Brisbane ready to experience Las Vegas again.
But much like Mitchell, they also want to be visitors and is open to facing off against anyone... including the Eels in an Origin-like rivalry.
"We want to be an away side, same with the Titans," Reader said.
"Right now, it's about working out which two teams are going to have the home games, and I think Parramatta [have indicated] they want to be a home side.
"From our point of view, our club is ready to go.
"We'll be into our fifth season in 2027, we have a big fan base with a lot of corporate support and I think in the first year when the Broncos went, it was still very new and people didn't quite know but we now see how big it is and we've got the other half of Brisbane who can't wait to get behind us and go.
"I'm sure for the TV market as well, having a Sydney club play a Brisbane club is an important factor.
"We are currently working through the process with the NRL and waiting to be told who's going."
While none of the four teams have yet to be determined, Queensland fans are gearing up for the newly-birthed rivalry between the Dolphins and Titans which takes centre stage again at the Cauldron on Sunday.
Match: Dolphins v Titans
Round 2 -
home Team
Dolphins
14th Position
away Team
Titans
17th Position
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Match broadcasters:
- WatchNRL
This year's first edition set to be a box office battle with matchups galore as both teams pursue their first win of the season.
"We're super excited about the Sunshine Showdown. We are always are and are very grateful for Lion and XXXX for the Queensland Derby [which this game is part of] and it's been some of the best footy experienced," Mitchell said.
"Neither of us started well last week so both of us have got a few things we want to fix up and there's some great clashes there.
"If you look at the front row between [Tom] Flegler and [Tom] Gilbert and then for us you've got [Moeaki] Fotuaika and [Tino] Fa'asuamaleaui. The halves pairing are similar and then you've got two of the most exciting fullbacks in the competition.
"Both of these teams will turn up to play because they're playing each other in a derby... it's going to be a great day on Sunday.
"This game is always held in the best spirits and I think it's always great to play this Brisbane side. We want a big crowd there and want to hear them roar."
