The NRL shoots its shot with the most famous couple in the world, suggesting Taylor Swift and NFL star Travis Kelce might want to attend next year’s season openers in Las Vegas.
The league’s official account posted on social media shortly after the conclusion of round 18 on Sunday night, congratulating Swift and Kelce on their marriage at New York City’s Madison Square Garden, before appealing to the pair to attend the Vegas games in 2027.
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The tweet was pinned to the top of the NRL page with limited replies (presumably restricted to the happy couple’s accounts).
“We looked everywhere for the wishing well … couldn’t find it,” it read.
“BUT, we do have tickets to Rugby League Las Vegas in February if you’re looking for honeymoon plans. @tkelce you’ll love it. Trust us.”
Kelce has good memories of Allegiant Stadium in Vegas after his Kansas City Chiefs beat the San Francisco 49ers 25-22 in overtime of Super Bowl LVIII in 2024.
The last NFL player to attend the NRL’s season-opening games in Vegas, Raiders defensive lineman Tyler Manoa, was kicked out of the stadium for allegedly damaging a bathroom.
In 2025 the NRL made a widely criticised and ultimately unsuccessful bid to get US president Donald Trump to attend.
Next year’s games will pit the Parramatta Eels against the Gold Coast Titans, and the Melbourne Storm against the Wests Tigers.
The Knights scored a dramatic late win to end the Dolphins’ winning streak. (Getty Images: Scott Gardiner)
Earlier on Sunday, the Knights ended the red-hot Dolphins’ eight-game winning streak thanks to a Dylan Brown field goal in wet and windy conditions at Hunter Stadium.
The hosts had the crowd rocking with a 12-0 at half-time thanks to tries to Dylan Lucas and Fletcher Hunt, but the Dolphins stormed back.
Missing Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Selwyn Cobbo, Jack Bostock, Tom Flegler and Max Plath to State of Origin duty, and halfback Isaiya Katoa and forward Ray Stone to injury, the Dolphins’ usually potent attack took a while to get going.
They did not score until a backline shift sent Jamayne Isaako over with half an hour left in the game, before local junior Kurt Donoghoe scored to leave the team trailing by two points with 20 minutes to go.
Isaako potted a penalty goal to tie the scores heading into the final 10 minutes, before Brown stepped up to slot the game-winner.
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Earlier, Parramatta halfback Jonah Pezet was heroic on his return to first grade, helping the Eels to a 23-14 win over Manly at Western Sydney Stadium.
Pezet crossed for the game-sealing try and potted a late field goal after Dylan Walker produced a miracle pass for an earlier Eels four-pointer.
In the NRLW, both the Tigers and Warriors opened their season with victories.
Follow all the action in our live blog below, check out all the stats in the full ScoreCentre, and tune in to our live radio coverage.
Sun 5 Jul 2026 at 12:36pm
Sunday NRLW and NRL scores
Sun 5 Jul 2026 at 6:20pm
Goodbye for another round
And so ends the weekend of rugby league.
We will of course be back on Wednesday night for the State of Origin decider from Lang Park.
We’ll see you then!
Sun 5 Jul 2026 at 6:19pm
NRL tries appeal to Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce
I don’t know if you heard, but Taylor Swift and NFL star Travis Kelce got married at Madison Square Garden this weekend.
So, naturally, at 6:06pm on a Sunday evening, shortly after the end of round 18, the league’s official social media has put out an appeal to T&T to head to Las Vegas for the season openers next year.
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What a strange thing to decide to do. Also, why would only Travis love it? Huh, NRL?
But seriously, I think it’s the timing of it that feels the weirdest for me.
Sun 5 Jul 2026 at 6:09pm
How round 18 played out
Here’s how the truncated round 18 played out in the NRL.
Anyone who tipped the Dragons, Eels and Knights will be feeling pretty smug I’d imagine.
And here’s the ladder, with the Knights sitting pretty in the top four after today’s win.
What an effort by a team expected to be deep in the cellar at this point in the season.
Sun 5 Jul 2026 at 5:53pm
THE DOLPHINS’ WIN STREAK ENDS IN NEWCASTLE!!
It was a gripping contest between these two surprise packets but the Knights get it done 13-12 thanks to Dylan Brown’s late field goal.
It’s worth remembering the Dolphins have been smashed by missing at least six starters plus Ray Stone, but the Knights were also without Kalyn Ponga and Bradman Best, while Trey Mooney was scratched just before kick-off.
The Knights leapfrog the Sharks and Dolphins into fourth place.
What an evening for the Newcastle faithful who turned out in tough conditions.
Sun 5 Jul 2026 at 5:52pm
79′ Dolphins can’t pull off a miracle
They get the ball 15 metres out and throw the bal levery which way, but eventually get caught with the ball on the last 30 metres away from the tryline.
The Knights need to hang on to the ball for the rest of the set to win this one.
Sun 5 Jul 2026 at 5:49pm
77′ Really tight call on the kick-off
The Dolphins are penalised for touching the short kick-off before it crosses the 40m line.
It looks to me like it does, but maybe the breeze blows it back inside the 10 metres when Tevita Naufahu touches it.
The Dolphins challenge, but the bunker can’t find enough to disprove the on-field call.
Sun 5 Jul 2026 at 5:46pm
DYLAN BROWN WITH THE ONE-POINTER!
Who said he wasn’t a halfback? Dylan Brown gets the ball on the left on the last, everyone knows he’s going for the field goal, but he steadies himself and slots from 20 metres out.
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The Knights lead 13-12 with five minutes left.
Sun 5 Jul 2026 at 5:46pm
75′ Isn’t that a disruptor?
The Knights power down the field after Fletcher Sharpe’s break, and then Dylan Brown kicks high for Dom Young, who leaps and slaps at the ball with one hand, causing Tevita Naufahu to knock on.
I didn’t think that was legal anymore.
Sun 5 Jul 2026 at 5:42pm
72′ But the Dolphins man up
The Knights try to strip them for numbers down the left, but run out of room and Greg Marzhew is whacked into touch.
Sun 5 Jul 2026 at 5:41pm
71′ Clutch from Crossland
On the third tackle, Phoenix Crossland gets into dummy half and drills a low kick, skidding into touch for a perfect 40/20.
Sun 5 Jul 2026 at 5:39pm
The Dolphins tie us up
It’s been a scrappy few minutes from the Knights, culminating in a rushed Sandon Smith kick dribbling straight to Herbie Farnworth, who storms from just in front of his tryling to up near halfway.
The Phins get a set restart for a ruck infringement soon after, and then Kodi Nikorima is caught high right in front of the posts, so Jamayne Isaako pots a penalty goal to square the ledger at 12-12 with 11 minutes left.
Sun 5 Jul 2026 at 5:33pm
62′ It’s chucking it down in Newcastle
The rain is teeming down at Hunter Stadium after just threatening for most of the day.
Sun 5 Jul 2026 at 5:29pm
A phenomenal try by the Dolphins and Kurt Donoghoe
Jake Averillo starts it on the wrong side of halfway with a gorgeous step inside Sandon Smith, then powers upfield.
He finds Kurt Donoghoe on his left and the former Central Butcher Boy outpaces Dylan Lucas, just, to score.
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Jamayne Isaako converts off the upright, so the Dolphins trail by just two points with 20 minutes left.
Sun 5 Jul 2026 at 5:26pm
56′ Herbie is never beating the selfish allegations
The Dolphins bomb and Fletcher Sharpe knocks on clearly, but Wyatt Raymond misses it and play continues.
The Phins spin it left and Herbie Farnworth seriously looked off Tevita Naufahu completely unmarked out wide here.
The Dolphins also get another shot after winning a captain’s challenge on that shocking missed knock-on by the ref.
Sun 5 Jul 2026 at 5:21pm
53′ Herbie Farnworth comes up millimetres short
Herbie Farnworth goes up for and comes down with the bomb in a 50/50 contest with Fletcher Sharpe.
He keeps pressing forward and tries to reach out and score, but can’t quite make it to the line, slamming it down and knocking on.
We saw Ethan Bullemor miss out by a similarly agonising distance in the earlier game.
Sun 5 Jul 2026 at 5:17pm
The visitors are Phin-ally on the board
Newcastle keeps inviting the Dolphins back in with handling errors, and finally they’re made to pay as they spin it right and Jake Averillo taps on to Jamayne Isaako to dive in out wide.
And he remembers late in the piece to do his Jai Arrow celebration.
Sun 5 Jul 2026 at 5:14pm
48′ Sharpe too tempted
Fletcher Sharpe is beating tacklers and carrying others with him.
He goes within a metre of the tryline, reaches out but has to reel it back in and knocks on as he does so.
The Dolphins survive.
Sun 5 Jul 2026 at 5:13pm
46′ Everything working for the Knights
Dylan Brown’s high kick is trying to find Fletcher Hunt flying through at the left post, but the ball hits the crossbar and ricochets away, with Jake Averillo knocking on.
The Knights pack a scrum 10 metres out.
Hunt goes close on the left, but the Dolphins are off side, so the Knights pack another one.
Sun 5 Jul 2026 at 5:06pm
41′ Dolphins kick off
The second half is underway as the kick-off hangs in the breeze and Dylan Brown marks it cleanly.
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