Two NRL venues will be modified to replicate Allegiant Stadium for this weekend’s Witzer Pre-season Challenge.
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Canberra’s GIO Stadium and FMG Stadium Waikato will be modified to replicate Allegiant Stadium for this weekend’s Witzer Pre-season Challenge to help Vegas-bound players adapt to the smaller playing field.
With players in the four teams opening the Telstra Premiership season on March 1 to have their final hit-out before departing for the US, the NRL has approved the modification of the two grounds from 100m to 94.5m in length and 68m to 63.1m in width.
The Raiders will host the Sharks in Canberra on Thursday night, while the Warriors meet the Storm, who are not one of the four Vegas teams, in Hamilton on Saturday night.
Four-time premiers Penrith, who will face Cronulla in the final match of the quadruple header at Allegiant Stadium, which also features the Wigan-Warrington Super League clash and Australia-England women’s Test, have a bye this weekend.
The four teams have spent time training on modified fields in a bid to help players adjust to the shorter and narrower dimensions of Allegiant Stadium.