Knights Confident Dylan Brown Will Debut in Vegas Despite Visa Delay
The Newcastle Knights are facing a race against time as they await visa approval for their marquee signing, Dylan Brown, with the NRL season opener in Las Vegas now less than 30 days away.
Brown, the Kiwi international playmaker who joined from the Parramatta Eels, is scheduled to make his club debut against the North Queensland Cowboys on March 1 at Allegiant Stadium. However, his participation hinges on receiving the green light from United States immigration authorities.
Additional Checks Cause Delay
Confirmation of Brown's visa has been delayed due to additional background checks required by US officials. This stems from Brown's 2023 guilty plea to two charges of sexual touching following an incident at a Sydney pub.
Despite the uncertainty, Knights director of football Chris James expressed confidence that the matter would be resolved in time for the historic overseas fixture.
"That's still just a process you've got to go through, every team has faced that every year," James told the Newcastle Herald. "The US government's always been great and I expect that will be sorted well in advance to going over there."
When pressed for a specific timeframe, James noted that the club was simply waiting its turn in the queue, with no definitive indication yet from embassy officials.
Not an Isolated Case
Brown is not the only player facing visa scrutiny ahead of the Las Vegas trip. North Queensland Cowboys forward Matthew Lodge, who will potentially line up against the Knights, is also awaiting approval.
Lodge has a more complex history, having served time at New York's infamous Rikers Island prison following a home invasion incident in 2015. His case highlights the increased scrutiny NRL players with past legal issues face when travelling to the United States.
This year marks the third consecutive season the NRL has taken matches to Las Vegas, having launched the initiative in 2024. Multiple players from participating clubs have reportedly undergone extra vetting from the US Embassy in previous years.
Former NRL star Sam Burgess, now coaching Warrington in the English Super League, experienced similar visa complications last year before a pre-season match in Nevada. His issues were resolved at the eleventh hour, allowing him to travel.
Preparations Continue Unabated
The Knights are proceeding with their pre-season schedule regardless of the visa uncertainty. The squad will continue training over the coming weeks before departing for the United States on February 20.
Newcastle has two trial matches scheduled against the St George Illawarra Dragons and Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs to fine-tune their preparations before the long-haul flight.
Club's Spiritual Leader Inspires Current Squad
In a boost to team morale, the Knights recently welcomed premiership-winning captain Paul Harragon to their headquarters. Affectionately known as 'The Chief', Harragon famously lifted the trophy for Newcastle in 1997.
He addressed the current playing group alongside coach Justin Holbrook, emphasising the club's rich history and deep community connections.
"One thing he [Holbrook] has done really well since he walked in the door, he's understood how important it is to connect to the community and connect to the history of the club," James said.
"So he's done some great things with those open training sessions and making the team visible to the community, but he's also done a great job of bringing back those old boys to make sure everyone understands the history of the club and also the people you represent, what it means to this town."
James described Harragon, a Lakes United junior who represented both New South Wales and Australia before retiring in 1999, as the "spiritual leader" of the Knights organisation.
The visit forms part of a broader initiative that has seen several club legends return during the pre-season, including former coach Michael Hagan and ex-player Billy Peden.
"It's been such a good pre-season to see all that kind of stuff," James added, highlighting the positive atmosphere within the squad as they build towards their 2026 campaign.
