NRLW Stars Awaken to Intruder in Las Vegas Hotel Room
Two prominent NRLW players, former St George Illawarra star Indie Bostock and Canberra Raiders player Georgia Willey, were confronted by an intruder who broke into their Las Vegas hotel room while they slept. The chilling incident occurred in the early hours of Friday morning, local time, as the athletes were participating in the Vegas Nines tournament.
Startling Discovery and Immediate Aftermath
Bostock and Willey, who are part of the Aus Vegas Angels team, woke up to find a bearded man wearing a beanie standing in their room. The intruder fled immediately upon being discovered, leaving the players shaken but unharmed. Their coach, Jeff Killick, promptly reported the incident to hotel management, expressing grave concerns about the security lapse.
Coach Killick recounted the alarming details to News Corp, stating, "We're up on the high floors ... the trainer came down this morning and said, 'Jeff, I woke up this morning at 4.45am. I heard this noise and the light came on in my room. There were two people in there.'" He added that the trainer's roommate picked up a chair in self-defense, prompting the intruders to say "this is Vegas" before running out.
Georgia Willey confirmed that the same scenario unfolded in their room, describing how they "woke up to a guy in their room with a beard and a beanie on. He ran out of the room." Killick emphasized the seriousness of the situation, noting, "Parents have trusted me [with their daughters]. This could have been the worst outcome." He also mentioned a potential explanation, with some players suggesting that when another door on the floor closes, their door might open due to a mechanical issue.
Additional Security Incidents in Las Vegas
The hotel intrusion is not an isolated event during the team's stay. Killick revealed that parents of players, who traveled to Las Vegas to watch their daughters compete, were confronted by an axe-wielding man in a local supermarket. Security personnel intervened to disarm the individual before any robbery could occur, preventing a potentially violent outcome.
Despite these unsettling events, the Aus Vegas Angels have demonstrated resilience on the field, winning their way through to the tournament final. They are set to face the Sydney Roosters in the championship match. This year's Vegas Nines tournament features 46 teams, with many participants hailing from the United States and England, showcasing the growing international appeal of rugby league.
Historical Context of Crime in Rugby League's American Ventures
This incident is not the first time rugby league's expansion into America has been marred by criminal activity. In 2024, journalists covering the sport faced significant safety threats in the lead-up to inaugural matches in Las Vegas. One football reporter was accosted by a knife-wielding man while working late at night in Santa Monica, a beachside suburb of Los Angeles. The assailant accused the journalist of damaging his car but departed after the Australian denied the allegation.
Another harrowing episode involved a separate reporter and his television crew, who feared for their lives when three cars converged on them during a late-night assignment in Westlake Village, north of Los Angeles. The vehicles hemmed them in from different directions, cornering the crew as they filmed a report. The journalist later described it as "the most terrifying experience of my life," adding, "It was the first time in my life that I thought I was going to die. The honest feeling was we were either going to be robbed or killed. I was genuinely worried about not surviving." The crew managed to escape unharmed, possibly due to a colleague making a phone call that led the assailants to believe police were being contacted.
These incidents underscore the ongoing security challenges faced by athletes and media personnel during international sporting events in the United States, raising questions about safety protocols and risk management for teams traveling abroad.
