Forget NFL, NRL is the dream. Good article

[keeney]

:lol:

 

[roopy]

There are thousands of college football players who graduate each year and maybe a 100 or so will get a pro contract.
The top colleges play in front of huge crowds and have budgets that dwarf NRL clubs and TV audiences bigger than Australias population.

People have been saying for a long time that thousands of athletes of NRL standard and higher just walk away from sport every year in the US because they have no chance at a pro career.

If League can get itself up to a semi pro level in the US they will have more athletes to choose from than you would find in an olympics games village.

This guy is the second to try his hand after 'Seabiscuit' Smith tried out for Parra a few seasons ago and scored a very good try against the Kangaroos (before giving it away to go back to uni to get a masters).

Smith was a class athlete, but not in the same class as this guy.

 

[Misanthrope]

No it wouldn't.

What a brilliant argument. You've single handedly put the entire argument of 'An American player playing in the NRL would increase the game's profile in America' to bed with that sparkling piece of debate.

Kudos

 

[roopy]

BTW peoples - in this thread;

http://forums.leagueunlimited.com/showthread.php?t=174919

'Spinner' Howland - coach of the Jax Axe, and the guy quoted in the article, has a say on how he went in his first game - which sounds like it couldn't have been written better by speilberg to happen in front of the 1200 Jacksonville home crowd in their first home game of their second season.
Pity it had to happen against the Sharks, who have been my American side for a number of years. (despite them being the only foundation club remaining and Juan Farkall)

 

[fatshark]

If the guy or some American killed it in the NRL, then sure the exposure would be good for the game. but once they see the salaries, theyd think it was a joke.

 

[thehattrickrabbit]

they are giving him bigger wraps than greg smith who was possibly the worst ever first grade player, so perhaps he is a touch more talented.

I cant see him cracking first grade, good to see he seems interested in the game though.

Best of Luck To Him.

 

[Coaster]

He should be recuited by the Titans

We do after all have Cartwright and Peterson, the American coach and one of there players

In fact we call dibs on all Americans

Just in case!

 

[roopy]

they are giving him bigger wraps than greg smith who was possibly the worst ever first grade player, so perhaps he is a touch more talented.

I cant see him cracking first grade, good to see he seems interested in the game though.

Best of Luck To Him.

Greg Smith got dropped from the Knights after one trial game because a journalist chased up his story of playing pro football in the US and found he was lying - but he trained a full off season with the Knights and was faster than Darren Albert.
If he hadn't lied, the knights would have persisted with him to see if he could learn the game, because he was one of the most amazing athletes to train at the Knights.

 

[Tonearm Terrorwrist]

they are giving him bigger wraps than greg smith who was possibly the worst ever first grade player, so perhaps he is a touch more talented.

I cant see him cracking first grade, good to see he seems interested in the game though.

Best of Luck To Him.

you can't see him cracking first grade? you've never seen him at all let alone what talent he has to offer

i agree if an american, with a high reputation or not, can crack it in first grade and be fantastic and in the running for dally m for rookie/player/or his position, the americans will take to it, much like we've taken to andrew bogut and to a lesser extent harry kewell, and when you consider america's population to the amount of NFL teams to the small amount who get contracts to large amount who don't, there is an open market that is just waiting

 

[Mr Saab]

Greg Smith got dropped from the Knights after one trial game because a journalist chased up his story of playing pro football in the US and found he was lying -

Noo, he played one first grade game vs the Dogs in 1999 and had a shocker.

 

[Coaster]

All jokes aside

I was in the States for the World cup (not last one the one before that)

The radio announcers were laughing there guts out that the USA even had a side in it, they knew nothing about the game and didnt care about it at all.

All of a sudden, they beat Mexico and made it to the second round, there attitude changed.

Before the end of there run in the World Cup, we drove to work each morning listening to expert annalisise of each player, and there chances of beating the rest of the world.

I mean it happened that quick.

One minute they thought it was nothing short of a joke.

The next they had invested millions in to junior delvelopement.

Forget what you think about them personally, they are a market we need to explore

 

[roopy]

On whether this will add to the game in America or not;

This guy was signed up by Spinner Howland in Jacksonville.

This is the second season for League in Jacksonville and Spinner has been able to raise the money for the team to travel from the South to New England for every game, he has formed a partnership with the local gridiron side, he has got the use of a fantastic stadium, he has got enough publicity to build the crowd at home games to 1200 in year one, he has got a gym to provide free training - and he has won the right to stage the AMNRL grandfinal (and he has asked we don't talk about the test match he is trying to bring to Jacksonville shortly - whoops).
Basically - in just over a year Jacksonville is going OFF. This is just the latest big thing from Spinner and Jacksonville.

 

[roopy]

Noo, he played one first grade game vs the Dogs in 1999 and had a shocker.

whatever - either way - he was enough of a natural talent for Warren Ryan to put 6 months work into him - and he could have been anything if he hadn't embarressed all involved by lying.

 

[Razor]

All jokes aside

I was in the States for the World cup (not last one the one before that)

The radio announcers were laughing there guts out that the USA even had a side in it, they knew nothing about the game and didnt care about it at all.

All of a sudden, they beat Mexico and made it to the second round, there attitude changed.

Before the end of there run in the World Cup, we drove to work each morning listening to expert annalisise of each player, and there chances of beating the rest of the world.

I mean it happened that quick.

One minute they thought it was nothing short of a joke.

The next they had invested millions in to junior delvelopement.

Forget what you think about them personally, they are a market we need to explore

I was holidaying in the US during 1994 around 2 weeks before the World Cup started. Basically no one in the US knew it was on, and those that did, didn't care. Still practically everyone in the US couldn't give a crap about soccer.

 

[Coaster]

I was holidaying in the US during 1994 around 2 weeks before the World Cup started. Basically no one in the US knew it was on, and those that did, didn't care. Still practically everyone in the US couldn't give a crap about soccer.

Around 2 weeks before the start of the World cup your right, in fact even 2 weeks into the WC they didnt know about it. Im taking it you agree with me.

Look at it now, they gave Beckham a 5 year deal worth 250 million dollars :shock::shock::shock:

You cant say there is no interest now

 

[Tom Shines]

NFL Europe where the 'not quite good enoughs' play

So that's like how the 'not quite good enoughs' in Australia play AFL?

 

[Mr. Fahrenheit]

Imagine that thouugh, say the US becomes a retirement home for greats... that'll be the day.

 

[Eelementary]

This guy would seriously hurt people with his shoulder charges if he laid them on...Seriously - linebackers in the NFL can hit...

 

[DeeJ]

Yeah I play footy sometimes against this kid who is in the Australian gridiron team and plays defence. His tackling technique is awesome.

Then again we introduced rugby to some American students staying here and they said 'i definately miss the padding' after the first game.

 

[Perth Red]

Id be surprised if there isn't some very good wingers (wide receivers), centres (running backs) and 2nd rowers (linebackers) in the States. Of course converting that athletic ability to a very different game is hard but there must be some good talent I would have thought.