American Ryan Burroughs tries a reverse Jarryd Hayne at Eels
Date February 27, 2016 - 5:55PM Sun Herald
- Meet the man trying to do a reverse Jarryd Hayne. American Ryan Burroughs, with just two years of rugby league experience to his credit, has earned himself a contract at Parramatta's feeder club, Wentworthville.
It just so happens that Burroughs - whose dream it is to become the first man to make it from the semi-professional USA Rugby League competition to the NRL - is also a fullback.
The switch: Ryan Burroughs wants to be as good as Jarryd Hayne.
Photo: Wolter Peeters
If you thought Hayne overcame the odds in his transition from the NRL to the NFL, spare a thought for Burroughs. He paid about $140 for the privilege of playing for the North Virginia Eagles - "it covers your bus to the games, socks, shorts, things like that" - and managed to bag 33 tries last season.
The effort earned him a start for the American national team, where two of his Hawks teammates were also contracted to Wentworthville. Upon seeing a highlights reel, Magpies officials offered Burroughs a one-year deal.
"I gave up the life I was living back home, left all of my friends and my job," Burroughs said. "I was going to an apprenticeship trade school as well and I left that. I figured this was a once-in-a-lifetime chance to come here so I took it. I plan on giving it all I've got while I'm out here."
Burroughs has tried his hand at a number of sports, from American football to mixed martial arts. He was tempted to give up on his ambition of playing at a professional level until the intervention of older brother Chris.
"I played one game of rugby league two years ago, it was the last game of the season and I absolutely loved it," he said. "Chris never gave up on me, he encouraged me. He said 'I know what you can do as an athlete, pick something you like and go do it'."
So why rugby league?
"Because it's different," he said. "I don't like being the guy who does ordinary things, it's kind of boring. Rugby [league] is a great game, you meet great people from all over the world, it's a fast-paced game and you keep your fitness up. It's really competitive."
Burroughs has only been in Australia a matter of weeks but has already found himself a job as an air conditioning mechanic, played a couple of trials for the club's Ron Massey Cup side and is hoping he will soon earn selection in his preferred position.
"The wing is boring, fullback is much better," he said.
Hayne has captured the imagination of two nations after earning selection for the San Francisco 49ers. It would be an even more unlikely achievement if Burroughs one day steps into the Eels No.1 jersey vacated by the two-time Dally M medallist.
"I've got to get up to his level," he said. That would be awesome. I've had people already reach out to me and say I've helped inspire them to follow their dreams. If I can open up a gateway for other people, why not?"
