Brisbane Broncos NRL prop chases American dream
Standing 205 centimeters tall and weighing 122 kilograms, Ben Te Kura cuts an imposing figure when he is with his Broncos teammates; This caught the attention of NFL scouts and led the Brisbane prop to chase an American dream.
The 22-year-old has begun a six-week leave of absence from Broncos HQ to attend the NFL’s Gold Coast-based academy; Meanwhile, fellow striker Pat Carrigan also accepted a two-match ban for high tackle.
The young enforcer leaves with the support of team-mates who are adamant they have the depth to cover his absence, including out-of-bounds prospect VJ Semu, who will make his debut against Wests Tigers on Saturday night.
“It’s good that he was able to go and explore a different path, he’s a good friend of mine so I’m happy for him but it’s also a big loss,” Broncos center Xavier Willison said.
“VJ Semu can stand there. He’s ticking all the boxes in training, doing all the low-effort areas a midfielder needs to do, so he’s definitely ready.”
Te Kura will either return to Broncos training after the six-week blockade or the club will extend his absence to continue pursuing an NFL opportunity.
While it was a bold move, the two AFL stars who made the switch insisted Australian athletes have the skills to succeed on America’s biggest stage.
Waves were sent through the AFL when Ben Graham announced he would be leaving the Geelong Cats to pursue an NFL hurling. He has no regrets when describing this imprint on the Gold Coast.
Although it meant he missed the golden years of the club he represented 219 times, he left shortly before the Cats’ three premiership runs between 2007 and 2011, captaining the team and featuring in the 1995 grand final defeat against Carlton.
“Then three years would have passed, I would have missed out on playing in the NFL and I wouldn’t still be playing in the AFL,” Graham said.
“I have seen the introductions and drafts of key members of the Prime Minister’s team and watched them grow. I firmly believe that I have a role and a role to play in their development.”
“When I watched them win the premiership from New York I felt proud as punch.”
Graham spent eight years as an NFL punter for four teams and left the AFL at the end of 2004 after being offered a one-year deal for a “significantly reduced amount” from the Cats.
He became the NFL’s oldest rookie (31) with the New York Jets and became the first Australian to play in the Super Bowl while in Arizona.
Graham had an up and down season that was also highlighted in the 2008 season. It started with the Jets, it turns out Sesame StreetHe rang Wall Street’s bell and was cut twice by New York. He was then picked up by New Orleans, fired after playing at Wembley, and brought into the Cardinals’ Super Bowl run.
When Graham was asked how he felt embarking so deeply into a new career — buoyant, nervous, daunted — he simply said “all of the above.”
“There were a lot of things that had to go right for me that year, and no one can guarantee anything in the NFL, but I used the off-season to go to America, met with four teams, worked out with them, and listened well enough and performed well enough to back myself,” Graham said.
“I’ve seen the ups and downs, but I still pinch myself when I look back.”
While Graham’s tenure began after a 14-year career, Arryn Siposs found himself at a crossroads when he was delisted by St Kilda after 28 games.
After two years in the reserve-grade VFL, he put his shin problems aside and charted a new path to the NFL through the university system.
“I was thinking at the time that I definitely wanted to have another shot at the AFL,” Siposs told this imprint.
“When all these injuries happened, it was probably a sign that my body was starting to adapt to everything. [But] after my first year [in the VFL] and I couldn’t really look, I started to transition to looking another way.
What ensued was a two-season stint as a punter for the Philadelphia Eagles.
“It was a big gamble,” Siposs said, “but having 100 percent confidence that I could get the job done and do something was ultimately what I wanted to pursue.”
Having a “good leg” certainly helps, but Siposs was adamant Australians should not feel limited to being punters, adding that NRL star Matt Burton kicking long-range field goals in Las Vegas would likely keep NFL scouts on their toes.
He said Australian athletes had the skills to improve and he supported those struggling to make changes to their own rules to achieve success.
“It’s just going to take time. That’s probably the hardest part about the NFL; you work in a job that doesn’t take enough time,” Siposs said.
“It’s not necessarily physical ability, there’s no doubt guys can catch the ball, run and apply physical pressure, it’s just about learning all the plays that come with it.
“There’s a lot of information behind it, a lot of detail, and if you miss even the slightest piece it can make it pretty difficult. But if you apply yourself I’m sure it will work.”
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