Another massive former league player is making waves in the USA, with good judges saying he is set to follow superstar Jordan Mailata into the NFL.
Like Mailata, Bulldogs junior Jarrod Gray was declared too bulky for the NRL – but the perfect size to play in the land of the giants in American football.
The 150 kilo Gray is currently in Florida, turning heads in the NFL International Player Pathway programme — and early reports from training are glowing.
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“It’s been unbelievable so far,” Gray told Wide World of Sports from the camp.
“I’ve hit the ground running, and every day I’m learning something new. The level of coaching here is world-class. I came here to dominate, and that hasn’t changed.”
Ironically, Gray’s manager Chris Orr was the man who convinced Mailata – now on a salary of around $US22 million a year – to have a shot at NFL and sees similarities between the pair.
“It really does feel like déjà vu,” Orr said. “Seeing Jarrod in camp now, working with elite NFL coaches, only reinforces what we saw in him back in Australia. His size, movement, and mentality are rare. He’s doing incredibly well.”
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Orr and NFL agent Dwane Bugden will head to Florida soon to meet with Gray before travelling to the NFL Combine in Indianapolis, where they will update NFL clubs on his progress.
“This is just the beginning,” Orr adds. “The feedback so far has been very encouraging.”
Gray still loves league – and his sister Taneisha starred for the Roosters in last year’s NRLW Grand Final.
“We’re competitive in everything,” Jarrod said. “She’s been one of my biggest supporters, but she’ll definitely let me know if I start getting ahead of myself.”
PLAYER CAUGHT IN UGLY PERSONAL SITUATION
One of the NRL’s brightest young stars has found his personal life in a dreadful mess this week.
The Sydney based player was caught cheating by his partner and kicked out of the home they share.
Even worse, she named and shamed him on social media and it’s only a matter of time before his name – and the sordid situation – goes viral online.
SLOAN’S EARLY WIN … BUT WILL IT HURT HIM?
Unwanted Dragons fullback Tyrell Sloan has won the fullback spot for the opening trial of the season against the Knights on Tuesday – but is it a poison chalice?
It’s a given that Clint Gutherson will play fullback in Vegas against the Bulldogs, leaving Sloan to battle with the exciting Christian Tuipulotu and new recruits David Fale and Setu Tu for the two wing spots.
And with coach Shane Flanagan declaring “They (Fale and Tu) give us something we probably haven’t had over the last couple of years… I’m really excited to see them play… hopefully in Vegas” it only adds to speculation that Sloan won’t be on the plane.
Despite the fact he scored nearly double the number of tries of any Dragon last year, Sloan is on the outer, mainly because of his defence, and the club has been trying to move him on without any success.
DOLPHINS GO ON RUGBY RAID
The Dolphins have snatched a highly-rated 16-year-old playmaker from Queensland rugby – and the Reds aren’t happy.
Setu Patea, aged 17, has been a star right through the ranks of Brisbane in the 15-a-side game and was earmarked for a big future in Super Rugby.
But the Dolphins, who are developing a strong scouting system throughout the sunshine state, jumped in and signed the youngster on a three year deal.
Patea hails from Nudgee College, a great breeding ground for both league and union stars in Queensland for many years.
