Superstars Latrell Mitchell, Daly Cherry-Evans, James Tedesco and Damien Cook have expressed an interest in finishing their careers in the United States if a mooted professional league is established.
The NRL’s biggest names made the revelation just days out from the historic double-header at Allegiant Stadium, the first time competition games have been staged outside of Australia or New Zealand.
A consortium of businesspeople is pitching their vision to the NRL of a professional competition to be established in the US. Nine personality Karl Stefanovic is among those prepared to invest, while Manly chairman Scott Penn has expressed an interest. Currently, the USA Rugby League runs an amateur league.
The initiative has already turned the heads of the game’s established stars.
“I’m over here, I love it. I could live here,” Mitchell told this masthead at the Fox League launch in Las Vegas. “If it ever becomes something, maybe, yeah. If you want to talk ahead, I’m optimistic, for sure. Whatever gives the kids an experience, you never know.
“I drive big trucks back home, I’ve got a [American model] RAM [truck]. If RAM want to hook up when I get back, let me know. It’s cowboy country, I could wear a cowboy hat and all.”
Brisbane’s Pat Carrigan, Manly’s Tom Trbojevic, Souths’ Latrell Mitchell and the Roosters’ James Tedesco at the NRL Las Vegas Launch on Thursday (AEDT).Credit: Getty
Roosters captain and fullback Tedesco would also give the move serious consideration.
“Yeah, definitely. Even when we were in LA, there is a professional rugby union team,” Tedesco said. “I didn’t even know that they played rugby union in America. But I’m sure if they’re playing rugby union, they’ll want to play rugby league. So to be able to live in America and play rugby league … I mean, England’s obviously cool as well. But yeah, it’s nicer weather here.
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