The tallest player in the history of Australia’s National Rugby League is walking away to pursue an NFL career.
Ben Te Kura, a 6-foot-9, 268-pound 22-year-old, was released from his contract by the Brisbane Broncos, who announced that they are respecting his wishes to begin training in America now in preparation for potentially playing in the NFL in 2027.
“I’m very grateful to the Broncos for everything they’ve done to support me in pursuing an opportunity in the NFL,” Te Kura said.
Te Kura is expected to bulk up and attempt to make it to the NFL as an offensive tackle. Te Kura’s agent compared him to Jordan Mailata, who went from playing rugby in Australia to becoming one of the best left tackles in the NFL.
For Australian rugby players who have the talent to make it in the NFL, the financial incentives to make the move are enormous: Mailata is on a three-year, $66 million contract. The highest-paid player in the National Rugby League makes a little under $1 million USD a year.
Expecting Te Kura to become as good a player as Mailata may be unrealistic, but Te Kura certainly has enough potential that he’ll have plenty of NFL teams interested in his services.
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