An NRL speedster has been selected to the International Player Pathway, a program aimed at converting sports stars to the NFL.
The National Football League (NFL) is the biggest American Football league in the world and draws in audiences of millions weekly with its showpiece event of the Super Bowl clocking in at over 120 million viewers in 2024.
It is often labelled as the ‘Biggest Show on Earth’ and serves as one of the biggest domestic sports league events every year.
Whilst its fan base is primarily based in America, it is a sport that is rapidly growing its fan base further afield and a big part of that is the competition’s International Player Pathway, a program aimed to bring players of more nationalities into the sport.
Athletes across the globe are selected and given a chance to improve their American football skills to hopefully have a crack at making the NFL, something that former NRL star Jordan Mailata did before eventually being drafted and going on to become one of the most dominant in his position.
Now, another NRL player is set to follow in his tracks.
NRL winger named to NRL International Player Pathway
Introducing the International Player Pathway Class of 2025 featuring 14 athletes representing 13 nations! 🏈🌍
The IPP program aims to provide elite international athletes with the opportunity to compete at the NFL level, improve their skills and ultimately work to earn a spot… pic.twitter.com/E92cPlyuqf
— NFL (@NFL) December 9, 2024
The latest batch of 14 athletes have been named to the International Player Pathway and that list features a handful of rugby union and rugby league stars.
Last year, Wales international rugby union star Louis Rees-Zammit was named to the program as a rugby speedster but this year, an NRL flyer has been selected.
Laitia Moceidreke has been selected to the program with the former North Queensland Cowboys man handed his opportunity to impress at the upcoming IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida.
Moceidreke possesses the physical attributes to play the game with the six foot six inch tall winger last playing an NRL game in 2021. That was his sole appearance in the competition, scoring against the Eels in a defeat.
Since then, he has featured in both the Queensland and New South Wales Cups, tallying 31 tries in 52 games over the past four seasons. He had been on a development contract with Newcastle Knights but now makes this career switch.
Should he be able to crack the transition then there could be serious money to be earned, as highlighted by fellow Aussie and former South Sydney Rabbitohs man Jordan Mailata who recently signed a three-year deal worth $100 million.
Moceidreke’s name might be familiar to some given that he is the younger brother of former London Broncos winger Sitiveni Moceidreke.
