Reds back Petaia’s big NFL gamble as path revealed

September 30

Jordan Petaia has knocked back lucrative European rugby and NRL offers and will instead give up at least five months of pay to pursue his NFL dream.

AAP understands the in-demand, two-time World Cup Wallabies star will attend January’s exclusive International Player Pathway (IPP) development camp in Florida.

It’s the same program that kick-started Jordan Mailata’s NFL career with Philadelphia, the Sydney giant one of five internationals to crack an active roster since the program began in 2017.

Petaia, 24, is off contract beyond November at the Queensland Reds and will go without a pay cheque until at least April 1, if signed by any of the 32 NFL franchises.

Fresh off a US holiday, the 24-year-old returned to Ballymore on Monday for day one of pre-season.

The club is supportive of Petaia’s ambition, their goal to ensure the shoulder injury that cut short his 2024 campaign is fully healed so he can impress in January.

The Reds are confident that he will return to Ballymore, and not a rival Super Rugby Pacific club, if no NFL deal eventuates next year.

“Jordy’s on a pathway to some other opportunities but we’ve got a good handle on in 2019 but quickly aborted after a pre-season of limited opportunities.

“He’s here now, so there’s good communication with him and we have our finger on the pulse at that evolves.”

It’s understood Petaia is open to playing multiple positions, including in defence but also as a wide receiver or as a shorter, more athletic tight end.

His speed, evasion, leap and explosive power all have the potential to catch the eye during testing at the two-month Florida camp that is closely monitored by every NFL club.

Former NRL star Jarryd Hayne famously cracked the San Francisco active squad as a running back, making eight appearances in 2015.

That was before the advent of the IPP, which was designed to streamline the inclusion of foreign talent and not interfere with the traditional draft system.

NRL flyer Valentine Holmes joined the New York Jets’ practice squad from the IPP in 2019 but quickly aborted after a pre-season of limited opportunities.

But Petaia could benefit from a new rule introduced last season that allows clubs to carry an international player, in addition to their active roster, that can play up to three games in a season.

There are currently 18 IPP products on NFL rosters, including Welsh rugby winger Louis Rees-Zammit, who is on the Jacksonville Jaguars’ training squad after being among the last cut by the Kansas City Chiefs.

The 24-year-old IPP cut-off means this is Petaia’s last chance to trial, the NFL yet to officially announce their list of attendees that is usually capped at 15.

Petaia burst onto the scene with a historic Wallabies debut at just 19 at the 2019 World Cup and was preferred at centre by Eddie Jones at the 2023 showpiece.

But, in between, his career has been hampered by a string of different injuries and he has been unable to settle on a preferred position after being tried in the centres, on the wing and at fullback.

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