Until Sunday afternoon (AEDT), the only time Americans might have heard of Reece Walsh was when a clip of him went viral, running through the middle of an auditorium of cashed-up Australians, catching a Tom Brady throw like an NFL wide receiver.
He now has another moment that might live on in the land of Stars and Stripes. Maybe.
Whether by chance or design, the NRL landed with four of its most marketable fullbacks playing in Las Vegas for the historic double-header (excluding Kalyn Ponga).
And in one 15-second sequence, in which the NRL’s poster boy Walsh set up Brisbane’s first try of the season, Peter V’landys and Andrew Abdo got everything they would have craved to sell the game to Americans: brutality, raw speed, ingenuity and sublime skill.
In terms of selling the sport to a largely curious local audience, Walsh setting up grand finalist Brisbane’s first try of the season was one of three magical moments which will give the NRL a chance of establishing a toehold in the most competitive sporting market in the world.
Here are the three moments which lit up the Vegas venture.
Manu’s magic trick
In the NFL, every time a team tries a lateral – a second or subsequent pass thrown backwards on a down or attacking play – fans lose their mind.
So, what did they think of Roosters gun Joseph Manu’s spectacular flick pass to set up the tricolours’ second try at Allegiant Stadium?
The rugby union-bound superstar has made a habit of making the impossible look possible throughout his glittering rugby league career, but it’s hard to remember him producing such an outrageous piece of skill on the big stage.
Joseph Manu starred for the Roosters.Credit: AP
With the Roosters trying to turn their territorial dominance into points early in the second half, the Roosters flung the ball out to the right side, where Manu bore down on the try-line.
But with Brisbane rivals Jesse Arthars and Selwyn Cobbo trying to desperately drag him down close to the line, the 27-year-old, with his back to his only support player in winger Junior Pauga, managed to free his right arm and fling a no-look flick pass to his teammate to dive over the line.
Blue-eyed boy sparkles under the lights
No pads, no helmets, no fear.
The NRL’s marketing pitch to attract Americans to this foreign game might have been made for Victor Radley. And he pulled off one of the hits of the night on unsuspecting Broncos forward Kobe Hetherington, who was squarely put on his backside.
But what happened on the very next play is precisely why the NRL might stand a (tiny) chance of garnering a loyal American following.
The ball was spread from Payne Haas to Adam Reynolds and then finally Walsh, who left Joseph Suaalii grappling at thin air with his lightning speed and light feet, and then deftly kicked for Deine Mariner to dive on the ball.
Having been wedded to a sport in which kicking in general play is the sole domain of punting for territory, the US audience had their eyes opened up to a whole new skill in a little dribble which went only a handful of yards.
Little man taps out
It might not have quite been a Scott Sattler special, but there’s something glorious about a scything, try-saving cover tackle on a runaway winger.
South Sydney halfback Lachlan Ilias might be one of the smallest players in the NRL, and his Manly rivals Jason Saab probably the fastest.
But David slayed Goliath when Ilias hared across the field and managed to land a desperate ankle tap on Saab, who had surged downfield, destined to score a Manly try.
Ilias has made a habit of spectacular try saves: he knocked the ball from the grasp of Cronulla winger Ronaldo Mulitalo to stop a certain four-pointer last year, but this one was entirely unique to the US audience, which is used to seeing offensive players run purposely over the sideline to avoid a collision or stop the clock.
Maybe if the Allegiant Stadium field was the same as the traditional rugby league dimensions, then Saab could have been off and gone. But then again it might not have produced one of the moments of rugby league’s adventurous foray into a foreign land.
Saab would have his revenge with a first-half intercept try from a stray Latrell Mitchell pass, but it’s the one he didn’t score which would have impressed the Vegas locals the most.
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