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Roos 'could make' NFL
By Dean Ritchie
November 30, 2004
A FORMER American football star last night named Kangaroos Willie Mason and Anthony Minichiello as players who would succeed in the cut-throat NFL competition.
And Colin Scotts predicted NFL talent scouts would converge on Philadelphia tomorrow for Australia's rugby league international against the American Tomahawks.
The Kangaroos arrive in the US from England today to complete their Tri-Nations tour.
Born and raised in Sydney, Scotts had successful stints with the University of Hawaii, St Louis and the Houston Oilers as a defensive end. He believes it's only a matter of time before a league player makes the switch to the NFL.
Scotts said Mason, as an offensive tackle, and Minichiello, as a wide receiver, would excel in the NFL.
"Willie has the height and balance - he also has co-ordination and the aggro," Scotts told The Daily Telegraph.
"An offensive tackle has to be good on his feet which Willie is. Willie also has strong hands.
"Willie would have to put on some weight. He'd need to be about 140kg. I was about 110kg when I first went across but ended up 145kg."
Minichiello would also be a success in America, according to Scotts.
"He has such great footwork. I call him Fred Astaire," Scotts said.
"Anthony is extremely quick and has great vision, something you need as an NFL wide receiver. He knows where the gaps are."
Scotts said NFL scouts would be closely watching the league international at Franklin Field, where the ground temperature is expected to be below 5C.
"There are millions of NFL scouts and some will definitely be there," Scotts said.
"And I think rugby league players will soon end up in NFL. But they would have to get ready for the NFL which is the most complex, explosive and intense game around - bar none.
"The Americans will love the fact the one rugby league team is also the offensive and defensive team. They will be very curious.
"I'm hoping it is a brutal game so we can show them what rugby league is all about."
Scotts said of the intensity of NFL football: "You wear helmets but it's still a car crash out there."
Former Balmain and Test forward Paul Sironen, who spent one year playing American football in 1984 at the University of Hawaii, remains sceptical about league players switching successfully to NFL.
"It would be difficult to see an NRL player actually make an impact over there," Sironen said.
"They are all born and bred on NFL in America. It's all they know and it would be difficult for our players to adjust."
A crowd of around 10,000 is expected to attend tomorrow's game, which will be shown live on Fox Sports from 11.30am.
The densely populated American east coast has been swamped with publicity about rugby league, its newest adopted sport.
New York and Philadelphia have been identified as cities ready to turn their attention to Australia's game.
NRL chief operating officer Graham Annesley and American National Rugby League president and former St George halfback David Niu have spent the past week drumming up media attention for the match. A press conference will be held at Love Park - in the centre of Philadelphia - today.
Annesley has appeared on Good Day New York on Fox 5 and also spent 15 minutes on Philadelphia radio station WIP.
The game has attracted a full page article in Philadelphia's Daily Times newspaper - which has a circulation of 170,000 - and Australian media correspondents based in America have been sent to Pennsylvania. ESPN has also sent a crew.
The Daily News article read: "It may not be as famous as the 'Rumble in the Jungle,' but there's a Thunder from Down Under set to explode Tuesday night at Franklin Field in Philadelphia."
Annesley said: "I really have no idea how many people will turn up - we really have nothing to gauge it by. It could be 5000, it could be 20,000.
"Obviously it isn't a mainstream sport over here but the response has been overwhelming. Word is out about the game."
By Dean Ritchie
November 30, 2004
A FORMER American football star last night named Kangaroos Willie Mason and Anthony Minichiello as players who would succeed in the cut-throat NFL competition.
And Colin Scotts predicted NFL talent scouts would converge on Philadelphia tomorrow for Australia's rugby league international against the American Tomahawks.
The Kangaroos arrive in the US from England today to complete their Tri-Nations tour.
Born and raised in Sydney, Scotts had successful stints with the University of Hawaii, St Louis and the Houston Oilers as a defensive end. He believes it's only a matter of time before a league player makes the switch to the NFL.
Scotts said Mason, as an offensive tackle, and Minichiello, as a wide receiver, would excel in the NFL.
"Willie has the height and balance - he also has co-ordination and the aggro," Scotts told The Daily Telegraph.
"An offensive tackle has to be good on his feet which Willie is. Willie also has strong hands.
"Willie would have to put on some weight. He'd need to be about 140kg. I was about 110kg when I first went across but ended up 145kg."
Minichiello would also be a success in America, according to Scotts.
"He has such great footwork. I call him Fred Astaire," Scotts said.
"Anthony is extremely quick and has great vision, something you need as an NFL wide receiver. He knows where the gaps are."
Scotts said NFL scouts would be closely watching the league international at Franklin Field, where the ground temperature is expected to be below 5C.
"There are millions of NFL scouts and some will definitely be there," Scotts said.
"And I think rugby league players will soon end up in NFL. But they would have to get ready for the NFL which is the most complex, explosive and intense game around - bar none.
"The Americans will love the fact the one rugby league team is also the offensive and defensive team. They will be very curious.
"I'm hoping it is a brutal game so we can show them what rugby league is all about."
Scotts said of the intensity of NFL football: "You wear helmets but it's still a car crash out there."
Former Balmain and Test forward Paul Sironen, who spent one year playing American football in 1984 at the University of Hawaii, remains sceptical about league players switching successfully to NFL.
"It would be difficult to see an NRL player actually make an impact over there," Sironen said.
"They are all born and bred on NFL in America. It's all they know and it would be difficult for our players to adjust."
A crowd of around 10,000 is expected to attend tomorrow's game, which will be shown live on Fox Sports from 11.30am.
The densely populated American east coast has been swamped with publicity about rugby league, its newest adopted sport.
New York and Philadelphia have been identified as cities ready to turn their attention to Australia's game.
NRL chief operating officer Graham Annesley and American National Rugby League president and former St George halfback David Niu have spent the past week drumming up media attention for the match. A press conference will be held at Love Park - in the centre of Philadelphia - today.
Annesley has appeared on Good Day New York on Fox 5 and also spent 15 minutes on Philadelphia radio station WIP.
The game has attracted a full page article in Philadelphia's Daily Times newspaper - which has a circulation of 170,000 - and Australian media correspondents based in America have been sent to Pennsylvania. ESPN has also sent a crew.
The Daily News article read: "It may not be as famous as the 'Rumble in the Jungle,' but there's a Thunder from Down Under set to explode Tuesday night at Franklin Field in Philadelphia."
Annesley said: "I really have no idea how many people will turn up - we really have nothing to gauge it by. It could be 5000, it could be 20,000.
"Obviously it isn't a mainstream sport over here but the response has been overwhelming. Word is out about the game."
