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Ben Matulino gets an offload away against the Roosters in Round 5.

They are our rugby league idols but who do the NRL's biggest stars look up to on the international sporting stage?

Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (Roosters) 

"With the NBA Finals on at the moment I'd have to say I admire LeBron James. To continue to do what he's been doing at his size is pretty impressive. The way he moves and the style of athlete he is is what I like most. I haven't seen him play live, but I did watch the Chicago Bulls play the New York Knicks two years ago. I've actually got a LeBron singlet in my bag here today!"

Ben Matulino (Warriors)

"Probably All Black Ma'a Nonu. He debuted when I was hard out into rugby and I started watching him from there. I followed his whole journey pretty much and admired him the whole way."

Jason Taumalolo (Cowboys)

"I'd have to go Muhammad Ali. It's not only what he's done for the sport of boxing, it's about what he's done outside the ring with his people. What he's done for them is huge. I guess there is always one player in each sport that changes the game, and for boxing it was definitely Muhammad Ali. If it wasn't for him then boxers these days obviously wouldn't be as highly paid as what they could be. Ali is the greatest of all time in boxing. It's hard to put into perspective what he's actually done, because he's done heaps of great things for not only sport but humanity itself. A true leader."

Herman Ese'ese (Broncos)

"Obviously Muhammad Ali was everyone's sporting idol, but for me it has to be Cristiano Ronaldo. I've been following him since he was at Manchester United and I love the way he dedicates himself to what he does. I love his work ethic and the way he plays the game. I don't really have a football team... I guess I'm just a Cristiano Ronaldo supporter."

Rip champ ✊🏾 #legend #idol

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Craig Garvey (Bulldogs)

"There are always boxers you admire like Floyd Mayweather and people like that. Then you have blokes who are in complete control of their respective games, guys like Tiger Woods in golf and Muhammad Ali was also great. Mike Tyson too with his training and stuff like that. Ali passing away hurt everyone because he was such a professional and someone who always did what he believed in. He was a real outspoken sportsman so he'd be up there for me definitely."

Blake Ayshford (Warriors)

"I have actually still got a massive poster of Muhammad Ali in my room. I just love how confident he was, I wish I was that confident and could predict things. Outside of that it would be Allen Iverson from the NBA. For a little dude the way he played basketball, I have a lot of respect for that. He was a guy who took everything in his stride."

Kyle Feldt (Cowboys)

"I've got a couple actually. I love a bit of golf so Jason Day and Jordan Spieth, but other than that probably Chad Reid the motocross rider. I used to ride a lot of motorbikes when I was growing up. Mainly Chad Reid because he's an Aussie and he's gone over to America in one of the hardest sports to crack and he's made a good career out of it. And he just formed his own team a couple of years ago so he went out on his own. A true Aussie battler, really."

James Tedesco (Wests Tigers)

"Someone like Lionel Messi with how humble he is and he's probably the greatest player in the world. You wouldn't think it if you walked down the street and saw him. He doesn't really show it off with how famous or how rich he is, he's really humble."

Connor Watson (Roosters)

"I like Antonio Brown from the Pittsburgh Steelers. He's their wide receiver and he'd have to be my favourite athlete outside of rugby league. He's pretty hilarious off the field and he's probably the best wide receiver in the NFL. I follow him on Snapchat; that's probably why I like him so much. I get to see his Snapchat stories and everything he gets up to on a daily basis which is pretty cool. Unfortunately he doesn't follow me back."

Michael Morgan (Cowboys)

"Michael Jordan. He was obviously a very good player; very successful and he always kept trying to get better. Since he's retired he's also been very successful off the court as well. That's something that I think guys in our position should look forward to, life after you finish playing and being successful there as well. Because there is a lot of time after you retire from the sport."

Kyle Turner (Rabbitohs) 

"It has to be Russell Westbrook from the Oklahoma City Thunder. He's the total package for an athlete. He's a dynamic player and I look forward to watching him play every week. I've never been to one of his games but it's something that I've always wanted to do."

Mitchell Moses (Wests Tigers)

"I don't really have anyone, probably Michael Jordan if anything."

Jake Granville (Cowboys)

"I like surfing so probably one of the surfers. I don't mind 'Parko' [Joel Parkinson]."

Acknowledgement of Country

National Rugby League respects and honours the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands we meet, gather and play on.

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