Broncos assistant coach John Cartwright is excited to be taking rugby league to America again, 20 years on from presiding over one of the game’s greatest ‘what if’ moments.
Cartwright was the coach of the USA in 2004 when they took on Australia’s Kangaroos, stunning all by hurtling to a surprise 24-6 halftime lead against the world’s best in the Liberty Bell Cup.
While the Kangaroos side, which included Darren Lockyer, Petero Civoniceva, Matt Bowen, Anthony Minichiello and Willie Mason, triumphed 36-24 after a halftime dressing down from Wayne Bennett, the USA showed they were willing opponents who were up for a challenge.
USA v Australia: Test Match, 2004
"I don’t think I have ever come across a more coachable group of guys in my whole time in rugby league," Cartwright said.
“They certainly weren’t overawed about who they were playing.
“I think that had a lot to do with the fact a lot of them were new to the game and so they weren’t really aware of how good Australia were in rugby league terms.
“A lot of them had NFL backgrounds, a little bit of rugby, but they turned up to play."
Cartwright became involved in the match after being contacted by former Dragons playmaker David Niu, who was championing the game in the United States after moving to Philadelphia with his American wife.
Russell Crowe explains the rules and laws of rugby league
"The USA were going to be playing the Kangaroos, so it was obviously an enormous task," said Cartwright, who was an assistant to Ricky Stuart at Sydney Roosters at the time.
“While it was more of an exhibition-type game that was trying to promote rugby league in America, it was over in Philadelphia and it just worked out that it was post-season and I was able to do it.
“I thought it would be a great experience and a great opportunity; I hadn’t been to that part of the world before.
"We had a few NRL guys; Brandon Costin who had played a bit of NRL with Wests Magpies then and the Raiders, Matty Petersen had played NRL at Parramatta and then there were a few Aussies over there who were playing in the three-month competition they had running.
"But the most impressive guys were the Americans. They were so keen.
“Our captain [Jeff Preston] was an ex-Marine who held sway over everyone in the group; you went on the training field and he clapped his hands and everyone pretty much would come to attention, he held that much respect within the group.
“The players just wanted to achieve and they wanted to do well.
“We got quite close in the end. [But Bennett] got Australia serious at halftime.”
There have been forays into the North American market since that match, including New Zealand and England playing a Test at Denver's Mile High Stadium in 2018.
The USA have also been represented at the 2013 and 2017 World Cups, the World Cup 9s in 2019 and most recently at the Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup in England in November, 2022.
However, Cartwright is heartened by the wholesale support and long-term vision of the latest venture, which will see the Broncos take on the Roosters and the Rabbitohs and Sea Eagles face in Las Vegas in the opening NRL round.
Having seen the sporting landscape first-hand and the difficulties of cracking the world's biggest sports market, Cartwright thought further moves at grassroots and in schools could also help rugby league gain a footing over the long term.
Match: Sea Eagles v Rabbitohs
Round 1 -
home Team
Sea Eagles
5th Position
away Team
Rabbitohs
13th Position
Venue: Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas
“There’s so many athletes that come out of college that don’t make the NFL, but are physically big, fast, strong and good hand-eye coordination,” Cartwright said.
“They have got basic skills that we have in rugby league, but we just need them playing probably at a younger age.
“We think we love our sport in Australia, but they might be more sport-loving over there - they absolutely love their sport and are passionate about it.
“You have only got to go to games over there and they take it so seriously, they are very competitive and they want their teams to do well.
“I think what we need is to get kids playing it over there.”
As one of the four clubs selected to play in the historic Round 1 opener at Allegiant Stadium, Cartwright said the Broncos were looking forward to the opportunity.
He said the Brisbane staff and players, who will set up a base in Los Angeles, had spoken about how to best approach the game, given the very different lead-up to past seasons.
“I think it’s going to be a great occasion,” Cartwright said. “I know they are going to do it again, but it’s a one-off as far as being the first time it’s happened, a proper couple of games for competition points.
“The atmosphere is going to be electric and the players are really going to want to put on a show for the American fans. I just can’t wait to be involved.
Match: Roosters v Broncos
Round 1 -
home Team
Roosters
6th Position
away Team
Broncos
12th Position
Venue: Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas
“The challenge for us is going to be to make sure we keep cool heads and don’t get caught up in the situation.
“There’s plenty of experience within the group that I am sure that won’t happen. But I’m really excited at going over and witnessing what’s going to happen.”
