'America is where you go to make it': Kelce designer backs NRL's US bid

Former Roosters and Dragons player Daniel Patrick believes the NRL can achieve similar success in the United States as he has after taking on the world’s most competitive fashion market more than a decade ago.

Patrick, the son of former Test and Origin prop Pat Jarvis, turned his back on his own promising rugby league career and is now a designer to the likes of Justin Bieber, John Legend and the Kelce brothers, Travis and Jason.

"It's awesome, it's what I dreamed of as a kid,” Patrick told NRL.com. “Growing up, I always had an eye on America because we’d watch American TV shows and movies, or you’d see Michael Jordan, and I was like, ‘that's where things happen’.

“America is where you go to make it, and I think it is exciting what the NRL is doing. I really believe the NRL can get a global audience if they stay the course.”

After playing alongside Dragons premiership winners Jason Nightingale, Matt Prior and Dan Hunt in the club’s 2006 Jersey Flegg side, Patrick quit to study fashion before moving to Los Angeles with two suitcases and $1000.

Having now lived in the United States for 13 years, he is convinced Americans will embrace the NRL and is backing this weekend’s historic double-header at Allegiant Stadium as the start of a new era for the game.

“I think the game itself is not that difficult to understand,” Patrick said. "I actually think it's easier to understand than American football, it's pretty straightforward and it has a lot of similarities to what they're used to so there's a familiarity to it.

“I think they'll be able to get it and I think we need to lean into the physicality of the game without the pads, which is what the NRL is doing. I think the brutality of league is what they're going to love.

“They are so intrigued by the no pads and helmets. They’re always asking 'how do you hit like that with no pads'.”

The former Endeavour Sports High student, who was coached by Jeff Hardy, John Morris, Dave Howlett and Brad Kelly, as well as Shane Flanagan and Jim Dymock at the Roosters, said some of NFL’s biggest stars were aware of the NRL.

“I know that Travis and Jason are because they've had Jordan Mailata on their podcast and they talked about it,” Patrick said.

“I think those guys would have an affinity for it too, coming from the fact that they play football and there are some similarities.”

The Kelce brothers have also talked about Patrick’s designs on New Heights, the No.1 sports podcast in the US, and Travis ordered tracksuits for 38 Kansas City Chiefs team-mates last Christmas.

Patrick received another order to dress the entire Chiefs offensive line for their flight to Las Vegas ahead of February’s Super Bowl triumph at Allegiant Stadium, where the NRL double-header will be staged.

“I’ve gone from being an athlete to doing fashion for athletes,” Patrick said. “I just started making stuff that I would wear and the athletes kind of organically gravitated towards my brand.

“If you look at an NRL player or someone like that, we lift a lot of weights and whatnot, so I'd be making clothes that fit me.

“I was the fit model for the clothes, and I was bigger than a usual fit model that fashion brands or designers would use, so I guess the way I would dress fitted the NFL guys and NBA guys better.”

Bieber is another who wears Patrick’s designs and the megastar’s influence has seen demand for DP luxury sportswear grow around the world.

“He got a bunch of stuff in the past and he kind of blew us up in different markets like China and even in Europe … all over actually to be fair,” Patrick said.

“I had a guy come to my store the other day from Italy and he said, ‘I bought these pants because of Justin Bieber’. He only wears certain stuff so that is huge.”

While none of his junior team-mates at the Roosters are in the team playing the Broncos in Vegas, Patrick has a relationship with some of the current squad, including Kangaroos forward Angus Crichton.

“The Roosters came over to the LA prior to the pandemic so I connected with Angus Crichton, Lindsay Collins, Joey Manu and Sio Siua Taukeiaho,” he said.

“They came by my warehouse and we went and had a coffee. I have stayed in touch with Angus over the years too and remained friends, so I do have some connection in that respect with the Roosters.”

Despite now holding American citizenship, Patrick remains an avid fan of the game and follows the NRL closely.

He also watches replays of matches featuring his father Pat, who played 214 matches for St George, Canterbury, Eastern Suburbs and North Sydney from 1980 to 1991.

“The time that probably stands out the most for me is when he was at the Bears. I was four or five then, so that is more present in the memory,” Patrick said.

“He played Origin when I was probably one [year old], but I still watch some of his games now. I throw them on from time to time,

“There is a ton of great old games that you can find on You Tube - the Origin games or even just old Dragons games or old Bulldogs games and whatnot.

“I grew up loving the game and I still love the game. I follow the NRL more than sports over here. I have the Watch NRL subscription for overseas so every morning I throw on NRL360 while I am making my breakfast or the Matty Johns Show.

“I do stay in touch with it because when I talk to my dad, I know more about what is happening in the game than he does.”