Marcus D'Acre, the Las Vegas Combine winner, is aiming for his NRL debut to motivate young American and Canadian athletes to embrace rugby league.
After clinching victory at last year's combine, he signed with the Knights and made his NSW Cup debut towards the end of 2025.
D'Acre will return to Las Vegas next week as part of Newcastle's touring squad, following an eventful year of relocating and embracing a new sport.
As he takes significant steps towards his dream of playing in the NRL, D'Acre hopes to inspire more aspiring athletes in North America.
After studying in Canada last year, the 21-year-old is back in Newcastle, training alongside top players like Kalyn Ponga.
The Knights have been patient with D'Acre's growth, and he's eager to demonstrate the progress he's made.