As the NRL begins its latest American journey this weekend in Las Vegas, an exciting prospect awaits much closer to home: Manly backrower Hugo Hart.
At just 19 years old, Hart is preparing for his sophomore season in rugby league, showcasing remarkable development in a brief period.
His inaugural season with the Sea Eagles followed a distinguished schoolboy career at St Joseph's College, Nudgee, where he climbed the ranks from SG Ball (Under 19s) to Jersey Flegg (Under 21s) and onto NSW Cup within mere months.
Eager to make his first-grade debut, Hart stands out among numerous rookies aiming for the NRL spotlight in 2026, as he brings a unique background of playing high school football in the United States.
"I was in year 7 and dad said two weeks before we left that we'd be leaving for America," Hart recalled.
"He was launching a sleep apnoea device over there; it had already launched in Australia and Canada, and he was trying to get it going in the US.
"It was meant to be for six months, and because of COVID, it was two and a half years."
The family relocated to California, where Hart donned the helmet and pads as a safety and linebacker for JSerra Catholic High School in San Juan Capistrano.
JSerra competes in the Trinity League against formidable opponents like Mater Dei High, renowned for winning five national championships in the last decade and considered among the best athletic schools in the country.