A total of 25 male and 25 female athletes were selected from North America to participate in the combine, which put them through drills and skills that determine their suitability for rugby league. MarCaya Bailous and Megan Pakulis were the two women selected to try out for Australian teams.

Woolridge, a former defensive back with Saginaw Valley State University, has agreed to a full-time contract that will be salary cap-exempt, an incentive the NRL dangled before clubs in a bid to entice them to gamble on American talent.

“I am certainly not coming halfway across the world not to compete at the highest level and will do everything possible to prove myself to my fellow teammates, coaches and fans,” said Woolridge, who caught the eye in Vegas when he ran a 2.7-second 20-metre sprint, bench pressed 125kg three times and clocked an impressive four minutes and 50 seconds for the bronco, a speed and endurance trial.

Woolridge’s agent, Chris Orr, said: “I have been working with the NFL with players like Jordan Mailata and Valentine Holmes on the NFL International Player Pathways program for over 5 years and it is really exciting to see the program unfold in reverse with American athletes joining the NRL.

“If these athletes can develop their personal knowledge of the game they have the athletic ability to make it to the very top of our code.

“It needs to be a long burn for the NRL to crack the USA market. It took Jordan Mailata four years to fully be recognised as a NFL player, I think these USA athlete can develop quicker as we have lower grades for them to participate and have actual on the job training which will accelerate their learnings and development.”

“I am certainly not coming halfway across the world not to compete at the highest level.”

Roosters signing Michael Woolridge

The late Manfred Moore – a former Oakland Raiders player who also enjoyed stints at Tampa Bay, Minnesota and San Francisco – made history when he played first grade for Newtown in 1977.

The NRL feels the United States could be an untapped market for talented footballers who slip through the cracks after missing out on NFL contracts.

Loading

“The US is home to some of the world’s best athletes, so it’s exciting for fans to see the first male player join an NRL club directly from the NRL combine held in Las Vegas,” NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo said.

“Part of the NRL’s long-term US strategy is the targeting of elite talent who have the explosive power, speed and skill to make it in one of the world’s best professional sporting competitions.

“We’re confident Americans will love rugby league, and hopefully they’ll see one of their own pulling on an NRL jersey in the years to come.”

Sports news, results and expert commentary. Sign up for our Sport newsletter.

NRL is Live and Free on Channel 9 & 9Now