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April 13, 2026 \u2014 8:48pm<\/p>\n
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Remove items from your saved list<\/a> to add more.<\/p>\n Save this article for later<\/p>\n Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime.<\/p>\n Got it<\/p>\n AAA<\/p>\n Standing at 205 centimetres tall and 122 kilograms, Ben Te Kura cuts an imposing figure when huddled with his Broncos teammates \u2013 a frame that caught the attention of NFL scouts, and led the Brisbane prop to chase an American dream.<\/p>\n The 22-year-old has begun a six-week leave from Broncos HQ to join the NFL\u2019s Gold Coast-based academy, at a time when fellow forward Pat Carrigan has accepted a two-game suspension for a high tackle<\/a>.<\/p>\n The young enforcer leaves with his teammates\u2019 support, who are adamant they have the depth to cover his absence \u2013 including uncapped prospect VJ Semu, who is in line to debut against Wests Tigers on Saturday night.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s good he can go and explore a different avenue, he\u2019s a good friend of mine, so I\u2019m happy for him, but it\u2019s a big loss as well,\u201d Broncos middle Xavier Willison said.<\/p>\n \u201cVJ Semu can stand up there. He\u2019s been ticking all the boxes at training, doing all the little effort areas that a middle should, so he\u2019s definitely ready.\u201d<\/p>\n After Te Kura\u2019s six-week block, he will either return to Broncos\u2019 training, or the club will extend his absence to keep chasing an NFL opportunity.<\/p>\n While it is a bold ploy, two AFL stars who made the transition insist Australian athletes had the skill set to thrive on America\u2019s biggest stage.<\/p>\n Ripples were sent through the AFL when Ben Graham announced he would leave the Geelong Cats for his NFL shot. As he tells this masthead on the Gold Coast, he has no regrets.<\/p>\n Even if it meant missing the golden years for the club he represented 219 times, leaving shortly before the Cats\u2019 run of three premierships between 2007 and 2011, having captained the side and featured in the 1995 grand final defeat to Carlton.<\/p>\n Related Article \u201cAt that point in time it would\u2019ve been three years down the track, I would have missed the opportunity to play in the NFL, and I wouldn\u2019t have still been playing in the AFL,\u201d Graham said.<\/p>\n \u201cI saw the introduction and drafting of key members of that premiership team, and watched them grow up. I firmly believe I had a part and a role to play in their development.<\/p>\n \u201cI was nothing but proud as punch when I watched them win that premiership from New York.\u201d<\/p>\n Graham spent eight years as an NFL punter across four teams, leaving AFL at the end of 2004 after being offered a one-year Cats deal \u201cat a significantly reduced amount\u201d.<\/p>\n He became the oldest NFL rookie (31) with the New York Jets and first Australian to play a Super Bowl while with Arizona.<\/p>\n Graham endured a rollercoaster \u2013 highlighted by his 2008 season. He started with the Jets, appeared on Sesame Street, rang the Wall Street bell, and got cut twice by New York. He was then picked up by New Orleans, axed after playing at Wembley, and brought in for the Cardinals\u2019 Super Bowl run.<\/p>\n When Graham was asked how he felt starting a new career so deep into another one \u2013 invigorated, nervous, daunted \u2013 he simply said, \u201call of the above\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cThere were a lot of things that were going to have to go right for me that year, and no one could guarantee anything in the NFL, but I did use the off season to go to the States, met with four teams, worked with them, and heard enough and performed well enough to back myself in,\u201d Graham said.<\/p>\n \u201cI did see the ups and downs, but looking back I still pinch myself.\u201d<\/p>\n While Graham\u2019s stint began after a 14-year career, Arryn Siposs found himself at a crossroads when he was delisted by St Kilda after 28 games.<\/p>\n After two years in the reserve-grade VFL, casting aside shin splint issues, he charted a new path to the NFL through the college system.<\/p>\n \u201cI certainly was still thinking at the time that I wanted to get another shot in the AFL,\u201d Siposs told this masthead.<\/p>\n \u201cWith all those injuries occurring I think that was probably a sign my body was just starting to adapt to it all. [But] after my first year [in the VFL] and I didn\u2019t really get a look in, I started to make the shift to looking at another path.\u201d<\/p>\n What transpired was a two-season stint with the Philadelphia Eagles as a punter.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was a big gamble,\u201d Siposs said, \u201cbut the 100 per cent trust in myself to be able to get the job done and make something of it was ultimately what I wanted to chase.\u201d<\/p>\n Related Article Having \u201ca decent leg\u201d certainly helped, however Siposs was adamant Australians should not feel limited to becoming punters, while adding vision of NRL star Matt Burton slotting long-range field goals in Las Vegas would likely have NFL scouts on alert.<\/p>\n He said Australian athletes possessed the skill set to thrive, while backing those who struggle to make the cut in their respective codes to find success.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s just going to take time. That\u2019s probably the hard part about the NFL, you\u2019re in a business that doesn\u2019t allow enough time,\u201d Siposs said.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not necessarily physical ability, there\u2019s no doubt the guys can catch a ball and run and have physical pressure, it\u2019s just about learning all the plays that go with it.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s a lot of knowledge behind it, a lot of detail, and if you\u2019re missing one little bit it can make it quite tough. But if you apply yourself, I\u2019m sure it can work.\u201d<\/p>\n Start the day with a summary of the day\u2019s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter<\/a>.<\/p>\n Save<\/p>\n You have reached your maximum number of saved items.<\/p>\n![\"Ben](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/19558cc8d9b86c03a1fed693570210615e833c2f.jpeg\")
Ben Te Kura has left the Broncos for at least six weeks in his bid to crack the NFL.NRL Photos<\/p>\n![\"Ben](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/e57e92e45b1f398175338830ff51da5c9fc3db83.jpeg\")
Ben Graham during practice with the Arizona Cardinals in 2009.AP<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1776081375_192_76ac9e889aa77b013e3f65e07e065b8c798bbe660734ead9c11dcc5f3c00f06a.jpeg\")
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