“I got here and everyone knew the Origin score. I was amazed. I didn’t know the Origin score.”
Sydney Roosters general manager Craig Walker is standing in what little shade there is at Belgrade’s Soviet-era New Radnicki Stadium.
When officials arrived on Wednesday, the thermometer placed in the middle of the field read 46 Celsius.
No-one was more shocked to see the long-serving performance and pathways expert than former NRL star Jason “The Doctor” Death, whose son Phoenix played for Ukraine in the European Under 19s Championships. Walker and Death both spent time at the Warriors in the 2000s.
Death’s reason for jetting to where the Danube meets the Sava is straightforward: he’s a chaperone for a 19-year-old.
Walker’s motive is more complicated; he may not see the fruits during his lifetime of Sydney Roosters’ support for junior rugby league in the western United States.
“It was a bit of a passion play from our chairman Nick Politis to get involved in American rugby league after Vegas.” Walker tells jetwinvip.com.
“For us it’s small steps to start with, just trying to set up and grow the game over there, working with the NRL on a few initiatives, and part of that is the West Coast Academy and these boys are the pioneers of that.
“Our strategy has certainly been trying to grow it from younger ages. Nothing against people who might take it up later in life but if you’re going to grow the sport and have it flourish, it’s going to come from the youth.
“There’s so much natural skill and athleticism these guys have. I was impressed with it.”
There are some striking facts about the first ever junior United States rugby league team - which doubles as the Roosters West Coast Academy - but the most significant is this: their 32-10 loss to Scotland last Monday was the first time any of them had played a 13-a-side game. They messed up 10 play-the-balls.
In their second game - an historic 40-12 win over Serbia - they only muffed two play-the-balls.
Their third game was also a victory - 26-22 over Ukraine. Oh, and the player that coach George Tupou describes as the squad’s best, playmaker Noa Paea, was banned from playing in the tournament - because he is only 15.
The NRL going to Vegas was huge. I don't think they realise the impact.
USA U19s coach George Tupou
Seventy-one years after the American All Stars charmed Australasians with their pants tucked into their socks and gridiron passes, rugby league might finally be onto something in the frontier it has always coveted most.
Or, at least, in Utah - from where the entire squad hails.
Yet, as is rugby league’s wont, it could have been over before it began.
Tupou, the team’s fatherly coach, who went to school on Sydney’s Northern Beaches with Steve Menzies and Shannon Nevin, wanted to shun the NRL's Vegas venture after a communication mix-up during a promotional tour last December.
“It was frustrating and looking back on it, I’m glad that it happened - it worked in our favour,” says Tupou, who makes it clear it was the fund-raising of parents that got the team to Belgrade as well as the Roosters’ much-appreciated assistance.
“It was right in the middle of our Nines, and we were upset because we have a Roosters rugby league team and Spencer Leniu came to Utah and he went to a rugby union school.
“We were looking forward to going to Vegas, but I was looking at pulling all the teams out of going [to the NRL Nines].
“And then luckily the NRL wanted to talk to us, and I got on the phone, got on the email and … heaven behold, it wasn’t their fault.
“So, I take it all back! The NRL going to Vegas was huge. I don’t think they realise the impact. We get to go watch NRL games, we get to play NRL Nines…”
This team that won two from three having never played the game before was assembled through church, Tupou explains.
“Three players, they’re not members of the Church of Jesus Christ and Latter Day Saints. [The rest] don’t go to the same location but through youth activities, they see each other every week.
“The biggest thing we have in Utah is the Polynesian culture and then the church. We’re not over here singing songs and saying prayers to try and convert people....”
On Thursday, the squad was hosted at the plush residence of the US ambassador to Serbia, Chris Hill, and performed two songs for the assembled guests: one Tongan, one Samoan.
Their victory routine is a combination of American patriotism and Polynesian dance.
European Rugby League general manager David Butler was impressed by the quiet, respectful Hawks. “They come as, already, a tight unit,” he said.
“They’ve travelled in three separate groups to get over here and there’s three designated team mums on the staff list.”
As a footy team they are quick, strong and skilful with some dazzling off-loads. Tupou is trying to teach them the ‘grind’ of league - something they perhaps jettisoned in their final match, almost handing the brave Ukrainians victory.
“You’d like to think there’s future players who would enter an NRL system,” says Walker. “How far they go, who knows? It’s hard enough for kids in Australia to get all the way to the NRL so … in our lifetime? Yeah maybe. I think so.”
Walker admits the Roosters’ involvement does not stop another club signing someone like centre Siaosi Koloamatangi, who scored three tries against Ukraine.
“But,” he says with a smile, “I didn’t notice any other NRL scouts here.
“They were probably sitting there watching Origin while I was sitting in 45-degree heat in Serbia.”
