Ben Te Kura, a prop for the Brisbane Broncos, has received permission to leave the team for six weeks to participate in an NFL training camp. Standing at 205 centimeters, the 22-year-old is recognized as the tallest player in the National Rugby League (NRL) and has attracted “long-term interest from the NFL,” according to his club.

The Broncos have confirmed that after the training camp, there is a possibility of extending his leave to further explore a potential NFL career. In a statement, the club indicated that Te Kura would either return to training with the Broncos after the six-week period or his absence could be prolonged to facilitate his transition towards an opportunity in the United States.

Since making his debut in 2024, Te Kura has appeared in only five NRL matches, largely due to a series of injuries. He has yet to take the field this season but has played three games in the Queensland Cup with Wynnum Manly.

Meanwhile, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell is currently in Australia to promote the upcoming season opener between the San Francisco 49ers and the Los Angeles Rams, which will take place in September at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Goodell arrived on the Gold Coast, where the NFL established an academy in 2024, coinciding with the release of tickets for the 49ers-Rams game.

Goodell expressed confidence about the NFL’s commitment to Australia, stating, “There’s no question that we’re going to be playing here again. Our view is we’re coming here for the long term. We don’t come as one-offs; this isn’t a circus, this is an investment in this market.”

Additionally, Goodell is advocating for flag football to be included as an Olympic sport, following its addition to the roster for the 2028 Los Angeles Games. The NFL aims to ensure that flag football is not just a one-time event in 2028 and has announced an initiative on the Gold Coast to distribute flag football kits to schools across Australia, hoping to establish a lasting presence for the sport ahead of the Brisbane 2032 Olympics.