abc.net.au

NRL's biggest player granted leave of absence to pursue NFL

Brisbane Broncos grant Ben Te Kura leave to pursue NFL career at six-week camp

Topic:NRL

9m ago9 minutes agoSat 11 Apr 2026 at 8:44pm

Brisbane Broncos player Ben Te Kura puts his hands on his head during an NRL game.

Ben Te Kura has been the subject of "long-term interest" from the NFL, according to the Broncos. (Getty Images: Robert Cianflone)

In short:

Brisbane Broncos prop Ben Te Kura has been granted leave to attend a six-week NFL training camp.

At 205 centimetres, the 22-year-old is the tallest player in the NRL and, according to the club, has been the subject of "long-term interest from the NFL".

What's next?

After the camp, the Broncos said they may extend his absence to allow him to move towards an NFL career.

The Brisbane Broncos have allowed hulking prop Ben Te Kura a leave of absence to pursue an NFL career.

Brisbane said 22-year-old Te Kura, the tallest player in the NRL at 205 centimetres, had been the subject of "long-term interest from the NFL".

The club has approved him taking six weeks away from NRL commitments to attend an NFL training camp.

"At the conclusion of the six-week period, Te Kura will either return to Broncos' training, or the club will extend his absence to facilitate further steps towards a possible NFL opportunity in the United States," the Broncos said in a statement.

Te Kura has played just five NRL games since making his debut in 2024 as he has struggled with a series of injuries and is yet to take the field this season, playing three games in the Queensland Cup with Wynnum Manly.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell is in Australia to promote the San Francisco 49ers and LA Rams' NFL season opener in September at the MCG.

Goodell arrived on the Gold Coast, where the NFL opened an academy in 2024, just as tickets went on sale for the 49ers-Rams clash and carried on to Melbourne.

"There's no question that we're going to be playing here again," he said.

"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."

Goodell has also been promoting flag football as an Olympic sport after its inclusion in the 2028 Los Angeles Games.

The NFL wants to make sure 2028 is not a one-time appearance for flag football and announced on the Gold Coast an initiative to provide flag football kits to schools Australia-wide in the hopes the sport takes root in Australia ahead of Brisbane 2032.

ABC

The ABC of SPORT

Sports content to make you think... or allow you not to. A newsletter delivered each Saturday.

Your information is being handled in accordance with the ABC Privacy Collection Statement.

Posted9m ago9 minutes agoSat 11 Apr 2026 at 8:44pm

Copy link

Facebook

X (formerly Twitter)

Read full news in source page