BY CURTIS WOODWARD

@woodward_curtis

It is the 4th of July, well over here in Australia at least, America’s Independence Day.

We aren’t exactly sure what they do to celebrate – eat turkey and let off fireworks?

What we do know, however, is that the yanks have carved out their own tiny piece of rugby league history over the years.

Let’s look at ten of USA’s biggest contributions to the greatest game of all.

HONOURABLE MENTION: NEWCASTLE SIGNS FORMER NFL PLAYER

We can’t have a list without including the infamous Knights signing of former Philadelphia Eagles player Greg Smith who conned his way onto the Knights roster in 1999. He played one NRL game and was quickly sacked. It was then revealed Smith had been cut by Philadelphia in 1996 and never made it to the NFL.

10: USA DEBUTS AT WORLD SEVENS IN SYDNEY

The American Patriots debuted at the Coca-Cola World Sevens in 1993 and quickly gained cult hero status with the Sydney crowds.

9: TOMAHAWKS SHOCK AUSSIES IN PHILLY

The might of the Australian Kangaroos finished their 2004 tour of the United Kingdom with a stop on America’s east coast for a historic clash against the USA. In freezing conditions, Australia ran away with the contest 36-24.

8: NEWTOWN SIGNS NFL’S MANFRED MOORE

The Newtown Jets announced the signing of former San Francisco, Oakland and Tampa Bay NFL player Manfred Moore for the 1977 season. Incredibly, Moore scored a try in his debut at Henson Park against Western Suburbs.

7: KANGAROOS AND KIWIS CLASH AT LA COLISEUM

5000 fans watched on in 1954 as Australia downed New Zealand 28-18 with Queensland legend Denis Flannery bagging a double.

6: WIGAN WIN IN MILWAUKEE

In front of a crowd of almost 18,000 at the Milwaukee County Stadium, Wigan defeated Warrington 12-5 in 1989.

5: RUGBY LEAGUE JOINS THE MILE HIGH CLUB

International rugby league took over Denver for one short week in 2018. The main event at the Mile High Stadium saw England beat the Kiwis 36-18.

4: CALIFORNIA ORIGIN

At the end of the 1987 season, New South Wales and Queensland headed to Los Angeles for a fourth “exhibition” match on top of the regular three-game series.

3: USA SHOCK THE WORLD

Against the odds, the USA qualified for the 2013 World Cup quarter finals before being thrashed by Australia 62-0.

2: ALL STARS, NO EXPERIENCE

In one of the more peculiar pieces of rugby league history, a squad of Americans toured Australia and New Zealand in 1953. It just so happened, none of them had ever played a game of rugby league. Of their 26 games, they’d win just 6.

1: VIVA LAS VEGAS

The NRL made history in 2023 when a double header for premiership points opened up the season. We’ll be heading back for at least the next four years.

@woodward_curtis