AN American football player is claiming he has been offered a deal to join Leeds Rhinos after taking up rugby league.
Cyrus Habibi-Likio, a running back who played with the University of Oregon and Boise State, was invited to try out with NFL giants San Francisco 49ers back in 2022.
That being said, Habibi-Likio has turned his attention to rugby league and, on his own YouTube channel, claims that he was invited to play a game in the build-up to the NRL double-header at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas before being approached by the agency Pacific Sports Management.
PSM, of course, manage the likes of Super League stars Cade Cust, Tim Lafai and Brodie Croft.
“It all started in March when the NRL came from Australia to play in Las Vegas,” Habibi-Likio said on CYFY TV.
“They had a tournament a few days before and I was asked to play in it. For all those who know me, I’m a football player, I’ve been playing football my entire life but I decided to try rugby league for the first time ever.
“I showed up, decided to play and did really well in my first game. As I was playing I got pulled to the side by an Australian agency called PSM. Apparently they were impressed with the way I was playing and told me to meet up with them.
“We talked about some contracts, what rugby league is, but this is all new to me. I just know how to get the ball and score touchdowns but in rugby league, they call them tries.
“I ended up signing with that agency and after that’s done, they go back to Australia. A few weeks later they hit me up saying there’s a professional contract to the Super League in England, and that team is the Leeds Rhinos.
“They are a very well-known team with rich history and culture. So right now, that’s my contract on the table and it looks like we’re going to England.”
Click here to get the digital edition of League Express
Click here to subscribe to the print edition of League Express
League Express is also widely available from local newsagents across the north of England.
