The effort earned him a start for the American national team, where two of his Hawks teammates were also contracted to Wentworthville. Upon seeing a highlights reel, Magpies officials offered Burroughs a one-year deal.

The switch: Ryan Burroughs wants to be as good as Jarryd Hayne. Credit:Wolter Peeters

"I gave up the life I was living back home, left all of my friends and my job," Burroughs said. "I was going to an apprenticeship trade school as well and I left that. I figured this was a once-in-a-lifetime chance to come here so I took it. I plan on giving it all I've got while I'm out here."

Burroughs has tried his hand at a number of sports, from American football to mixed martial arts. He was tempted to give up on his ambition of playing at a professional level until the intervention of older brother Chris.

"I played one game of rugby league two years ago, it was the last game of the season and I absolutely loved it," he said. "Chris never gave up on me, he encouraged me. He said 'I know what you can do as an athlete, pick something you like and go do it'."