The Sydney Roosters have made history by signing Michael Woolridge, the first male athlete identified in the NRL combine held in Las Vegas.

Woolridge, a former defensive back with Saginaw Valley State University, will soon fly to Australia to pursue a career in the NRL after impressing at the inaugural combine held before the NRL round one matches this  year.

Woolridge has signed a full-time, salary cap exempt contract through to the end of the Roosters’ pre-season training, which concludes at Christmas. If he impresses the team, he may stay on and perhaps make an unlikely debut in the NRL.

He impressed in Vegas with a 2.7-second 20-meter sprint, bench pressing 125kg three times, and clocking four minutes and 50 seconds in the bronco test.

Woolridge took part in the first NRL combine in the United States as part of the round one games held in Las Vegas

In 2021, Woolridge played all 11 games for the Cardinals, tallying 66 tackles, 4.5 sacks, two fumble recoveries, and two interceptions. He earned Honorable Mention All-GLIAC.

 ‘I am truly grateful to be given this opportunity to come test myself within the NRL and especially with the Sydney Roosters,’ Woolridge said.

‘I am certainly not coming halfway across the world not to compete at the highest level and will do everything possible to prove myself to my fellow teammates, coaches, and fans.’

Woolridge also noted a special connection between his hometown of Detroit and the Roosters, as Sydney chairman Nick Politis has strong ties to Ford’s history in Australia.

Politis started his career with WFM Motors which he ran and expanded in 1974, which was later rebranded into City Ford – which Politis expanded into one of the largest Ford dealerships in Australia.

He made history by making City Ford the first jersey sponsor to appear in the NRL.

The Ford Motor Company was founded in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit in 1903.

“I understand there is a connection between the Roosters and myself, with Detroit being the birthplace of Ford and Sydney Roosters chairman Nick Politis being a big part of the Ford history in Australia,’ Woolridge said.

‘I am very proud to come from Detroit and I look forward to representing my city with the Roosters and my country.’

Roosters CEO Joe Kelly said the club was hoping to craft Woolridge into a strike weapon on the wing.

‘Having reviewed his college football highlights and combine stats, there is no doubt that Michael is a superb athlete with pace and agility,’ he said.

‘We believe he can transition into a wing position in rugby league.’

The Roosters see the US as a potential pathway market for future rugby league players and also recently signed rugby convert Liz Tafuna from Utah to their NRLW roster.

The NRL views the United States as an untapped source of talented footballers who might have missed out on NFL contracts.

‘The US is home to some of the world’s best athletes, so it’s exciting for fans to see the first male player join an NRL club directly from the NRL combine held in Las Vegas,’ NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo said.

‘Part of the NRL’s long-term US strategy is the targeting of elite talent who have the explosive power, speed and skill to make it in one of the world’s best professional sporting competitions.

‘We’re confident Americans will love rugby league, and hopefully they’ll see one of their own pulling on an NRL jersey in the years to come.’