This Manly youngster played against future NFL stars. Now he’s trying to crack the NRL

Source : ABC NEWS

The NRL is kicking off its latest American dream this weekend in Las Vegas but this year’s greatest prize from the land of the free might well be found much closer to home in Manly backrower Hugo Hart.

The 19-year-old Hart is gearing up for just his second season playing rugby league but he’s made tremendous progress in a short time in the 13-man game.

Last year — his first with the Sea Eagles after a decorated schoolboy career in rugby union at St Joseph’s College, Nudgee — Hart progressed from SG Ball (Under 19s) through Jersey Flegg (Under 21s) and into NSW Cup in a matter of months.

Now the fleet-footed backrower is aiming for a first-grade debut and while there’s plenty of rookies looking to make their mark on the NRL in 2026, Hart is the only one whose sporting history includes a stint playing high school football in the US.

“I was in year 7 and dad said two weeks before we left that we’d be leaving for America,” Hart said.

“He was launching a sleep apnoea device over there, it had already launched in Australia and Canada and he was trying to get it going in the US.

“It was meant to be for six months and because of COVID it was two and a half years.”

The family settled in California, with Hart strapping on the helmet and pads as a safety and linebacker for JSerra Catholic High School in San Juan Capistrano.

JSerra play in the Trinity League against foes like Mater Dei High, which has won five national championships in the past decade and is considered one of the best athletic schools in the entire country.

Hart himself got to mix it against Carolina Panthers wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan, the reigning NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, and Cleveland Browns defensive tackle Mason Graham, a top-five pick in last year’s draft, who both went to local rivals Servite High School.

“It was an amazing experience. The athletes and programs over there are world-class; getting to do it at such a young age was amazing,” Hart said.

“You’re playing against future college players, future NFL draft picks — it helped me mature and understand where you have to be to compete at that level.

“It’s helped me coming here as well, understanding what it takes to mix it with blokes like Haumole [Olakau’atu] and Turbo [Tom Trbojevic] and what it takes keep up with them on the training paddock.”

Following the two years away, Hart’s family returned to Australia and settled in Brisbane, with Hart becoming a star breakaway at Nudgee.

After he helped lead the school to consecutive GPS premierships, Manly came calling.

“I was looking at maybe going to Western Australia or playing colts footy in Brisbane but Seibs (Manly coach Anthony Seibold) is from Rocky and so is my dad,” Hart said.

“A family friend recommended me to the club and Peter [Gentle, the club’s head of football and recruitment] got in contact.

“He came up for a game and I only played about five minutes but he reckons he watched some film as well, I had a chat with him and he offered me a contract.

“It’s a great opportunity to come here.”

Once he landed at Brookvale, Hart wasted no time in proving himself to be a player of considerable promise, with his speed and nose for the tryline standing out.

After just nine matches — four in SG Ball and five in Jersey Flegg — he was playing reserve grade, finishing the season with five tries in 11 games against players more than a decade his senior.

“It was my first year in league so I wasn’t sure how I’d go. My goal for the year was to maybe play one or two games in reserve grade but I got that shot early and I was really thankful for it,” Hart said.

“I was playing against guys who’d played a lot of NRL, someone like Chad Townsend has 200-odd NRL games and I grew up watching him so it was pretty surreal.

“I felt like I handled the physicality pretty well, it’s just the little things you learn playing league like the wrestle, which I wasn’t used to. I learned a lot as the year went on.”

Hart was rewarded for his form last year with a three-year contract extension and has continued his development through the summer.

Ethan Bullemor, another Nudgee old boy, and Olakau’atu have been his greatest influences over a pre-season that ended with him starting both Manly’s trial games, where he scored a double in their first-up win over the Warriors.

Hart is still a development player so a berth in the Round 1 side to play Canberra is unlikely but given his remarkable progress since becoming a league man, he is happy to bide his time and earn his chance.

“I’ve felt the major step up in the physicality, fitness and strength required but it’s been really good,” Hart said.

“I want to crack first grade. I have to play good footy in NSW Cup first but the dream is to make the NRL — if not this year, then next year.

“I just want to keep working hard and keep playing well.”