Wallabies: Jordan Petaia reveals the reason for his short-lived NFL sojourn
Jordan Petaia is back in the Wallabies squad after a brief stint with NFL outfit the Los Angeles Chargers.
Recalled Wallabies utility back Jordan Petaia has revealed how his American football dream was ruined after he attempted to train through a misdiagnosed injury.
Last week, Wallabies head coach Les Kiss included Petaia in his 34-man squad for next Sunday’s one-off Test against the Springboks in Perth.
Petaia, who recently joined Japan Rugby League One outfit Urayasu D-Rocks, last represented Australia at international level during the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France.
The 26-year-old left Australian rugby in 2024 to pursue a dream in the NFL where he had a successful trial with the Los Angeles Chargers.
Forced to leave the Chargers after four months
After initially signing a three-year contract with the Chargers as part of the International Player Pathway, the Chargers eventually released Petaia just four months later.
This, after a persisting hamstring injury had turned out to be more serious than first thought. He eventually joined Top 14 club Perpignan, who he represented in 12 matches during the 2024/25 season.
Petaia admitted that he loved his time in the NFL but said what he thought was a minor tendonitis hamstring injury turned out to be much worse than its initial diagnosis.
“I was kind of misdiagnosed over there,” he told AAP. “I kept trying to train through it. It’s hard over there when you’re new to the sport and you’re trying to prove yourself.
“I then ended up getting a second opinion on it. I had a hamstring tendon (issue), which was unfortunate. But that’s sports, and then obviously signed the medical settlement and ended up coming back to Australia.
‘I think it’s just unfortunate’
“There’s no bad blood with the misdiagnosis. I think it’s just unfortunate.”
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Petaia needed eight to 10 weeks to make a full recovery from that injury and he revealed that he knew he was not at full fitness while preparing for one of the Chargers’ pre-season matches.
“It was just no good,” Petaia said.
“I was warming up, and I was just like, ‘I don’t think it’s going to be right’. And a week after that, I went back into rehab.”
Although the injury eventually ruined his American football dream, Petaia has put that setback behind him and is now fully focussed on doing well with the Wallabies and is keen to be part of Kiss’ squad for next year’s Rugby World Cup in Australia.
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