Australian country lad leads US charge

MEET Captain America, the Rugby League World Cup’s modern marvel whose roots are closer to the Big Pineapple and Big Banana than the Big Apple.

Mark Offerdahl hails from a small farming community called Toobeah near Goondiwindi, and is going to his second World Cup for the US via stints for clubs in France, Connecticut and London.

A former player with Easts Tigers in the Intrust Super Cup and the son of an American who served during the Korean War, Offerdahl is not someone who can be accused of staying in his lane in life.

He will not only lead the USA in their pool matches against Fiji, Italy and PNG but has arranged the sleeve sponsor, a Queensland cotton company, for the jersey he will wear proudly at the World Cup.

World Cup organisers say all 31 matches in the competition will be telecast in the US on Fox Sports, so viewers in the big American cities will notice the sleeve sponsor of the company run by John Norman.

Like Norman, Offerdahl, 30, hails from Toobeah, which had a population of 218 at the most recent census.

“John is a local Toobeah farmer who owns some cotton farms,” said Offerdahl, who played for the US team that made the 2013 World Cup quarter-finals. “That’s what the Americans have done for years (bring sponsors to the team). Everyone links in and we all help each other.”

Offerdahl qualified for the US team because his father Mike was a member of the US Airborne force who saw service in the Korean War.

After three years playing for the Tigers in Brisbane, his overseas odyssey started with French side Carcassonne.

“I went to White Plains (in Connecticut for a year) in 2013. I came back (to Australia) for a season and then went to London Broncos for a few years,” Offerdahl said.

“I’m off contract now so if you know anyone, I’m keen to get on board somewhere.

“Fingers crossed – I need to have a big one (World Cup).”

The Americans play poolgame opponents Fiji in Townsville on Saturday.