Alex Seyfarth shares his English, Sri Lankan and Slovenian heritage

Over half the NRL players have a father born overseas (57 per cent), while 47 per cent have a mother born overseas.​​

The NRL is in an expansionist phase. The game has been taken to new frontiers, as evidenced by its decision to open the season in Las Vegas. At the same time, there’s a nod to its Pasifika heritage, whether it be via the promotion of more Test football or the introduction of PNG into the competition from 2028.

Like all clubs, the Tigers have players from a range of backgrounds. Their cultures are celebrated with flags on their lockers showing which countries their family is from.

“I don’t think I’ve been a part of a team that’s been so mixed, culturally. It just mixes so well together,” said Tigers co-captain Apisai Koroisau, who posed alongside Seyfarth in the club’s multicultural round jerseys.

“The personalities of the guys here are all just so laidback, they can all just make fun of each other so much. You get to know each other off and on the field.”

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There are further statistics that tell the NRL’s multicultural tale. Almost a quarter (23 per cent) of NRL players have a father born in the Pacific Islands, while 18 per cent have a mother born in the Pacific Islands.​​ Over two-thirds (68 per cent) of NRL players have at least one grandparent born outside Australia.​​ And 12 per cent of NRL players identify as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, while 10 per cent are of Māori descent.

Seyfarth believes his work ethic was instilled by his parents and grandparents.

“My mum coming over when she was young, she worked three jobs raising us, me and my brother,” Seyfarth said. “Always watching them, working hard all my life, it sort of flowed onto me.”

Which is why Seyfarth would love to honour his English heritage by pulling on the white jersey in this year’s Rugby League World Cup.

“If I can play some good football and put my name in the ring and get a chance to tour with them, that’d be awesome, representing that side of my family,” he said. “It would mean the world, especially with my grandfather too, he’s a very proud Englishman.

“Same with my mum. They came out here just for a better life at the time, and they’re still always wanting to get back to get back there whenever they can. If I do ever get the opportunity, yeah, I’ll be extremely proud to put the jersey on.”