Gold Coast may not be Vegas-bound in 2026, but that didn't stop Titans tragic Graheme Tilley-Junee from preaching the rugby league gospel in his special trip to the United States recently.
Particuarly seizing on the chance to introduce NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to the NRL when he met the long-time football chief.
Nominated as the International Fan of the Year for the Tennessee Titans, the Gold Coast local flew to Green Bay for the 2025 NFL Draft and even got the opportunity to announce pick #120 to a live TV audience of over four million people worldwide.
"It was bigger than anything I thought it would be and nothing like I’ve ever done before," Tilley-Junee told titans.com.au.
"The experience to stand on a stage and look at over 250,000 people who were there, and to go out live to 4.3 million on TV... nothing will ever come near it.
"It happened so quickly and then when it was done, it was cool to realise what had happened and how big it was... I'll never forget that and I'm truly blessed."
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AJ Brimson helps surprise Tennessee Titans' International Fan of the Year
Not only experiencing one of the biggest events on the NFL calendar live, the Titans tragic also got a VIP tour of his team's home base in Tennessee before heading north to Wisconsin - which he says was a highlight in itself.
But with a Gold Coast signed jersey and gift bag at the ready, determined to introduce Commissioner Goodell to the greatest game of all, Tilley-Junee made sure he didn't miss out on his moment with one of the most powerful men in world sport.
"Meeting Roger was pretty special. We were in the room with all the other International Fan of the Year winners and they were asking different questions and walking around a microphone for everyone to ask... but funnily enough, I couldn’t get onto the microphone to ask my question about rugby league," he explained.
"So I just stood up and said... 'Roger, I’ve got a few gifts I want to give you from Australia', and that’s when I got to approach him. I then told him about the Gold Coast Titans.
"He didn’t really have much knowledge of NRL, but when I showed him we had a personally signed jumper for him, he then stopped and started to take note and realise the Titans connection in both the NFL and NRL.
"I wish I had more time to explain more about it, but he showed a real interest and an interest in the Gold Coast Titans in the little time I had to talk to him about it.
"I was stoked and pretty proud to be able to do that, not just for the Titans but also the NRL as well."
The newest member of the Titans Legion thanks to Tilley-Junee's passionate approach last month, hopefully Commissioner Goodell will be spotted wearing his new Gold Coast NRL jersey soon.
