Kiwi Paul Lasike was yesterday cut by the Arizona Cardinals after an improbable rise in American football, while Aussie Jarryd Hayne looks likely to today be named in the San Franciso 49ers' 53-man squad.
Lasike has attracted none of the fanfare of Hayne, the two-time Dally M medal winner, but the New Zealand fullback came within a whisker of achieving the same NFL aim.
Having attended Northland College and Church College before playing rugby at Brigham Young University in Utah, Lasike has remained under the radar in his bid to crack the most popular league in America.
Like Hayne, he was a late convert to gridiron, switching to BYU's college team before signing as an undrafted free agent for the Cardinals and quickly making an impression in the pre-season.
The 25-year-old earlier in the week survived the last round of roster cuts as Arizona trimmed their playing staff to 75, expressing his surprise to Radio Sport.
"It's crazy to think how far I've come, and that I've been able to make it down to the last wire," he said. "I'm trying to keep the faith high, but it's going to be hard."
That proved true and, even after catching a touchdown pass in the Cardinals' final pre-season game, he was yesterday given the bad news, tweeting, "Thank you AZ cardinals. It's been a privilege."
Lasike will now be placed on the waiver wire and, if not picked up by another team, likely be signed to the Cardinals' practice squad.
Hayne, on the other hand, appears a near-certainty to be included in San Francisco's roster when it's reduced before today's deadline. 49ers coach Jim Tomsula wouldn't confirm the code-hopper's status following Friday's final pre-season game, but reporters covering the team said Hayne's place on the squad was a foregone conclusion.
Hayne was at his electric best in the 49ers' win over the Chargers, recording 58 rushing yards, catching two punts and showing his tackling skills on the punt coverage unit.
"That was my most complete game," he said.
