Wests Tigers NRL star Jahream Bula pinpoints when he fell in love with footy after NBA came calling

Rookie star Jahream Bula’s form has been one of the few highlights for Wests Tigers this season – but the fullback has revealed that only a chance game with a footy legend kept him from losing in rugby league.

The 21-year-old who has so much talent for basketball that he went to the US to play for two years and his prowess even caught the attention of NBA scouts.

“At the time I just didn’t want anything to do with rugby league,” he said 7News.

21-year-old Tiger enjoys shooting hoops as much as his rugby league

“I went there because I knew I had athleticism and a little bit of skill and there was a scout there who came to see me.”

Things were going well in the United States, but circumstances brought him back to Australia, where he went to see his cousin play in a local rugby league sevens tournament on the NSW Central Coast – and came across an icon of the game.

“Greg Inglis was also playing there and the team was short of players so my cuz [cousin] asked if I would fill in,” he recalled.

“I had the chance to play with Greg [Inglis] so i said sure but i had to borrow a pair of boots.

“It was weird, I never thought I would go on the field with him [Inglis] ever.’

Bula has been Wests lucky charm this year, with the club winning two of the three games he has started in – their only two wins to date in 2023

After the tournament, where his footwork served him well, he thought he’d ask some gentle questions about rugby league.

So he called a friend and asked him how he could get a trial with the Tigers.

Rugby league was no stranger to him, in fact he was a schoolboy who played at Queensland’s famed Keebra High alongside Broncos sensation Reece Walsh.

“One of my best friends played for the Tigers and I called him after the tournament and asked if he could get me into the Tigers system,” Bula said.

‘He said he would give it [Jersey] Flegg [under 21s] coach a phone call, the coach then called me and told me to come and train.

“The following week I trained with the NRL squad once a week.

“It all happened so fast.”

That, according to the Tigers’ new sensation, was the day his football mojo flooded again.

“Right now it’s just surreal. Everything goes so fast, I’m still processing it.’

Born in New Zealand but moving to the Gold Coast with his family eight years ago, Bula soon proves to be the club’s lucky charm. He has played three matches with them and has starred in their only two wins.

Last week, he made an almost impossible stop of flying Dragons winger Mikeale Ravalawa, who seemed certain to win at the last minute for the big red V until Bula put his whole body on the line and put him in touch .

Bula was in the stands getting ready to watch a mate play against NRL superstar Greg Inglis (pictured together) in a sevens match when the team was a player short, so Bula borrowed some boots and joined the legend on the field

His bravery and athleticism have been noticed by everyone in rugby league, as has his passion off the pitch.

He and his girlfriend run a youth work program every Saturday night, providing activities and food for the teens in his community.

Like Latrell Mitchell of the Rabbitohs, Bula conducts his business off the field privately and without fanfare.

This Saturday, Bula will be in the number 1 jersey for his Tigers, while Mitchell will wear the same number for the high-flying Bunnies.

Both men are on fire and their clash alone will be worth the entrance fee to Accor Stadium.

“I’m ready for the challenge [of playing Latrell]”I’ve been training for that all my life,” Bula said.

“A man with his skill and physicality will be a big challenge, but I’ll just keep doing my job.”