Vegas Combine winner starts NRL journey with Knights

Vegas Combine winner Marcus D ’Acre has signed a two-year deal with the Knights and will begin his transition to the NRL in Jersey Flegg.

D ‘Acre, 20, has arrived in Newcastle to commence his code switch to rugby league, having represented Canada and Hong Kong in rugby union.

Born in Hong Kong, D ‘Acre holds an Australian passport via his father Nigel, who was born in Melbourne and played rugby league for the USA against Russia.

This has helped the impressive Vegas combine winner relocate to Australia, choosing Newcastle and the broad development programs available under the Knights banner.

Standing at 194cm tall, with strong athletic attributes, his likely starting position will be amongst the outside backs in Jersey Flegg, followed by a steady procession through the pathways systems.

He is currently completing an economics degree at Queen’s University in Canada, whilst absorbing as much rugby league as possible, in preparation for a historic journey to the Newcastle Knights.

Knights head of recruitment Peter O’Sullivan said D'Acre was a signing he has been interested in for some time.

“Marcus has been on my radar for quite a while, after I got a tip from former Dragons NRL player David Niu, who is based in the United States of America,” said O’Sullivan.

“He is a beautifully balanced athlete with speed and agility, who can beat people.

“Marcus also kicks goals at 85%, while we understand it will take him some time to learn the game and the increased levels of physicality, we believe he has the tools to go on much further in the NRL.

“He will learn his trade in Jersey Flegg and an NRL off season will significantly help his development.

“It’s an exciting initiative from the NRL and we thank them for the opportunity to help Marcus progress through the Knights pathways on his rugby league journey.”

D'Acre told ljmpta.com after he and USA Olympic sevens star Adam Channel were announced as the male winners of the 2025 Combine in Las Vegas that he viewed the NRL as a long term career move.   

“I’m looking forward to the opportunity, and to be play Jersey Flegg would be awesome,” D’Acre said. “I am still developing and I’m still learning the game of rugby league.

“I have played union all of my life and just from the small interactions we had with the Sharks there is still plenty to learn before taking on the big league, so I am just looking forward to absorbing as much information as possible and continuing to develop.”

Knights GM of football Peter Parr watched D'Acre and other NRL hopefuls undergo a series of skills and physical testing.

D'Acre completed the 1.2km bronco run in 4.58min, sprinted 20m in 2.98sec, bench pressed 130kg (3RM), lifted 180kg in the back squat (3RM), leapt 2.78m in the broad jump and threw a medicine ball 14.3m.

“I have been reached out pre-Combine by the Cowboys. I represented Hong Kong under 20s at the back end of the summer and I guess they were watching a few of the games,” D'Acre said.

“I was grateful to be reached out to there. I am just looking to grow from this and see what doors this can open up for me.”

D’Acre is a similar height to South Sydney's Campbell Graham, Sydney Roosters winger Daniel Tupou and Melbourne Storm's Xavier Coates and he expects to start on the wing.

“I am only 20, I am hoping to start off on the wing, a little bit of centres, and from there see where the coaches put me,” he said.

“I play pretty much everywhere in the backline in 15s, I am just pretty adaptable, I just need to learn the game first.”