Ashlyn Bazaj
Former New South Wales Rugby League junior Jordan Mailata made history at the 2023 NFL Super Bowl in Arizona, as the Philadelphia Eagles fell just short of victory over the Kansas City Chiefs.
After a see-sawing game the Kansas City Chiefs shut the Eagles down 38-35.
But Mailata, Eagles left tackle, became the first Rugby League product to make a Super Bowl appearance. He is now one of four Australians to feature in an NFL decider, alongside Philadelphia teammate and former St Kilda Australian Rules player Arryn Siposs, Mitch Wishnowsky (San Francisco 49ers, 2020) and Ben Graham (Arizona Cardinals, 2009).
Mailata’s presence in the NFL’s showpiece meant thousands of Australians were among the predicted 100 million viewers worldwide to watch the coverage.
His junior club, Bankstown Bulls, held an open air cinema on match-day at James Ruse Park to give fans a chance to see the game.
His Rugby League journey continued from the Bankstown Bulls to the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs SG Ball squad. Then in 2016 he moved through
NSWRL pathways to South Sydney Rabbitohs’ Under 20s squad, competing in the 2017 National Youth Competition (NYC).
At age 20 Mailata switched codes and moved to the United States for the opportunity play NFL, where he was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in 2018.
Mailata took time that year to visit NSWRL’s Centre of Excellence during the 2018 Origin series. He was a guest of NSW Blues head coach Brad Fittler and spoke to the players, after watching their training session. He later attended Game Two at Accor Stadium.
The now 25 year-old will be hoping his time with the Eagles eventually brings him an NFL Championship ring.
And after a breakout campaign in his second full season, there's every chance he finds himself on the NFL's biggest stage once again.
