How the ‘Mailman’ Jordan Mailata helped the Super Bowl eclipse the Melbourne Cup

From the Rabbitohs to the pinnacle of American sport. Jordan Mailata cemented himself in Aussie sporting history, but his legacy may be greater than a Super Bowl win, writes Robert Craddock.

Jordan Mailata has done more than simply win the Super Bowl.

He’s played a romantic role in helping it push past racing’s Melbourne Cup as Australia’s prime, early week, down-your-tools sports showstopper.

You can feel the baton change in your office. In your mates’ and kids’ chatter. In the pubs and clubs and the television news crosses to reporters on the ground. Even down at the TAB where they hand out Super Bowl memorabilia.

The second Monday in February, particularly among the young, has moved past racing’s first Tuesday in November as the event you need to see.

One’s popularity, boosted by superstar entertainment and celebrity interest, is rising as relentlessly as a king tide.

Aussie Jordan Mailata is a Super Bowl champion. Picture: Chris Graythen/Getty Images

The other, permanently challenged by anti-racing activists, is in slight but conspicuous decline – not that we don’t enjoy hearing Daryl Braithwaite sing Horses.

The internet has changed sport. Some overseas events such as Wimbledon finals seem smaller. Others such as Super Bowl, with all of its crazy trimmings, are getting bigger every year.

There were times when you had to squint to see Sydney’s Mailata, the former Bankstown Bull and South Sydney rugby league under-20s player, do his best work as a left tackle for the Philadelphia Eagles, who trounced the Kansas City Chiefs 40-22 in New Orleans.

But he was there when it mattered.

From the very start of the game when he was involved in two block plays in the opening minutes, Mailata worked flawlessly and aggressively to protect his quarterback Jalen Hurts.

As one of three captains in the side, Mailata was asked to address his teammates before the game and he emotionally shook the podium in front of him and shouted “one more.’’

The highlight of his game would have brought a smile to his old rugby league mates.

Mailata and Eagles QB Jalen Hurts. Picture: AP Photo/Matt Slocum

The “brotherly shove’’ or “tush push’’ which has become synonymous with the Eagles, involved players, including Mailata, coming from everywhere to launch one gigantic offensive push.

It is no surprise that it was a brain child of a former Scottish rugby coach because it looks like a version of rugby’s rolling maul.

Mailata was involved in one “brotherly shove’’ close to the line which gained a predictable touch down.

It was one of many big moments he celebrated in a game where the Eagles dominated a Chiefs outfit who produced the second flattest performance of the day behind Grammy award winner Jon Batiste who sang the American national anthem as if he was trying to put a baby to sleep.

Mailata has now cemented himself as one of the most extraordinary success stories in Australian sports history.

Chosen at pick number 233 in the national draft by talent scouts who had watched his highlights in junior rugby league and learnt two things – he was tall (207cms) and heavy (166kgs).

Philadelphia legend Jason Kelce was brutally honest on his podcast when he said he thought Mailata looked “terrible because he had never played” when he first saw him.

To go from being the rawest of rookies to a Super Bowl winning co-captain is a journey which will inspire many other young Australian sportsmen to try an imitate “The Mailman.’’

According to the NFL there are more than six million fans of their game in Australia, a figure which grew by the hour today.

Mailata’s patriotism was evident when he carried a two-sided flag to the after-match presentation with Australia on one side and Samoa on the other.

Aware that Eagles fans have a reputation for climbing street poles when they win something big New Orleans officials have greased street poles in anticipation of a massive celebration. It may be the only thing that keeps their feet on the ground.

Originally published as How the ‘Mailman’ Jordan Mailata helped the Super Bowl eclipse the Melbourne Cup