Rabbitohs torn to shreds over ‘embarrassing’ Jordan Mailata move after Aussie makes Super Bowl history

An NRL club has found itself under fire after trying to capitalise on the success of Jordan Mailata, with the marketing move not working out as planned.

The South Sydney Rabbitohs have been torn to shreds for their attempt to capitalise on Jordan Mailata’s success after he became the first Australian to play in and win a Super Bowl.

On Monday (AEDT), Mailata led from the front as the Philadelphia Eagles shocked the world by flogging the Chiefs 40-22.

And while the Aussie was still on the ground celebrating Philadelphia’s monumental triumph, Souths’ social media team decided they would try to get in on the action by congratulating their former player.

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“First Aussie and first Rabbitoh to WIN a Super Bowl,” the Rabbitohs social media account wrote on X.

However, fans were quick to point out Souths had actually let the 168kg hulk go after making it clear to the rugby league prodigy that he didn’t have what it takes to make it at the top level.

Mailata played junior rugby league for the Bulldogs – who didn’t do a celebratory post about Mailata - before moving to the Bunnies in 2017 at the age of 19.

And there Mailata had to come to terms with the fact he wasn’t likely to crack the Rabbitohs’ top 30 anytime soon after Souths made him a dismal $5000 contract offer in 2018, which all but signalled him to look elsewhere.

Jordan Mailata played in the Rabbitohs juniors. Image: Getty/X

It was reported at the time that Souths officials were not confident he had the fitness and athletic ability suited to rugby league.

Mailata eventually made the move to American football via the league’s International Player Pathway Program, before he was drafted as pick No. 233 to Philadelphia in 2018.

He has since become a bona fide superstar at left tackle, signing a $105 million contract extension with the Eagles last year.

And seven years on from leaving the Rabbitohs, Mailata is now a Super Bowl champion.

So it is understandable that many footy fans didn’t like the fact the Bunnies have tried to use the Aussie as a marketing play, given the fact he was pushed out of the club.

First Aussie and first Rabbitoh to WIN a Super Bowl!! 🏆 pic.twitter.com/UEt2QmiiiT

— South Sydney Rabbitohs 🐰 (@SSFCRABBITOHS) February 10, 2025

“Claim him, haha and didn’t offer him a contract lol that’s the best,” one fan wrote on the Rabbitohs’ X post.

“How do you celebrate him when you cut him,” another added.

“Embarrassing post. You are just coat tail riders,” a third commented.

Jordan Mailata became the first Aussie to play in and win a Super Bowl. (AP Photo/Doug Benc)

Mailata previously claimed Souths did him a favour by cutting him loose, and he played down any suggestions of ill feelings towards the club when he posted a message of support in 2021 ahead of the Bunnies’ grand final, which they ended up losing 14-12 to Penrith.

But many feel the Rabbitohs have no right to try and claim they knew he was always going to be a star when their actions showed the opposite when he was at the club.

Souths’ recruitment manager during Mailata’s time at the club Ben Rogers, even went as far as to say that the club encouraged Mailata to pursue a career in the NFL despite seeing how great of a talent he was.

“At six foot eight, it’s hard to miss him, and at the time, he had good leg speed. He could move pretty quickly for a big guy,” Rogers told SMH.

“ … He’s done so well; he’s still remained humble. He still gets to Australia and sees a lot of the people when he gets here, especially at the Rabbitohs … it’s great to see him come from a train and trial at the Rabbitohs all the way to a Super Bowl champion. That’s just amazing.

“One of the last conversations we had with him – we had offered him a NSW Cup contract at the Rabbitohs, but he had an opportunity to go to one of those international camps – we sort of encouraged him. (We said), look, we hope we don’t see you again. You need to go and do this camp. If you go well, and you get drafted, the sky is the limit.”

Originally published as Rabbitohs torn to shreds over ‘embarrassing’ Jordan Mailata move after Aussie makes Super Bowl history