‘The real MVP’: Aussie’s clutch play for San Francisco 49ers in NFL playoffs

Aussie Mitch Wishnowsky was praised for being as cool as a cucumber in freezing conditions with a clutch play in the NFL playoffs.

Mitch Wishnowsky dealt with the high snap perfectly for the 49ers in their playoff win.

Aussie NFL star Mitch Wishnowsky is just two wins away from avenging 2019’s Super Bowl heartbreak after he played a key role in the decisive play that ensured the San Francisco 49ers won their playoff match against the Green Bay Packers.

The Perth tradie-turned 49er punted five times in the last-gasp 13-10 upset of the Packers on Saturday afternoon (AEDT), helping to consign controversial quarterback Aaron Rodgers to a 0-4 record in play-offs against the Niners.

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It was a low-scoring battle in frosty conditions at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, with snow falling steadily as temperatures dipped as low as minus 12 degrees celsius.

It was all tied up at 10-10 when Talanoa Hufanga retrieved a blocked punt to score a touchdown for San Francisco.

That’s when Wishnowsky stepped up to the plate. With the 49ers lining up for a long field goal attempt, he did well to expertly retrieve a high snap and calmly place the ball on the ground for kicker Robbie Gould, who nailed the 45-yard field goal to seal the win for San Francisco.

RED HOT 🔥@RobbieGould09 GAME WINNER

Next Up: NFC Championship on FOX pic.twitter.com/ZMqD0n3rR7

— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) January 23, 2022

Gould is now a perfect 20 out of 20 from his career field goal kicks in the playoffs. He paid tribute to Wishnowsky and snapper Taybor Peppers after the game.

“I’m pretty happy with how Taybor and Mitch handled all the conditions,” Gould said.

“I mean those guys played really really well.”

Mitch Wishnowsky (left) perfectly set up Robbie Gould for the matchwinning goal. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)

NFL fans praised Wishnowsky’s poise under pressure to catch the tricky snap to set up the clutch game-winning play.

Fox Sports commentator Brenton Speed tweeted: “Mitch Wishnowsky you the real MVP!! “Aussie catches the high snap and gets it done. Packers go down!”

College football podcaster Alex Kirshner said: “That hold on the high snap in the blizzard by Wishnowsky is a high-level football play.”

Fantastic hold by Aussie Mitch Wishnowsky. Collected a high snap in the snow under enormous pressure & got it down perfectly for his @49ers to win & move on 👏🏻🇦🇺✊🏻

— Aussies Abroad (@Aussies_Abroad) January 23, 2022

I think you need to figure out how to get it into Mitch Wishnowsky’s hands before 4th down. Two touches a quarter isn’t cutting it for our best player.

— Vince Mancini (@VinceMancini) January 23, 2022

The Niners will meet either the Los Angeles Rams or defending Super Bowl champions the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFC Championship game next week. If they win that, they’ll play in the biggest game of the year.

Wishnowsky was the second-ever Aussie to play in a Super Bowl in 2020 and would be the first to play on a winning Super Bowl team if the 49ers went all the way.

In 2014, Queensland-born Jesse Williams became the first Aussie to win a Super Bowl ring despite not taking the field in the Seattle Seahawks’ 43-8 thrashing of the Denver Broncos.

With Jasper Bruce, NCA Newswire

Originally published as ‘The real MVP’: Aussie’s clutch play for San Francisco 49ers in NFL playoffs