Jordan Mailata’s Condell Park High School memories as students support Aussie Super Bowl star

Aussie boy Jordan Mailata will make history when he runs out for the Super Bowl. But it’s one of his non-sporting talents that took his old teachers by surprise at his Western Sydney school.

When Jordan Mailata first struggled to fit through the door at Condell Park High School his mates and teachers jokingly nicknamed him “Big Mike” from the The Blind Side – he could never have imagined he would get his own Super Bowl moment.

The 2009 story of how ­Michael “Big Mike” Oher went from homeless to a star left tackle for the Baltimore Ravens is a movie that’s been played on repeat at Mailata’s old school this week as their own Big Mike prepares for the Super Bowl on Monday.

The world knows Mailata was a talented rugby league player but his high school physical education teacher Kieren Frappell said he was also a shotput, basketball and volleyball ace. Not to mention having a golden singing voice.

“He definitely stood out early, just walking around the school I always thought: ‘Gee this guy is pretty big’,” Mr Frappell said.

A “gentle giant” as teachers remember him as. Picture: Supplied

Mailata on a year 12 picnic.

“In high school games he was quite dominant, he would run and have like three or four guys hanging off him.

“He was quite the shot-putter too ... he won regional levels. The first thing kids look at they look at is how big the other team are and he was always a bit of an x-factor … (opposing teams) would ­ always ask: ‘Is Jordan ­playing?’.”

Mailata’s life is now eerily mirroring the movie people joked about in school with him. Picture: Rob Carr/Getty

Like many, Mr Frappell is puzzled why NRL never worked out for Mailata.

“NFL wasn’t on the radar … but he would have been a star in the NRL,” Mr Frappell said.

Even at school he was a man of many talents.

Mailata also showed off his voice.

“There was a unit of work (where) we watched (The Blind Side) and called Jordan ‘Big Mike’ as a joke.

“It’s pretty crazy how that turned out. Playing the same position in a Super Bowl.”

When he takes to the field on Monday he’ll have a passionate crowd of hundreds of schoolkids, friends and former teachers cheering him on at Condell Park High School.

None more so than the woman who taught him how to sing, Sandra Kessegian.

His Philadelphia Eagles play the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVII. Picture: Rob Carr/Getty Images

And his former principal Susie Mobayed still remembers the first day Mailata revealed his golden voice.

Ms Mobayed can’t remember the exact song but is almost certain it was Bon Jovi.

“He was a fairly big boy even when he was young but his voice was so angelic,” she said.

He’ll be the first Aussie to play in a Superbowl. Picture: Anthony Behar/Getty Images

Mailata on his last day at Condell Park High School

“It was a big body and then what came out of his mouth was this beautiful angelic sound, a very warm sound. Just before students sat their HSC one year after he left, suddenly through the doors Jordan shows up unannounced with ar brother.

“He came to the stage, my mouth is dropping, there’s 600 people looking and then he came up to the band, picked up the mic then he said: ‘Hi everyone, I love Condell Park, I love you guys, I wanna dedicate this song by Bon Jovi to you’.”

Mailata may be joined by fellow Australian Arryn ­Siposs in the big game. Siposs, the former AFL player turned Eagles punter, is battling an ankle injury.

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Originally published as Jordan Mailata’s Condell Park High School memories as students support Aussie Super Bowl star