Philadelphia Eagles’ Jordan Mailata’s rise from Bankstown unknown to NFL prodigy
AHEAD of what is seemed like an improbable NFL debut just weeks ago Jordan Mailata takes a moment to reflect and declare “who would’ve known a boy from Bankstown would come this far”?.
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AHEAD of what is seemed like an improbable NFL debut just weeks ago Jordan Mailata takes a moment to reflect and declare “who would’ve known a boy from Bankstown would come this far”?.
Mailata is on the verge of capping one of the most remarkable Australian sporting stories. On Friday he will be part of the defending Super Bowl champions Philadelphia Eagles first match of the season against Atlanta Falcons having never played American football before,.
“It’s surreal,” Mailata said. “You never know if you don’t try. I haven’t had a moment where I sat here thinking I’ve made a mistake.
RAPID PROGESS: Mailata makes final Philadelphia squad
“I haven’t sat here and said I regret my decision coming here. Every day I’ve been trying to get that one step better.”
Learning a new game and an intense playbook was a small obstacle compared to what Mailata had overcame as a teen.
His sporting dreams looked as though they were dashed when he collapsed at training as part of Canterbury’s under-18s SG Ball squad which resulted in two heart operations in 2015.
"Maybe the best story in the entire National Football League is here in Philadelphia and thats left tackle @jordan_mailata"
— NFLAustralia (@NFLAustralia) August 31, 2018
Catch the review of his efforts in @Eagles final pre-season game
Exciting times #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/NZoMr62PZ3
“I was diagnosed with a heart disorder,” Mailata said. “I was either born with it or it came during puberty. “I was out for a year and a half. I gained so much weight because I wasn’t allowed to train.
“When I came (to the US) we had another test. We are all good now. I have been good for the last few years. There is nothing to worry about. It was scary when I was diagnosed. Now I’m healthy and I thank God for that.”
Mailata’s life was at the “cross-roads” when his stint with South Sydney’s under-20s side came to an end last year. He had offers to remain in rugby league but they were with NSW Cup sides after his 156 kilogram frame was labelled too big for the NRL. Reserve grade sides barley reach 1000 people in the crowd while the Eagles will play in front of almost 70,000 people at Lincoln Financial Field.
I no longer think 21 year old Aussie LT Jordan Mailata is going to be a starting LT in the NFL.
— Ross Tucker (@RossTuckerNFL) August 31, 2018
I think he's going to be All-Pro.
Borderline obsessed with this dude at this point. This is crazy.
Eagles are going to go right from Peters to Peters Jr.
“I don’t believe that I’m too big to play the sport,” Mailata said . “That was a label I was given. It wasn’t self-proclaimed label. It was what I was told. I had to weigh up the options. They wanted me to play second grade and there were a lot of second grade contracts from different clubs.
Personally I just wanted a full-time contract to develop myself - they wanted me to lose about 15 more kilos. It was impossible. I was at 10 per cent body fat. 15 kilos was not ideal or healthy.
“(When I played junior rugby league people would say) ‘he is not 11, he is not 14’. When I hit 18 they thought I was a parent of the kids playing in the 18s team. I’ve always been that guy.”
A part-time NRL player would earn less than $30,000. Now Mailata, who stands at more than two metres, will earn more than $600,000 after earning his spot on the Eagles’ 53-man roster in what has been the NFL’s story of the pre-season.
Mailata said he had been given “no indication” if he will see any round one action.
“I’m trying to prepare for the game,” Mailata said . “The hardest thing has to be the play book. Understanding the calls on certain plays and how defensive fronts change the way a play is executed. There is a lot to learn. The game is such a detailed sport.
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Originally published as Philadelphia Eagles’ Jordan Mailata’s rise from Bankstown unknown to NFL prodigy
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