Jordan Mailata has lamented the state of a slippery Tremendous Bowl enjoying floor after he and compatriot Arryn Siposs have been denied a slice of NFL historical past in Arizona.
Philadelphia’s 38-35 loss to Kansas Metropolis Chiefs at Phoenix’s State Farm Stadium meant the look ahead to an energetic Australian Super Bowl champion continued, the Chiefs simply the second group to overturn a 10-point deficit on the most important stage.
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A Harrison Butker area objective with eight seconds left was the distinction, extremely incomes the Chiefs an eighth-straight win in video games they’ve trailed at three-quarter time.
Left deal with Mailata and punter Siposs – enjoying his first sport since an ankle damage in December – have been the third and fourth Australians to characteristic within the NFL decider.
They be a part of Ben Graham (Arizona, 2009) and Mitch Wishnowsky (San Francisco, 2020) on the runner-up checklist, Jesse Williams (Seattle 2014) the one Australian with a hoop regardless of damage denying him a Tremendous Bowl look.
Fringe NRL participant Mailata took an opportunity in America 5 years in the past regardless of by no means enjoying the sport, whereas Siposs performed 28 AFL video games for St Kilda between 2011-2015 earlier than making the swap.
And the pair appeared set to make historical past because the Eagles dominated the primary half, the 203cm and 166kg Mailata paving the way in which for quarterback Jalen Hurts to make some historical past of his personal.
However the quarterback’s report three speeding touchdowns and 304 passing yards weren’t sufficient.
On an evening the place gamers struggled to maintain their toes, Siposs had two punts for 95 yards.
His first was a 57-yard drop punt that proved awkward to return, however his second fell short and wide of the intended target.
That allowed Kadarius Toney to dart off his left foot, round a gang of particular group tacklers, and set off for a Tremendous Bowl report 60-yard return that led to the go-ahead landing.
Siposs ultimately introduced Toney to the bottom himself however felt the wrath of the passionate Philadelphia fan base for his shonky kick, whereas Mailata was amongst these to slam the enjoying situations.
He mentioned gamers from each side had described the floor as “horrible” through the sport and informed reporters post-game “it was like enjoying on a water park”.
“I am not a grass skilled, nevertheless it was fairly slippery,” he mentioned.
“If it is wet, windy, it comes right down to who can deal with the situations the very best.
“We constructed an amazing brotherhood and that began with (coach Nick) Sirianni … our locker room is a really tight knit group. I am happy with the fellows, man.”
Followers have been additionally essential of the turf, which reportedly price over $1 million (AUD) to put in and was two years within the making.
When Chiefs’ celebrity quarterback Patrick Mahomes injured his ankle within the first half, social media erupted.
Mahomes (the season and sport MVP) would later return to the motion, and regardless of his sore ankle, handed for 2 of his three touchdowns to place the Chiefs clear.
After Siposs’s blunder Hurts, who had earlier fumbled to present Kansas Metropolis a first-half TD, struck again together with his third speeding landing to degree the scores.
However, helped by a holding penalty, the Chiefs managed the clock and even handed up a landing earlier than opting to kick a area objective, leaving the Eagles with only one play to concoct a miracle that did not eventuate.
