Sunday 29 April 2018 08:44, UK
Jordan Mailata could become the next former NRL player to make it into the NFL after being drafted by the Super Bowl champions Philadelphia Eagles.
Mailata, who has no experience of American Football outside some training in Florida in recent months, was selected by the Eagles with the 233rd pick on Saturday evening.
Philadelphia traded up 17 spots to select the 20-year-old, who is 6ft 8ins tall and weighs in at nearly 25 stone, who they project to turn into an offensive tackle in his new sporting venture.
Mailata played as a prop for the South Sydney Rabbitohs in the NRL and managed to impress scouts with his size and speed at a pro day demonstration in the run-up to the draft.
He had been set to compete for a place on the NFL's International Pathway Programme, but found out during his training that he was also eligible to be drafted and decided to take a chance on that process.
"It's been an absolute brainstorm of an experience," said Mailata, who admitted he expected to be signed as an undrafted free agent rather than be selected.
"I'll never forget this day for the rest of my life.
"There were a lot of emotions today...especially when it came down to the last 30 picks, but it's been a great experience as a whole.
"It took me about two months to make my mind up. The fans here are very passionate and very outspoken here, and hopefully I can earn their respect."
Jarryd Hayne was the highest-profile NRL player to try his luck in the NFL, but he experienced only limited success with the San Francisco 49ers before retiring, going on to play rugby union sevens for Fiji and then returning to rugby league.
The Eagles previously signed Canadian sevens player Adam Zaruba as an undrafted free agent in 2017 and he remains with the team on a reserve/futures contract.
