When it comes to sport, bigger is better and size does matter. While we normally only pay attention to the NFL once per year in Australia, Australians have found a way to have a massive impact on the US sporting scene.
Aussies were again making the headlines in the US with a couple of names standing out. Jordan Mailata was drafted by the current champions the Philadelphia Eagles, even though he has never played a single game of NFL.
The young Aussie made headlines for his exploits in South Sydney’s junior rugby league teams and a few of the guys in the office thought it might be a good idea to compare the size of some of the larger athletes in Australia’s sporting scene.
This is a list of a few Aussies leaving a giant mark on the sporting landscape.
Jordan Mailata – NFL
Former South Sydney junior footballer Jordan Mailata was picked up by NFL champions the Philadelphia Eagles at pick 233 in the seventh round of the 2018 NFL draft. Not the first Aussie to be picked as a project player by an NFL team, Mailata became the first rugby league forward in history to be picked by an NFL side. The 21-year-old is over 2m tall and weighs in close to 160kg. The former rugby league junior was clocked at 5.12 seconds in the 40-yard dash and finished in the top ten at the 2018 NFL Combine.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3nfGubloKc
Daniel Faalele – NFL
Daniel Faalele is a 17 year old who was discovered at Melbourne University gym by NFL scouts. The young Aussie wears size 18 shoes and word quickly spread amongst US College football recruiters of the teen’s rare combination of size, speed and power. Faalele hasn’t played a game of NFL yet but will be making his mark on the game in the years to come.
Payne Haas – NRL
Big things have been expected of Payne Haas at the Brisbane Broncos for some time now. The young Broncos forward stands in at 194cm and weighs 120kg and when the 17-year-old made his NRL debut this year against South Sydney in Round 8, he didn’t disappoint running for 86 metres in 21 minutes and making 13 tackles.
Taniela Tupou – Rugby Union
The Tongan Thor is a Wallabies superstar in the making for years to come. Taniela Tupou plies his trade in the front row for the Queensland Reds and signed his first two professional contracts before he had even played a game of super rugby. At 175cm and 133kg, the 21-year-old is not the finished product and has put opposition teams on notice with his powerful running.
Aaron Sandilands – AFL
Sandilands is one the heaviest and tallest players to ever play AFL football. At 211cm and 122kg, Sandilands is a nightmare match-up for opposition coaches as he towers over every ruckman in the AFL. Sandilands made his debut for the Fremantle Dockers in 2003 and has yet to win a premiership with the AFL club.
Billy Stanlake – Cricket
Beanpole Billy is one of the tallest players to play cricket for Australia in the mould of former fast bowler Bruce Reid. The Gold Coast product plays for the Adelaide Strikers in the Big Big Bash League and bowls at over 150km an hour.
Ben Simmons – NBA
Cut from the cloth of basketball royalty Ben Simmons is expected to dominate the NBA for years to come as he will assume the throne as the league’s best player once LeBron James retires. Simmons is built like a forward but runs the team’s offence as a point guard, making him a nightmare match-up for the opposition. Simmons is leading the Philadelphia 76ers in a breakout season as they look to make the Finals of the Eastern Conference.