SUPER BOWL PAIN FOR AUSSIES
PHILADELPHIA fans have turned on Australian punter Arryn Siposs after the former St Kilda player’s meek punt in the fourth quarter cost the Eagles a Super Bowl victory.
On a historic day for Australians in the NFL, with fellow Aussie Jordan Mailata anchoring a dominant Eagles offensive line, Siposs’ howler gifted Kansas City its second Super Bowl in four seasons as Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs ran away with a 38-35 victory in Arizona.
Siposs and Mailata sat on the cusp of becoming the first Aussies to play in and win a Super Bowl and the 28-game ex-AFL star was part of the match-turning moment – though not in a good way.
Called to the field to punt Philadelphia out of danger while trailing 28-27 in Monday’s NFL decider, Siposs sent a 37-yard floater into the hands of Kansas City return man Kadarius Toney.
Toney caught the punt and quickly cut across field to run out inside the 10-yard line.
The 65-yard return – the longest in Super Bowl history – set-up NFL MVP Mahomes to find a wide-open Skye Moore for the game-breaking Chiefs touchdown soon after.
Siposs had hoped to make history alongside Mailata as the first Australians to win a Super Bowl; instead he will be etched in NFL memory as the punter whose kick cost Philly its second championship.
It was a different story for Mailata, who moved players with ease, allowing Eagles QB Jalen Hurts to make big plays.
Hurts became the first QB in history to rush for two touchdowns in the first half of a Super Bowl as the Eagles opened up a 21-14 lead at the major break, thanks in large part to the work of Mailata and the offensive line.