Philadelphia Eagles swoop on former Rabbitoh

Former South Sydney Rabbitohs forward Jordan Mailata has completed a Jarryd Hayne-esque code-switch after being selected in the NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles.

Despite never having played American football, Mailata’s huge 203cm, 155kg frame was intriguing enough for the Eagles to use their seventh round pick on (233rd overall). Mailata is expected to play as an offensive lineman for the current Superbowl champions.

‘‘I reckon he’s still the largest bloke I’ve come across in rugby league,’’ wrote then-Rabbitohs coach Michael Maguire for The Players Voice earlier this week, when recalling his first meeting with Mailata back in 2016.

‘‘I remember one game against the Warriors at Redfern Oval. For some reason, they kept kicking off to him. He would run 50 metres every time, carrying a bunch of defenders with him and leaving others scattered around the place.’’

Mailata is of Samoan descent. His parents lived in New Zealand for a short time before moving to Australia.

He went through a fast-track orientation as an offensive lineman at the IMG Academy in Florida upon his arrival in America was enough to have NFL scouts salivating.

At his pro day attended by scouts from all 32 NFL teams Mailata ran the key 40-yard dash in 5.12 seconds.

The Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins, Pittsburgh Steelers, Los Angeles Chargers, Cleveland Browns and Atlanta Falcons invited him to workouts.

‘‘Big dude, athletic,’’ an NFL executive told NFL.com. ‘‘Someone will draft him late and he’s a project but very much a freak athlete for his size.’’

In 2015, Hayne made the switch from rugby league to the NFL, signing with the San Francisco 49ers but in the much harder skill position of running back. He lasted one season, tallying 17 carries for 52 yards.

Mailata will have it a touch easier given the role of an offensive lineman is just to block the opposition’s defensive players from tackling the running backs or quarterback, but the learning curve will still be steep.