When Jordan Mailata rattles off the list of athletes who inspired him growing up, you'd expect the names of global superstars; and sure enough, the Philadelphia Eagles left tackle doesn't disappoint.
"Ah, man. Benji - just seeing him do his work out there," Mailata told ESPN, remembering Wests Tigers icon Benji Marshall, a magician with the ball in hand.
Then there's Sonny Bill Williams, the definition of a once-in-a-generation athlete who conquered both rugby league and rugby union.
Add in Richie McCaw, widely considered the greatest All Black of all time, and Tana Umaga, the ferocious centre who tormented the Wallabies for years.
It's a murderer's row of brilliance in both football codes.
Enter James Maloney
"James Maloney, he was one of my favourites. Jimmy, the barbequer, the barbeque man," Mailata said with a grin.
"Jimmy was one of my favourite players of all time."
For those unfamiliar with Maloney's career, the contrast is part of the charm. While Marshall, Sonny Bill, McCaw and Umaga carried the aura of generational greats, Maloney built his reputation as both a larrikin and a playmaker.
The 39-year-old is just as well-known for his quick wit in interviews as he was for steering teams to NRL premierships.
That's exactly what endeared him to Mailata. The Aussie who now protects Jalen Hurts' blindside clearly appreciates not just his talent, but his personality.
Mailata, after all, is no stranger to showing off his own charismatic personality on the football field.
JORDAN MAILATA WITH THE BANE QUOTE IS DIABOLICAL 😂 pic.twitter.com/0gYLRPVgRK
— Philly Dawgs (@PHLDawgs) January 30, 2025
Mailata meets his hero
Mailata's admiration for Umaga in particular even led to a hilarious exchange when the two met in New Zealand.
"I sat next to Tana Umaga in New Zealand at dinner and I was like, ‘I’m a wallabies fan. You made me cry growing up, all those Bledisloes you punished us with. But it’s water under the bridge," Mailata said.
"He goes, ‘Well you’re still crying now because the Wallabies are still bad."
For Mailata, the banter, the legends, and yes, the barbeque man, all shaped his sense of what it means to represent his community.
"Umaga was proud of the representation that I have, the platform that I now have, and how I represent not just Samoa, but New Zealand, Australia, and all the tiny nations in the Pacific that don’t have a voice," he said.
Even a 2.03-metre, 165-kilogram NFL lineman can be starstruck, sometimes by none other than the great James Maloney.
How to watch the NFL in Australia
Every NFL game this season can be watched in Australia live on NFL Game Pass, via DAZN.