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The NRL are currently engaged in an extensive charm offensive in the United States, marketing next year\u2019s fixtures in Las Vegas armed with a Steeden emblazoned in stars and stripes.<\/p>\n
The San Francisco 49ers\u2019 Australian punter Mitch Wishnowsky needed less than 10 seconds to put his country\u2019s athletic talents on the map stateside when, with a play straight out of the Johnathan Thurston playbook, he made an audacious 30-yard gain from a fake punt against the Seattle Seahawks.<\/p>\n
Although the play was ultimately called back for an illegal block, the question remained: was this an audacious move taken from the highly intricate NFL coach\u2019s playbook, or simply a punter having a crack?<\/p>\n
\u201c(I) winged it,\u201d the Perth native admitted in the locker room.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just sort of looked and saw that the whole rush team had crushed down on the protection and it was open, so I just ran.\u201d<\/p>\n
After receiving the snap, Wishnowksy, who spent his teenage years playing Australian rules, spotted a huge gap on the right-hand side of the field, sold the candy perfectly, sidestepped and sprinted past the Seahawks\u2019 defence.<\/p>\n
Head coach Kyle Shanahan has led the 49ers, favourites to win the Super Bowl in February, to a 10-3 record in the NFC West after defeating the Seahawks 28-16 but was left scrambling for words at Wishnowsky\u2019s impromptu play.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just knew that it would work good right there,\u201d Shanahan joked post-game. \u201cSo I just called my first fake punt.\u201d<\/p>\n
The 49ers\u2019 offensive tackle Trent Williams was impressed by the Australian\u2019s athleticism that has set social media alight with highlights of the play.<\/p>\n
\u201cI loved it,\u201d Wiliams said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe didn\u2019t even get a heads-up on it on the sideline. We\u2019re over there getting ready to make corrections and all I see is the Australian striking down the sideline, I\u2019m like wow. Unfortunately, it was some bullcrap penalties but love to see the Australian out there opening that stride up.\u201d<\/p>\n
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