Hawke's Bay Heat's Murray Orr - the region's very own Tom Brady - playing American football with his son Cam. Photo / Paul Taylor
Hawke's Bay Heat's Murray Orr - the region's very own Tom Brady - playing American football with his son Cam. Photo / Paul Taylor
As the United States gears up for Super Bowl LV, Hawke's Bay's very own American football team is preparing for their biggest contest of the year.
At 12.30pm on Monday (NZT), the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Kansas City Chiefs will face off in the annual championship match of the NFL – an event viewed by millions around the world.
The Hawke's Bay Heat, the region's only flag American football team, are due to travel to Auckland in March to compete against teams from around the country in hope of bringing the national championship title back to the Bay for the first time.
Hawke's Bay Heat chairman and founder Jordan Cox said while none of the 20 club members have connections to the US, the squad are excited for the 55th Super Bowl.
"The team are constantly chatting about whose going to win, which way it's going to go," he said.
"Because we don't live in the US and don't have hometown teams, we've all chosen a team to support."
The Hawke's Bay Heat squad are hoping to replicate the skills of the players on show at the Super Bowl when they play at the nationals on March 27 and 28, having lost last year's final 37-27 to the Tamaki Lightning.
Hawke's Bay Heat's Murray Orr practising ahead of his side's trip to the nationals in March. Photo / Paul Taylor
Cox, the team's quarterback, said while he calls the plays, the Heat do have their very own Tom Brady.
Brady, 43, will be playing in his 11th Super Bowl since his NFL debut in 2000 – winning six with the New England Patriots.
Cox said centre Murray Orr, also in his mid-40s, has been playing with Hawke's Bay Heat since the sides' infancy and has since been joined by his son Cam.
"If you're looking for Hawke's Bay Heat's Tom Brady – an older guy who is still showing the youngsters how it's done – that's Murray," he said.
"He's was part of the team that made and unfortunately lost the final last year at nationals, but has helped us win tournaments around the country. And Cam is also a seriously promising wide receiver."
Tom Brady, 43, will be playing in his 11th Superbowl this year - winning a total of six to date with the New England Patriots. Photo / AP
Hawke's Bay Heat comprises of two teams – a senior men's team and an under-18 team.
Cox, a former Karamu High School student, said while casual American football matches were commonplace at school, it wasn't until working at a summer camp in Tennessee that he developed a love of the game.
"All of our squad have picked it up in New Zealand. We've got players who had never watched the NFL to diehard fanatics," he said.
"Others have got into it through picking up a copy of the Madden video game – everyone finds their pathway to the sport without a history or connection with the US."
The club founder said he hopes the extravagance and "over-the-top" nature of the Super Bowl will help bring in more fans from around New Zealand.
"It's more like watching a game of cricket than watching rugby – it's about parking up in front of the TV with friends, chatting, eating food and having a beer," Cox said.
"You don't have to be glued into the game for two 40-minute halves. There might be a few boring runs, but someone will make a spectacular catch or lay a huge hit - those moments are why I love American football."
This year's famous halftime show will see Canadian singer The Weeknd take to the stage, after Jennifer Lopez and Shakira headlined the 2020 show.
