Queensland player ruled ineligible in ugly State of Origin scandal
Ronaldo Mulitalo is set to be denied a chance to make his State of Origin debut for Queensland after NRL officials ruled him ineligible to represent the Maroons.
The Cronulla Sharks winger was in camp all week as 19th man before receiving a late call-up to the starting side on Saturday when fullback Reece Walsh was ruled out with injury.
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NSWRL officials then brought Mulitalo's eligibility into question after an article surfaced from 2019 claiming the New Zealand-born winger moved to Queensland just shy of his 14th birthday.
Under current State of Origin eligibility requirements, players must have lived in either NSW or Queensland prior to their 13th birthday.
In 2019 - the year of his NRL debut - Mulitalo also represented Samoa in one Test and the United States at the Rugby League World Cup Nines.
The NRL executive met on Saturday night and are reportedly set to deny the 21-year-old his debut, just hours before kick-off in Game II at Suncorp Stadium.
The Maroons were of the belief that Mulitalo was eligible because he had already represented Queensland at under-18 and under-20s level.
But it is now thought that those selections came about because of administrative oversight.
Ronaldo Mulitalo set to be banned from playing State of Origin just ten hours before achieving his dream of representing Queensland. I understand there’s rules but how it got this far is ridiculous. Really feel for @MulitaloRonaldo today. One of the most passionate players in NRL
— Chris Garry (@ChrisGarry7) June 26, 2021
If Ronaldo Mulitalo is ineligible, it’s an embarrassment for @QLDmaroons AND the NRL. How can a multi-million dollar sport not know or enforce their own rules. Plus, as a Blues fan, I would have preferred Mulitalo over Xavier Coates on a wing
— christian nicolussi (@mrchrisnico) June 26, 2021
Ronaldo Mulitalo -
Met-West team while at Ipswich State High.
QLD schoolboys while at Ipswich State School.
Queensland Under 18s (in 2017)
Queensland Under 20s (in 2019)
Plenty of opportunities prior to tonight for an investigation.....— Peter Psaltis (@peterp79) June 26, 2021
NRL happy to bend the rules to allow Joseph Suaalii to debut before 18, but won’t let Ronaldo Mulitalo play for Qld over an 11 month technicality in the eligibility rules.
He played U20s for Qld so let him run out tonight for the biggest moment of his life.
Disgraceful decision— Mark Levy (@marklevy2gb) June 27, 2021
Queensland rocked by more late drama
Paul Green is now scrambling for a game-day replacement, with Brisbane winger Xavier Coates in line for an extraordinary recall after he was dropped in the aftermath to the Game I loss.
Another option could be to shift bench utility Ben Hunt to five-eighth and regular No.6 Cameron Munster to fullback, however the promotion of 18th man Coen Hess to the bench would still leave Queensland needing one additional player.
The Maroons are already without injured hooker Harry Grant and fullbacks Kalyn Ponga, AJ Brimson and Walsh - who was poised to debut after just seven NRL games.
Queensland are desperate to keep the series alive on Sunday night after NSW were comprehensive 50-6 winners in Game I in Townsville.
NSW coach Brad Fitter said it wouldn't matter who lined up for the Maroons, given how they always seem to thrive as underdogs.
"I'm sure they'll be right," he said.
"I'm surprised we haven't heard anything earlier; we love the drama around Origin, that's what makes it so great.
"It won't change our game plan or game ... it won't be (a distraction) for us.
with AAP
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