Newcastle coach Adam O’Brien unsure about Jarrod Mullen’s NRL comeback at the Knights
Newcastle coach Adam O’Brien has delivered a sobering blow to banned NRL star Jarrod Mullen’s chances of resurrecting his rugby league career with the Knights, once his four-year drug ban ends.
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Knights coach Adam O’Brien loves a redemption story but he’s unsure if Newcastle will have the salary cap space or a position to allow Jarrod Mullen a fairytale NRL comeback in his hometown next season.
The banned NRL star has applied to make a shock comeback next season when his four-year drug suspension expires in January.
Mullen is determined to inspire youngsters to learn from serious mistakes and prove life can get back to normal.
However, the NRL won’t consider his application until a correctional order of 300 hours of community service has been served, after Mullen was sentenced for supplying cocaine in February.
And even when he completes that community service, his chances of a Newcastle return could be slim.
“I haven’t delved into it because I didn’t know he was hoping to play again,” O’Brien said.
“I’m all for redemption stories but you’ve got to think he’s facing a big task after four years out of the game. I really hope he does well but I’m not sure.
“It’s something I’d have to speak with Clint Zammit and Alex McKinnon (recruitment team) about where we’re at.”
You get the impression O’Brien would prefer to give the opportunity to younger players on his roster.
“Sometimes it’s hard to bring in blokes above the people we already have,” he said.
“With no reserve grade this year we haven’t been able to see what they can do week in, week out.”
There are many who believe Newcastle might be a bad fit for the veteran half-back anyway.
That he would benefit from a fresh start away from the city where there were bad influences in his life.
Canterbury Bulldogs coach Trent Barrett could be looking for a short-term halfback fix with new signing Blake Green suffering an ACL injury.
“We’re not interested at this stage,” he said of Mullen.
Mullen believes he can play for another two seasons and will look for an opportunity in the UK Super League if there is no interest among the 16 NRL clubs.
He hopes to complete the community service by January.
The 33-year-old former Newcastle Knights and Blues State of Origin halfback was once a million-dollar player and tipped to be the next Andrew Johns.
He debuted for the Knights at 18 in 2005 and the Blues at 20, and captained his club during their last finals campaign in 2013.
But his life began to spiral out of control when he was banned for four years for delivering a positive result to banned steroid drostanolone following a routine test at pre-season training in November 2016.
He claimed the drug was used to help recovery from serious hamstring injuries, not to gain a competitive edge.
Mullen then battled mental health issues and a serious drug addiction and almost died from an overdose at a party in December 2018.
He was arrested, charged and pleaded guilty to supplying cocaine in 2019 as part of a drug syndicate in Newcastle.
Mullen suffered physical effects from his cocaine use, including hearing loss and ringing in his ears.
The NRL is likely to look at Mullen’s application favourably.
His case is similar to former Knights, Dragons and Eels star Danny Wicks who went to jail for drug trafficking in 2011.
He rehabilitated and made an inspiring comeback for the Eels.
In court in February, his defence lawyer Paul McGirr said Mullen’s fall from grace was an “extremely sad situation”.
“He was one of Newcastle’s favourite sons. He now doesn’t even want to return to the area,” McGirr said.
“He still is keen to get back into rugby league, and at 32 years of age he has his work cut out for him.”
McGirr said Mullen had dealt with issues including ADHD, depression and anxiety.
“In relation to rugby league players, how quickly they can be forgotten when they’re injured and out of the game,” McGirr said after the court hearing.
“I’m putting the question to the NRL, that they should look to make sure people either have trades or some form of education after they finish the game, because the longevity of a player is less than five years.”
In sparing him from a custodial sentence, Magistrate Jillian Kiely noted Mullen had attempted to rehabilitate himself, including attending Narcotics Anonymous meetings and seeing a psychologist.
Mullen and his manager Steve Gillis declined to comment.
EIGHT BAD BOY NRL COMEBACKS
With Mullen applying to make a shock comeback next season, we take a look at players who went off the rails only to resurrect their careers.
SANDOR EARL
Banned for four years from 2013 over the use and trafficking of banned substances, mainly a synthetic growth hormone, in 2011. He sourced them from outside his club at the time, Penrith, in a bid to return early from a shoulder injury. The former Canberra Raider’s ban ended in August 2017 and he joined the Melbourne Storm two months later. But he has only played seven games since then.
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RUSSELL PACKER
The 100-gamer spent a year in prison over a 2013 assault charge, where he fractured another man’s eye socket after punching him and stomping on his head. The magistrate called Packer’s actions ‘cowardly and deplorable’. He returned to rugby league with St George Illawarra’s NSW Cup side in 2015 before joining the Dragons’ NRL squad a year later. Joined the Wests Tigers in 2018 and graduated from university with a commerce degree.
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MANU MA’U
While a member of an Auckland street gang, Ma’u was jailed for his part in a 2007 brawl that ended with a person being stabbed. After his release in 2009 he joined Parramatta four years later, desperate to turn around his life. Played 115 games for the Eels and was named their player of the year in 2016. The Tongan international switched to the English Super League in 2020.
SUAIA MATAGI
Abused alcohol and got caught up in gang violence before dropping out of school at 14. Three years later, in 2007, he was jailed for three years for assaulting two boys during a drunken rage, but was granted parole after one year. He took up rugby league for the first time in 2008, debuting for the Warriors in 2013 and playing for the Roosters, Panthers and Eels before moving to the English Super League.
MATT LODGE
Narrowly avoided jail for a drunken rampage through New York in 2015 while contracted to the Wests Tigers. Lodge was charged with felony burglary causing injury, which carried a 25-year maximum jail sentence. Instead, he was ordered to complete 200 hours of community service in Australia and undertake alcohol abuse programs. He joined Brisbane in 2018.
ADDIN FONUA-BLAKE
He pleaded guilty to assaulting his girlfriend in 2015, where he was fined $1000, given a 12 month suspended jail sentence and ordered to undergo counselling for pushing and kicking her. St George Illawarra terminated his contract and he joined Manly in 2016. He vowed to take “ownership” of his mistake and turned his life around in 93 games for the Sea Eagles.
LIAM KNIGHT
Before playing a game for Manly, Knight arrested for driving at 137km/h in a 70km/h and found to be three times over the legal alcohol limit. He also sprayed Aeroguard in his mouth to try and beat the roadside breath test. Knight received a good behaviour bond and still uses a breathalyser in his car. Knight joined Canberra and then South Sydney, where he has become a mainstay in Wayne Bennett’s pack.
JACK WIGHTON
Charged with assault following an incident outside a Canberra nightclub in April 2018. Wighton avoided jail but was stood down by the Raiders and banned for 10 matches. Has since become one of the NRL’s best players, earned NSW Origin selection and awarded the Clive Churchill Medal for being named man of the match in the 2019 grand final.