NRL 2022: Deine Mariner ineligible for Maroons, Kiwis put into World Cup plans
Yet to play an NRL match, Deine Mariner is already drawing attention from representative coaches, but Billy Slater need not come knocking.
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Broncos sensation Deine Mariner is banned from playing for Queensland at State of Origin level as the boom centre prepares to make his NRL debut against Wests Tigers on Saturday night.
News Corp can reveal Mariner – rated one of Brisbane’s finest centre prospects since Steve Renouf – is eligible for New Zealand in a major coup for the Kiwis ahead of this year’s World Cup.
New Zealand coach Michael Maguire already has Mariner on his radar and will be watching the 19-year-old closely in his Broncos baptism against the Wests Tigers at Suncorp Stadium.
Mariner has been in the Queensland system for the past three years and was last season named in a merit team for the Australian Schoolboys, which did not play games due to Covid.
But unlike his Broncos teammate Selwyn Cobbo, who came from the clouds this season to make his Origin debut for Queensland at age 19, Mariner will never wear Maroon.
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Under the NRL’s representative eligibility rules, players must have lived in NSW or Queensland before their 13th birthday to play State of Origin.
Born in New Zealand, Mariner moved to the Gold Coast with his parents in 2019 at the age of 16 after signing with the Broncos – ruling out any hope of Queensland winning a tug of war for the classy flyer.
Broncos Academy chief Simon Scanlan confirmed Mariner is eligible for New Zealand, rating the teenager one of the most exciting backline prospects to roll off Brisbane’s production line.
“Deine isn’t eligible for Queensland,” Scanlan said.
“While Deine finished his schooling at Palm Beach Currumbin on the Gold Coast, he was 16 when he moved here, so under the rules he cannot play Origin, which is good news for New Zealand.
“In the school system, he has played for Queensland and Australia, but by the senior rules of the NRL, he won’t be eligible for Queensland at Origin level.
“We have a number of kids here who are going to be great assets for the Kiwis. Jordan Riki and TC Robati are developing well here and Deine is a great talent. It’s great for the strength of international football.”
Mariner has scored eight tries in seven Hostplus Cup games this season, including four on debut for Wynnum Manly, and the Tigers must be on red alert for his blinding speed off the mark.
“Deine scored a try for Wynnum Manly last week and it was like he was shot out of a cannon,” Scanlan said.
“We first saw him at 14 playing in New Zealand in an Auckland grand final and we invited him over for a camp.
“He wasn’t a standout then. He didn’t have any real interest from the Warriors, but in the last few years he has dedicated himself to training and his mindset got stronger.
“As he matured, he has grown physically into a really explosive athlete.
“The improvement in him has been dramatic. He has made a huge transformation from age 15 to 18.”
Broncos coach Kevin Walters made the surprise decision to relegate Brenko Lee for the Tigers clash but said he could no longer hold back Mariner.
“He has been outstanding in the Queensland Cup so I felt Deine needs to get an opportunity,” Walters said.
“He has been impressive with his training and game stuff so it’s time to give him a run.
“I like his athleticism, his speed and anticipation. He is very good with that in the Queensland Cup and that usually transfers to the next level.
“He has brilliant speed which is something you can’t coach.
“Deine isn’t fazed by the step up to NRL and a lot of the young guys these days aren’t. He has had a good grounding in the Queensland Cup and at training he is defending against Kotoni Staggs or Herbie Farnworth in 13-on-13 work, so it creates good habits.
“He moves really well, but Deine has to work hard on his defence too. Attack comes naturally to him, but he has to work hard on his defence and he gets a chance this weekend to start on it.
“He can play wing but he is primarily a centre so I’m looking forward to seeing what Deine can do against the Tigers.
“This is a good chance for us to see what he’s got at the next level.”
KEVVIE’S SHOCK PICK FOR BRONCOS’ PREMIERSHIP X-FACTOR
Broncos coach Kevin Walters has hailed Kurt Capewell as his premiership X-factor as Brisbane bank on the Queensland Origin star’s big-game know-how to break the club’s 16-year title drought.
Having navigated a third consecutive gruelling Origin campaign, Capewell has shifted his focus to ramping-up Brisbane’s top-four ambitions — starting against the Wests Tigers at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night.
While marquee recruit Adam Reynolds has dominated headlines this season with his sizzling touches at halfback, Broncos insiders say Capewell is the unsung hero who drives Brisbane’s cultural standards at Red Hill.
If training is sloppy, Capewell demands a lift in intensity. If a teammate takes a shortcut, Capewell isn’t afraid to call him out. It is the attitude to the “one percenters” Capewell cultivated during his two-year stint at Penrith that finished with the ultimate reward of a premiership ring last season before his shift to the Broncos.
Walters says the round 20 clash against the Tigers represents a moment for Brisbane to go up another gear at a time when the jury is out on whether the Broncos’ posse of young guns can hold their nerve in the finals.
But Walters says the presence of Reynolds and Capewell, who has played in the past two NRL grand finals for Penrith, gives him confidence the reborn Broncos will not crack in the finals furnace.
“Kurt has been outstanding for us, particularly as a leader for our younger guys,” Walters said.
“He’s been there and done it, he’s won a premiership, and there’s not too many guys at this club who can say they have achieved that.
“The intensity of the games is about to go up a level and it’s comforting to know Kurt and Adam have been in these situations.
“We now have guys out there on the field who have delivered in those big situations. That’s a huge help for us, Kurt has brought a lot of calmness and experience to our forward pack.”
At Broncos training on Tuesday, Capewell took time out to have words with young gun centre Deine Mariner. The 19-year-old will make his NRL debut against the Tigers outside Capewell on Brisbane’s left side and the Maroons back-rower pledged to protect him defensively.
“It’s awesome to see a young fella get his debut,” said Capewell, who plays his 110th NRL game this week. “Deine is a great talent, he has worked hard to get where he is and it’s good to see him get rewarded for it.
“I will try to help him out and give him confidence. I just said to Deine, ‘Keep it simple, make your first hit up, get your first touch, make your first tackle’ and the game will go from there.
“We are really lucky we have some good depth here. It’s a good sign of how the club is going and where we are at.
“We will need everyone in our squad playing well going into the finals.”
Broncos chairman Karl Morris lauded Capewell’s contribution to the club.
“Reynolds has received a lot of credit for his impact and deservedly so, but not enough has been written or said about Capewell,” Morris said.
“For ‘Alfie’ (Broncos legend Allan Langer) to say Adam is the greatest recruit in Broncos history is a testament to him, but Capewell has had an unbelievable impact on the club as well.”
In a boost for the Broncos, Reynolds is expected to face the Tigers despite missing training on Tuesday with a stomach bug.
BUOYANT BRONCOS HAND DEBUT TO MARINER
— Peter Badel
The Broncos will unleash one of the club’s most exciting centre prospects since the legendary Steve Renouf with teenage sensation Deine Mariner to debut in Saturday night’s clash against the Wests Tigers.
Brisbane’s surge into the top four has given coach Kevin Walters the confidence to blood Mariner, who will replace Brenko Lee at left centre for the Broncos’ round 20 showdown at Suncorp Stadium.
The 19-year-old Mariner is rated by scouts as the best emerging centre in the code after a blistering 2021 campaign that saw him dominate the Queensland rugby league scene on his way to Australian Schoolboys selection.
The Broncos have produced some champion centres headlined by Chris Johns, Gene Miles, Justin Hodges and Renouf, who remains Brisbane’s greatest tryscorer with 142 from 183 games during a brilliant 11-year career between 1988-99.
Now the Broncos believe they have unearthed another budding NRL superstar in Mariner, a well-built, explosive threequarter who was a superstar at Gold Coast school Palm Beach Currumbin.
Brisbane head of football Ben Ikin told News Corp on the eve of the 2022 premiership that it was only a matter of time before Mariner got a taste of the big league in Broncos colours.
Now, six weeks out from the finals, Mariner has his time to shine.
“Deine is express,” said Ikin, the ex-Broncos pivot who also graduated to the NRL from the Palm Beach Currumbin system.
“He is still very early in his career and has much to do, but Deine has all the natural ability in the world.
“For all those guys who have been blessed with those sorts of gifts, the next phase is being able to do it for 80 minutes every week, not just the stuff that ends up on the highlight reels, but all the hard work on the other side of the ball.
“He has done well in the Broncos Academy and the coaching staff are now getting to understand who he is, how he plays and what his strengths and weaknesses are.
“He is a beautiful ball runner and very, very quick.
“Deine has impressed all of us with his raw natural ability.”
Born in New Zealand, Mariner began his career with Marist Saints in Auckland before being snapped up by Broncos scouts.
At every level, Mariner has stepped up in class. In his first senior game in pre-season, Mariner celebrated a hat-trick in Brisbane’s trial defeat of Wynnum Manly before scoring four tries a month later in his Queensland Cup debut for the Seagulls.
2 tries for Marist Saints junior Deine Mariner with Wynnum, patiently waiting for his NRL debut with Broncos.#KiwiNRLpic.twitter.com/pM91NunIvh
— The Niche Cache (@thenichecache) July 24, 2022
Mariner has scored eight tries in seven matches in the Queensland Cup this season, averaging 143 running metres per game for the Seagulls – convincing Walters he is ready for an NRL baptism.
Meanwhile, Billy Walters (hip) returns at hooker to face his former club, while Delouise Hoeter will remain on the wing after Queensland Origin star Selwyn Cobbo was kept on the sidelines for another week due to concussion.
Mindful of poaching raids that cost the club Reece Walsh (Warriors), Sam Walker (Roosters) and Xavier Coates (Storm), the Broncos have moved quickly, securing Mariner until the end of 2024.
A rival NRL scout said of Mariner: “The kid is a superstar. The Broncos have a special talent on their hands. He is good enough for NRL this year. I wish we could sign him.”
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