State of Origin 2021: Sharks star Ronaldo Mulitalo bold bid to secure start for Maroons
Sharks winger Ronaldo Mulitalo isn’t short of confidence and has pledged to deliver “diamonds” in his bid to earn selection for the Maroons in game two at Suncorp Stadium.
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After being snubbed for Queensland twice, Cronulla winger Ronaldo Mulitalo has put Maroons selectors on notice and pledged to deliver “diamonds” in the next two games in his battle for Origin selection.
In Mulitalo’s crosshairs are incumbents Kyle Feldt and Xavier Coates.
Both are fighting to keep their place on the wing in Paul Green’s side after Queensland’s humiliating 50-6 loss to NSW in game one in Townsville.
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The under 18s and 20s Queensland representative is marking Feldt, who struggled to make an impact in game one, on Friday night.
Mulitalo then takes on Coates in round 16 ahead of game three.
“I’m going for the shot to have the jersey. I‘m definitely going to come out and show them [the selectors],” Mulitalo told News Corp. “I know it started last Friday against a big top eight side in Penrith and I’m going to keep pushing forward.
“I‘ve obviously got Feldt this week and I’ve got Xavier Coates the week after and I’m marking both of them. So it makes it even better for myself.
“And I can tell you now that there is going to be some diamonds coming in next week or two against them, big performances to put my hand up my state.
“When it comes to grabbing the shirt, I’m definitely going to make sure I fight for it.”
Mulitalo admitted to carrying a “chip on his shoulder” after being overlooked for last year’s series in November after playing more games in 2020 than outside back debutants Phillip Sami, Xavier Coates, Edrick Lee, Brenko Lee and Corey Allan.
“I haven’t heard from selectors,” Mulitalo said. “I was pretty disappointed with myself last year that I didn’t get a call up. Guys that played far fewer games in the season got a call up before me.
“Look, that’s not for me to control. I had a chip on my shoulder and I still have a chip on my shoulder about being overlooked. I’m a diehard Queensland fan, so whether I get selected or not I’ll still support them and support those boys 100 per cent.”
But now Mulitalo has replaced the chips on his shoulders with a Maroons rescue mission borne from Queensland’s humiliation and one forged behind enemy lines in NSW.
After watching their state crumble to an embarrassing defeat at the hands of the Blues, Mulitalo revealed he and Cronulla teammate Will Chambers, who played 13 games for Queensland, made a pact to force their way into Green’s outfit and help the Maroons salvage the series at Suncorp Stadium.
“I’m not going to lie, we had little brief chat, the old boy actually pulled me across and said ‘what do you reckon? Me and you bro, let’s try to go in there and do something. We need to play some good games here in the next couple of weeks to give ourselves the best chance’,” Mulitalo said.
Queensland’s edges struggled to contain Blues centres Tom Trbojevic and Latrell Mitchell and winger Brian To’o in game one.
Mulitalo believes Chambers can help plug the holes in the Maroons leaky edge defence. But more importantly reinject some much needed niggle and mongrel. Chambers last played for the Maroons in 2019, before defecting to Japanese rugby in 2020.
“Trust me, he’s still got it, the cranky old bastard,” Mulitalo said with a laugh.
“You may not see it, but I think experience beats anything. You see him now racing some of these young blokes, he’s done a number on heaps of people. He knows where to be and when to be there as well. He‘s just the guy that’s always there defensively.
“I‘m pretty confident that if they put him in there he’ll definitely be there to mix it with those boys.”
Origin call too soon for Walsh
By Dean Ritchie
This could be Queensland’s 12-year Origin risk.
New Zealand Warriors recruitment manager Peter O’Sullivan has slammed suggestions desperate Queensland could select six-game rookie Reece Walsh for State of Origin II in Brisbane.
While agreeing Walsh was a prodigious talent, O’Sullivan said Queensland risked what he predicted would be a 10 to 12-year career in Origin by choosing the teenager.
And Warriors chief executive Cameron George agreed, saying selection would place excruciating pressure on 18-year-old Walsh.
“It’s a risk that doesn’t need to be taken,” O’Sullivan said. “I don’t think he’s ready for it and I just don’t see the need for it.
“I think Queensland has a precious commodity for the next 10 to 12 years. They should be looking at the next 10 to 12 yearsas their time frame, not worried about the next two games.
“Picking him could risk those 10 to 12 years of Reece Walsh – by worrying about the next two games. Their cards get marked and it knocks their confidence around. It has happened with both teams, NSW have done it too.
“I can understand why they would want to pick him but he’s just too young in terms of number of games played.
“He will play Origin, not if but when, he’s a champion kid. I just don’t think the ‘when’ should be now. He will have a long and illustrious career at Origin level but that doesn’t need to be next week.”
George also suggested Walsh was too raw to confront the rigours of Origin.
“Reece is an exceptional talent and timing is everything,” George said.
“We have seen bad outcomes with people being pushed into certain scenarios like Origin and high-level games before they arecompletely ready.
“It can have a pretty big impact one way or the other by a young player being pushed out into high-pressure situations.
“He has a long way to go in development. As a club, we are focused on doing the best we can for him and his future. Our focus is what’s best for Reece.”
Former NSW Origin coaches Laurie Daley and Phil Gould were also against choosing Walsh.
“I think it would be highly unfair,” Gould said on his podcast. “I think he’s as talented an 18-year-old kid coming through, but he’s had six NRL games.
“He didn’t play at all last year. You want to put him into an Origin team that’s been beaten 50-6 and say ‘here you go son,solve that problem for us’? Give me a break.”
Daley told The Big Sports Breakfast radio show it would be “detrimental’’ to his development.
“Expecting him to come in and be your saviour, it’s not going to happen,” Daley said.
“There are other players that they could pick other than Reece Walsh. They might not be as talented as Reece Walsh but they are more match hardened and more experienced at playing at that level.
“I don’t think that would be the right move. He has played six games in two years. And you want an 18-year-old to come in and be your saviour – no. Leave me out of that.”
Balancing the debate, Queensland legend Wally Lewis told Channel 9: “There will be plenty of people questioning if he‘s old enough and I think you’ve heard me say it 100 times: if you’re good enough, you are old enough.”
Walsh was asked about Origin but backed away, only saying: “I’m not really worried too much about that. I’m just looking forward to this week ahead (against Newcastle). If that stuff comes, it comes later.”
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