Mullets, skullets and mad mohawks: wild NRL hairdos setting trends

Meet the ‘hairs apparent’ to the title of the NRL player with the most outrageous ’do, where mohawks are tackling the mighty mullet. VOTE HERE for your favourite.

From luscious blonde locks to mullets on a mission, these are oddly entertaining hairdos making their way onto the field this NRL season.

For years, athletes have pulled off hairstyles that 50 years ago would have seen some players sent straight out of the barber’s chair and into the sin bin.

Penrith Panther Viliame Kikau’s hair has a touch of the Top Deck about it.

St George Illawarra Dragon Moses Suli pulls his back.

Take the deceiving cut of second-row forward Haumole Olakau’atu from the Sea ­Eagles, for example. What appears to be all business in the front is party at the back, with the added flair of shorn sides — quite the impressive mullet-mohawk hybrid.

Those new to the sport would mistake some players for having a bad hair day, while others are placing bids on which styles their mates could pull off next.

Canberra Raiders player Jack Wighton isn’t scared to shave the sides of his head bare, while Melbourne Storm fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen is the goldilocks of the league, with his lengthy mullet bleached blonde to complement his purple uniform.

Sea Eagle Martin Taupau tames his locks with braids …

… while Cronulla Shark Toby Rudolf prefers a topknot.

EdwardsAndCo Style Dir­ector and Educator Matthew Jones loves the variation between Papenhuyzen’s textures, commenting that it shows off his natural movement.

“The beauty of the mullet is that it is not simply a definitive cut, it’s a spectrum, ranging from ­extreme — like these NRL players — super-short on top and long at the back, to a more modern interpretation, with choppy layers creating the ­illusion or silhouette of the style, without going full Billy Ray,” Mr Jones told The Sunday Telegraph.

Long hair remains the theme, with Toby Rudolf from the Sharks taking a more old-school approach, tapering the sides of his lengthy cut and tying the front half into a topknot to avoid being blindsided by his impressive waves.

Canberra Raider Jack Wighton keeps it neat while …

… Melbourne Storm player Ryan Papenhuyzen lets it flow.

Meanwhile, Manly Warringah Sea Eagles’ prop and lock Martin Taupau is perhaps the neatest of them all, spending an hour before each game braiding his hair and maintaining his locks with coconut and argan oil.

And in a blast from the past, the rat tail has returned, with North Queensland Cowboys young gun ­Jeremiah Nanai’s braid a far cry from his favourite actor Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson’s baldness.

But with the buzz cut sidelined and the mullet one to beat, those wanting the best of both worlds are choosing the skullet.

Canberra Raider Josh Papalii also sports a handsome mullet.

What Matthew Jones des­cribes as the “disconnect mullet” is the exact look Rab­bitohs’ Keaon Koloamatangi and Raiders’ Josh Papalii are now rocking.

“They have a ‘normal’ short back and sides with a bit of a fade on the front half of their head, while the back has been left to grow out,” Mr Jones said.

And just when you think the possibilities can’t get any more extreme, the ’70s ­mohawk revival has once again kicked off, but this time with a spot of colour.

Canterbury Bulldog Jayden Okunbor ties back his dreadlocks.

Penrith Panthers second-row forward Viliame Kikau flexes his Fijian curls through this style, while teammate Viliame Kikau has perhaps the most radical peroxide enhanced Mohawk of them all. But it’s left many fearing for the welfare of their hair — Matthew Jones included.

“This is a fairly typical fade and mohawk, however this is one peroxide bottle away from a chemical haircut,” he said.

It’s also one of the most common styles many have requested the barber to replicate at the salon.

As for Jayden Okunar, from the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, let’s pray he steers clear of any Miss Trunchbull fanatics from Roald Dahl’s Matilda, otherwise we might see him flying across the pitch thanks to his distinct plaits.

Whether a player is trying to make a statement, or is hooked on the look, it’s certain that their supporters are taking note, with many replicating the hairdos of the players they admire.

“People are more comfortable with expressing their ­individual identities and are always looking at new, edgy ways to stay ahead of the pack,” Mr Jones said.

WHO DO YOU THINK HAS THE WILDEST ’DO IN THE NRL? VOTE BELOW OR TELL US IN THE COMMENTS.

Originally published as Mullets, skullets and mad mohawks: wild NRL hairdos setting trends