Phil ‘Buzz’ Rothfield: Man behind Ronaldo Mulitalo’s State of Origin ineligibility being recognised talks

The man who called out Ronaldo Mulitalo’s State of Origin ineligibility, spoke exclusively to Phil Rothfield about why he did it.

Ronaldo Mulitalo from the Queensland Maroons pictured at the Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort, Gold Coast, 22nd of June 2021. The Queensland State of Origin team is in camp on the Gold Coast ahead of game two at Suncorp Stadium. (Image/Josh Woning)

The man who cost Cronulla Sharks winger Ronaldo Mulitalo his Maroons jersey and raised the biggest selection scandal in State of Origin history is an unemployed Qantas worker — who lives in the Shire — but follows the Roosters.

He agreed to speak to The Daily Telegraph on Sunday on the condition that he is not named because of the vicious backlash he is now receiving on social media.

@Duke2517 was the person who alerted rugby league journalists to the story on Saturday afternoon when he tweeted: “Why is no one in the media reporting on the fact QLD are selecting a player that is not eligible? Ronaldo Mulitalo came to Aust at age 14, you need to be in Aust before 13, making him ineligible for QLD.”

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Why is no one in the media reporting on the fact QLD are selecting a player that is not eligible?
Ronaldo Mulitalo came to Aust at age 14, you need to be in Aust before 13, making him ineligible for QLD.@BuzzRothfield@AndrewVossy@awebster1975@NRL@IntRL@NZRL_Kiwis

— Duke25 (@Duke2517) June 26, 2021

And then another one: “Journalists do your job. He is not eligible for QLD. Came to Aust at age 14 from NZ. Need to be in Australia before age 13 to play SOO.”

News Corp journalists Brent Read and Michael Carayannis then contacted NSWRL chief executive Dave Trodden, who lodged a protest with the NRL.

We spoke to the 40-year-old man who ‘broke’ the story on Twitter on Sunday morning when news officially broke that Mulitalo had been ruled out.

It was left to Maroons coach Paul Green to break the news to the shattered young winger at the Queensland team hotel on Sunday morning.

Ronaldo Mulitalo has been sensationally ruled out of Origin after being ruled ineligible. Picture: NRL Images

“I’m copping too much grief so please don’t name me,” he said.

“It makes it harder living in the Shire. There will be some upset Sharks fans.

“When he got selected I knew that he only arrived in QLD from New Zealand at 14.

“I’d read an article the Sharks put up on their website some time ago about how he was a proud Kiwi.

“I knew he had to be here before 13. I couldn’t understand how no-one had picked it up.

“I used to work as a tarmac supervisor for Qantas but lost my job during Covid. I’m not a journo.”

Ronaldo Mulitalo played under-20s Origin for Queensland.

But doesn’t he feel sorry for the youngster?

“I do feel for the kid,” he said, “It’s stopped his dream.

“This should have been picked up before he was chosen.

“I can’t believe the QRL, the NRL and the NZRL weren’t aware of the rules.

“The rules are there to protect international football. Queensland have been doing this for years. I don’t want Origin to be a farce.”

He says he’ll be watching the game with mixed feelings.

“But this isn’t my fault, someone else should have picked it up.”

Originally published as Phil ‘Buzz’ Rothfield: Man behind Ronaldo Mulitalo’s State of Origin ineligibility being recognised talks