State of Origin 2021: The NRL and QRL must take responsibility for the eligibility saga involving Ronaldo Mulitalo

Ronaldo Mulitalo has been robbed of a dream he should never have had - according to the rules anyway. NRL come down hard on player indiscretions, how will they sanction themselves?

Ronaldo Mulitalo was meant to make his Origin debut on Sunday night. Picture: Josh Woning

The QRL and NRL must take responsibility over the disgraceful State of Origin eligibility saga involving Ronaldo Mulitalo.

Mulitalo had his dream of playing Origin football for Queensland shattered less than 12 hours before Sunday night’s game against NSW at Suncorp Stadium.

It was a dream he should never have been allowed to have.

The rules are clear - you must live in Australia before your 13th birthday to be eligible to play State of Origin.

They were changed in 2012 due to the farce of NSW-raised Greg Inglis becoming one of Queensland’s greatest ever players.

It has been reported Mulitalo moved to Australia from New Zealand, where he was born, just shy of his 14th birthday in October 2013.

End of story. He cannot play State of Origin and it should have never gone this far. How did no one at the QRL or NRL check this?

Stream selected Fox League shows on Kayo Freebies completely free this June including NRL 360, Sunday Night with Matty Johns, Big League Wrap & more. No Credit Card. No-brainer. Register Free Now >

The fact he was able to play under-18s and under-20s Origin games for Queensland is embarrassing in itself.

But to be picked for the Queensland senior team, and go within 12 hours of playing on rugby league’s greatest stage, is disgraceful and shows utter incompetence by the QRL and NRL.

The QRL has replaced Mulitalo with Xavier Coates for game two and says it will argue its case for Mulitalo being a Queenslander in the coming days but two wrongs shouldn’t make a right.

Ronaldo Mulitalo played under-20s Origin for Queensland. Pics Adam Head

It took some eagle-eyed league fans on social media and a News Corp probe to figure out there were doubts over Mulitalo’s eligibility before a $1 billion business like the NRL investigated it.

It is time the Queensland Rugby League took responsibility for its actions regarding Origin eligibility.

For years, the Maroons have been trying to bend the rules and exploit loopholes to qualify players for Queensland.

Earlier this year, there was a push for the eligibility rules to be changed so North Queensland star Jason Taumalolo could play for the Maroons.

This is a guy who has already played for New Zealand and Tonga. He didn’t move to Queensland until he was 13.

The Maroons also investigated whether they could get Melbourne’s Papua New Guinea star Justin Olam to play in this series because they had a shortage of centres.

Olam’s links to Queensland end at a handful of Intrust Super Cup games for the Sunshine Coast Falcons.

The eligibility rorts must stop now. Call it the “Ronaldo Rule” so no player ever goes through this again.

Ronaldo Mulitalo (left) went to Ipswich State High School when he was 14. Photo Inga Williams / The Queensland Times

For a second, think about how Mulitalo is feeling right now after celebrating 24 hours earlier of his maiden selection for Queensland following Reece Walsh’s hamstring injury.

He would have been overjoyed with his late call-up. His family would have been so proud of a career highlight.

Mulitalo couldn’t hide his excitement when he entered Camp Maroon earlier in the week.

“It’s a big moment for me and my family,” he said after being picked as 19th man.

“I started shaking (when Queensland coach Paul Green called). I couldn’t stop shaking. I had a bit of a cry, I couldn’t believe it. I couldn’t breathe.

“It was a phone call I had waited for. It was a special moment for me. I‘m still pinching myself now to be with this group of men and wearing this Maroons kit.

“It means a lot (to be a Queenslander). This is the pinnacle of the game. To get my foot in the door and get this opportunity is massive.

“I base my game on passion. As a Queenslander that’s what we base ourselves on. We hate NSW just as much as they hate us.

“I want to make sure that fire and hatred is there for us.”

Instead, Mulitalo has been left a shattered man due to the incompetence of the QRL and NRL, who have disgraced the game.

The governing bodies are quick to come down hard on players who transgress off the field because they are worried about the game’s image.

You could argue farcical situations like this do just as much, if not more, damage to the reputation of rugby league.

It is time they took some responsibility.

Originally published as State of Origin 2021: The NRL and QRL must take responsibility for the eligibility saga involving Ronaldo Mulitalo