NRL world disgusted as Ronaldo Mulitalo banned from State of Origin II

A devastated Ronaldo Mulitalo has responded to his State of Origin eligibility storm as a Maroons legend hinted at a twist in the story.

Ronaldo Mulitalo is absolutely heartbroken.

Footy fans have reacted angrily to Ronaldo Mulitalo being withdrawn from tonight’s second State of Origin game because of fears over his eligibility to represent Queensland.

The Sharks winger was brought into the Maroons starting side yesterday as a replacement for injured fullback Reece Walsh but the Blues questioned his eligibility.

The farce is still bubbling away just hours from the start of the game. You can follow our live coverage here.

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Mulitalo was born in New Zealand and reportedly lived there until he was nearly 14. Revised Origin eligibility rules approved in 2012 mean players needed to have resided in either NSW or Queensland before their 13th birthday to be able to compete in the interstate contest.

The NRL released a statement on Sunday morning saying Queensland had withdrawn Mulitalo “after being uncertain of his eligibility” to play.

Mulitalo has represented Queensland at Under-18 and Under-20 level but The Daily Telegraph reports he should not have been allowed to given his personal circumstances.

Brisbane Broncos winger Xavier Coates was called into the Maroons squad to replace Mulitalo on the wing, after Valentine Holmes was moved from the flank to fullback to cover for injured teenager Walsh.

Mulitalo responds to controversy

Mulitalo took to Twitter as he digested the news his Origin dream had been ripped away from him.

“Heartbroken and lost for words,” he wrote. “All I wanted to do was don this MAROON jersey and represent this great state.

“Although it’s not tonight I promise I’ll do my best to work through this and open myself up to another opportunity. For now there’s a series to be won.”

Mulitalo has received some shattering news.

Thurston’s revelation sparks conspiracy

Maroons legend and assistant coach Johnathan Thurston hit out at NSW’s role in questioning Mulitalo’s eligibility as the furore ramped up on Sunday morning.

“He’s been in our under-18s Maroons, he’s played for the under-20s Maroons, he’s been a part of our emerging Origin team for a number of years,” Thurston said before the announcement was made.

“It’s very unfortunate at this stage — but that’s just standard NSW, isn’t it?”

After the bombshell development was confirmed, Thurston said Queensland still believes Mulitalo is eligible, revealing the 21-year-old is “a broken man”.

“We still haven’t given up hope of him playing in the series given the fact that we couldn’t get the right documentation to prove that he was here before he was 13,” Thurston said.

“The NRL made the call that if he does play the game will be null and void so hopefully we can get that documentation over the next week or so and he can be back in camp.

“I know the QRL are doing everything in their power to hopefully get the right documentation so he can finish out the series.”

Asked to confirm whether Thurston was implying documents existed that prove Mulitalo was eligible to play for Queensland, Thurston replied: “That’s exactly what I’m saying.”

NSW coach Brad Fittler denied the Blues had done anything untoward to contribute to the situation. He said a story that emerged on Saturday detailing Mulitalo’s football journey alerted journalists he may not be eligible, and everything snowballed from there.

Twist revealed as footy fans blow up

It didn’t take long for rugby league lovers to blow up about the bombshell development as

Channel 7’s Chris Garry reported Mulitalo selflessly ruled himself out to avoid any potential negative fallout after the match.

“I understand there’s rules but how it got this far is ridiculous. Really feel for @MulitaloRonaldo today. One of the most passionate players in NRL,” Garry tweeted.

“Ronaldo is heartbroken. I understand he decided to rule himself out this morning to ease stress on team and officials. There was a chance he could play but then any victory could be overturned. Ronaldo didn’t want that hanging over team so withdrew. An awful situation.

Daily Telegraph rugby league writer David Riccio called it a “farcical situation”, NRL supremo called it a “disgrace” while sports journalist Mark Gottlieb added: “A bloke who has played for Queensland in under 18s and under 20s but the powers that be wait until the day of a #stateoforigin game that he’s about to play before deciding he’s not eligible for Queensland’s senior team. The administration of rugby league is a joke.

“Arguing a hard and fast rule like that should deny someone who was a child when they moved to Queensland and has played in every level of qld footy is ridiculous.”

NRL reporter Christian Nicolussi wrote on Twitter: “If Ronaldo Mulitalo is ineligible, it’s an embarrassment for @QLDmaroons AND the NRL. How can a multi-million dollar sport not know or enforce their own rules.”

Journalist Steve Zemek tweeted: “This Mulitalo thing is utterly embarrassing for a ‘professional sport’ like the NRL. Why wasn’t it worked out when he played under 18s and under 20s for Queensland? Young bloke has just had his dream ripped from under him 12 hours from kick-off because of a bureaucratic stuff up.”

AAP’s Scott Bailey wrote: “What a farce at every level if he is ineligible. From QRL down to NRL.”

How we got to this point is a joke.