A huge storm has erupted just hours before kick-off in State of Origin II, with a Queensland star set to banned because he is ineligible.
Ronaldo Mulitalo will reportedly be banned from playing in tonight’s second State of Origin game after being ruled ineligible to play for Queensland.
The winger was brought into the starting side yesterday as a replacement for injured fullback Reece Walsh but the Blues questioned his eligibility.
“We have been alerted to some concerns around the eligibility of Ronaldo Mulitalo as a result of a story which appeared on the QRL website,” NSWRL’s Dave Trodden told The Courier Mail.
“As a consequence of this issue, we have made an inquiry with the NRL as to the status of Ronaldo’s eligibility and we are awaiting from a response from them.”
Mulitalo was born in New Zealand and reportedly lived there until he was nearly 14. Revised Origin edibility rules approved in 2012 meant players needed to have resided in either NSW or Queensland before their 13th birthday to be able to compete in Origin.
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 is an option to replace Mulitalo on the wing, after Valentine Holmes was moved from the flank to fullback to cover for injured teenager Walsh.
More to come …