The Queensland Rugby League is seeking an exemption from the NRL in a bid for Ronaldo Mulitalo to play for the Maroons.
New Zealand-born Mulitalo was the hard luck story before game two of the Ampol State of Origin series after an eligibility drama forced Queensland to withdraw the devastated Cronulla winger just hours before what would have been his debut.
Mulitalo - who has played for the Queensland under 18s and 20s - was given the Origin II nod after Reece Walsh went down with a hamstring injury on match eve.
However, the NSWRL asked the NRL to investigate the 21-year-old former Australian Schoolboys star s eligibility after a 2019 QRL website article surfaced in which Mulitalo claimed he arrived in the country from New Zealand a month shy of turning 14.
The Rabbitohs looked anything but premiership contenders during May when they were humiliated by both of last year s grand finalists in the space of 17 days.
Wayne Bennett s men were outscored 106-12 by the Storm and Panthers, the two teams many are tipping to square off again for the title come October.
Never one to panic, Bennett retained his composure and rammed the message home to his team that defensive intensity was the key to turning things around and they responded by conceding just 10 points per game in their next three outings.
With Latrell Mitchell hitting his straps big time in Origin, the Rabbitohs look to be right back in the frame for 2021 glory.
V landys looking at all options as Sydney Origin III is placed into jeopardy A Set the default text size A Set large text size
Replay A Set the default text size A Set large text size
State of Origin III is in serious doubt to be held in Sydney after the NSW government enacted a two-week lockdown in parts of the state on Saturday.
» Share
The location of Origin III, which is set to be held on July 14 at Stadium Australia, will also be discussed.
ARLC chairman Peter V’landys confirmed to AAP that the blockbuster event is in extreme doubt considering it is set to be played just five days after the lockdown is scheduled to finish on July 9.
State of Origin Game 2 preview, prediction: Queensland Maroons vs New South Wales Blues A Set the default text size A Set large text size
Replay A Set the default text size A Set large text size
With no guarantees of a home game in this year’s State of Origin series, there will be no time like the present for the New South Wales Blues to wrap things up in straight sets against the Queensland Maroons when the two sides clash in Game 2 this evening at Suncorp Stadium.
More Origin 2 Share
By the time it was all said and done, New South Wales had run up 50, and frankly, without any of their spine being amongst the best two players on ground.
Warriors duo Euan Aitken and Josh Curran have been forced to self-isolate for two weeks and undergo COVID-19 tests after they were on board a flight from the Gold Coast which had a flight steward who tested positive to the virus.