Heartbroken Mulitalo vows to sort out eligibility

BRISBANE: A “heartbroken” Ronaldo Mulitalo has vowed to clear up the eligibility drama that has cost him a Queensland Origin debut and return to the interstate arena as Xavier Coates was rushed onto the Maroons wing.
Mulitalo — himself a late Queensland call-up 24 hours before game two — was withdrawn from the Maroons side at 11am on yesterday with doubts remaining over whether he is eligible to represent the state.
Coates was called in as replacement in jersey No.20 having been dropped after Origin one’s 6-50 thrashing from New South Wales.
“Heartbroken and lost for words,” Mulitalo posted on his Instagram after his withdrawal was made official.
“All I wanted to do was don this MAROON jersey and represent this great state.”
Following the NRL’s confirmation of Mulitalo’s withdrawal, the QRL said it had been unaware of the conjecture around Mulitalo arriving in Queensland after his 13th birthday, prior to Saturday. – NRL