Kiwi star Brandon Smith has made a funny joke at Sharks winger Ronaldo Mulitalo when he arrives at the New Zealand team hotel.
Mulitalo was included in the Maroons team and was chosen to debut with Origin in Game II of the 2021 series, but was eventually ruled out of eligibility requirements.
According to Origin’s eligibility rules, a player must have lived in any of the states before reaching the age of 14 and Mulitalo had moved to the Australian from New Zealand when he was 14 years old.
When Cronulla’s steering wheel entered the Kiwi team’s hotel in Auckland earlier this week, Storm’s blatant utility couldn’t help but put in his two cents.
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“Here comes the Queenslander,” Smith said.
The sleigh broke the ice for Mulitalo who has been appointed to represent his country against Tonga on Saturday.
“He broke the barrier right away. It was one of those things, I knew he would come out in the media this week,” Mulitalo told NRL.com.
After being the subject of confusing and disappointing eligibility issues, Mulitalo made it clear to coach Michael Maguire who he handed over to play.
The 22-year-old also qualifies to represent Toa Samoa, but opted to wear the black and white shirt.
“In the middle of last year he came to me when we were together at the hotel (bubble NRL) and said (playing the Kiwis) was always something I wanted to achieve,” Maguire told NRL.com.
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“I had to go through the whole talk about where I would play. But I’ve known Ronaldo for many years and he’s always been a passionate Kiwi kid and he explained it to me a long time ago.”
Now Mulitalo is totally focused on acting for his country and expressed how much it means for him to put on the shirt.
“I played my youth rugby league here (New Zealand) and I’m a South Auckland boy from Otara,” Mulitalo said.
“I want to make the nation proud. I am pretty clear to Madge that I will be there to put my best foot forward for the World Cup.
“I was a little shaken when I put on my shirt for the first time. It was like a full circle moment.
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“Even when I put on the training kit the first night of camp I went to show myself to the parents as a proud child.”
Mulitalo has been in brilliant form for the Sharks, forming a terrifying pair on the left with Siosifa Talakai.
But now he will line up against another teammate, Sione Katoa, who will be his opposing winger for Mate Ma’a Tonga on Saturday afternoon.
“We sent each other small, funny text messages about what we’ll do if we crash. My bet is we’ll talk like we’re going to have fun, but then we’ll meet straight away,” Mulitalo said.