Sunshine Coast coach Sam Mawhinney says former NRL mainstay Jarrod Mullen will have some free rein in his first serious game of rugby league after a four-year ban.
The 33-year-old has played in Falcons’ trials recently but their season-opening Queensland Cup clash with Northern Pride at Kawana on Saturday will be his first proper competitive outing for some time.
He’s set to come off the bench and play as a roving forward.
“He’ll have a bit of a free licence to get out there and continue to get his timing back, after being out for so long,” Mawhinney said.
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“He’s pretty excited to get out there and play for points, so it will be good to see how he goes.”
Mullen registered more than 200 games for Newcastle between 2005 and 2016, and he played halfback for the Blues in State of Origin in 2007.
But he was banned for four years for anabolic steroid use and in a revealing interview with Sunshine Coast News in January, he admitted to an “insane” lifestyle of habitual drug use.
Clean for the past two years, Mullen is eager to enjoy footy again, with some hopes of getting back to the top tier.
“You’re very privileged to do what you do (as a footballer). I won’t be taking my second chance for granted, that’s for sure,” he said after linking with the team in January.
Mawhinney does not expect Mullen to be an automatic match-winner.
“We don’t want to put any extra pressure on anyone,” he said.
“Other than to get out there and do your job for the Falcons.”
He named an imposing line-up on Tuesday, for their clash with the Pride.
Five Melbourne Storm-contracted players are in the side, including fleet-footed fullback Nicho Hynes.
Storm’s Cooper Johns will partner stalwart Todd Murphy in the halves, while ex-Canberra Raiders rake Kurt Baptiste will start at No.9.
“We’ve got a good mix of size and ability through the middle, with some real threats through our backline,” Mawhinney said.
“So, if you are defending us, it’s going to be a hard job.”
It’s hoped the Falcons will enjoy a strong season.
“I think we’re putting a pretty good squad out there for Round 1 and we’ve got high expectations and rightly so,” Mawhinney said.
The Falcons have not played since Round 1 last year, when the season was cancelled due to COVID-19.
They have been threats in recent seasons, reaching a grand final and two preliminary finals in their past four campaigns.
Luke Polselli, Tom Rafter and Louis Geraghty are likely to drop off the extended bench for Round 1.
The game will kick off at 3pm Saturday, Sunshine Coast Stadium.
General admission tickets adults $10, juniors (4-15) free, concession $5.
Grandstand tickets adults $15, juniors (4-15) $10 , family of four $45, concession $10.
Tickets via Ticketek: http://premier.ticketek.com.au/
FALCONS : N Hynes, P Ulberg, B Aufaga-Toomaga, J Howarth, N McGavin, C Johns, T Murphy (c), D Schonig, K Baptiste, P Siolo, T Loiero, D Hogan (c), S Burns. Interchange: J Mullen, S Bernstrom, D Dole, T Geraghty, L Polselli, T Rafter, L Geraghty.
*Players named in bold are Melbourne Storm-contracted players.
