Jarrod Mullen

Infobox rugby league biography
playername = Jarrod Mullen
fullname = Jarrod Stephen Mullen
nickname = Mullo

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caption =
country =
position = rlp|FE|HB
currentclub = leagueicon|Newcastle|size=16 Newcastle Knights
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1987|4|9|df=yes
placeofbirth = Taree, New South Wales
countryofbirth = Australia
height = convert|179|cm|ftin|abbr=on
weight = convert|86|kg|stlb|abbr=on
club1 = leagueicon|Newcastle|size=16 Newcastle Knights
year1start = 2005
year1end = present
appearances1 = 56
tries1 = 11
goals1 = 0
fieldgoals1 = 5
points1 = 49
teamA = leagueicon|New South Wales|size=16 New South Wales
yearAstart = 2007
yearAend =
appearancesA = 1
triesA = 0
goalsA = 0
fieldgoalsA = 0
pointsA = 0
updated = 30 August 2008
source = [http://203.166.101.37/NRL08/playercareer.asp?lplayer=940009 NRL Stats] and [http://rugbyleagueproject.com/players/Jarrod_Mullen.html Rugby League Project]

Jarrod Mullen (born 9 April 1987) is an Australian professional rugby league player who currently plays for the Newcastle Knights in the National Rugby League (NRL) competition.

Born in Taree in Northern NSW, he moved to Newcastle with his Family when he was 9 years old. Son of Steve Mullen, a former rugby league player who played for the Canterbury Bulldogs in the 1980’s, Jarrod was born into Rugby League and embraced it at an early age.

Jarrod is an upcoming playmaker for the Newcastle Knights. After playing only 9 first grade games as Half-Back and 31 games in total, he was a shock pick at that position for the New South Wales Blues in the upcoming 2007 State of Origin series. Most believed that at 20 years of age, the job would go to a more experienced playmaker, but the selectors have all seen the potential for him as a long term prospect.

Point Scoring Summary - Newcastle Knights

Early career

Mullen first played Rugby League at 7 years old for the Taree Panthers where it was obvious he had talent. He scored 86 Tries in the season. Two years later (after a brief stint playing soccer), he relocated to Newcastle where he continued his junior career with the Western Suburbs League Club. His first representative game was for St. Therese's Primary School, New Lambton, in the Regional Knights Knockout competition, winning the premiership in 1996 and 1997. He played most of his junior football at Five-eight.

He joined the Newcastle Knights as a junior in 1997 and he stood out. Representative honors came thick and fast and he was fast-tracked into the senior side a couple of years later. He was selected for the Australian Schoolboys side in 2000 and 2002, and played five eighth for the NSW under 17’s in 2004 where he first caught the eye of Newcastle’s champion Half-Back Andrew Johns.

First grade career

Mullen was selected in the Knights first grade squad at just 18 years old by coach Michael Hagan who saw plenty of promise in the youngster. His first grade debut was on the 15th of May 2005 at Energy Australia Stadium vs The Wests Tigers in Round 10. It soon became apparent that he would be developed as a potential replacement for Newcastle half-back Andrew Johns.

In 2007 Mullen, became the starting five eighth for the Knights with the intention to have him complete a season alongside Johns to gain experience and eventually succeed him as Newcastle Halfback. On the 10 April 2007, the day after Mullen turned 20, Johns announced his shock retirement from Rugby League due to a neck injury. Mullen became the first choice half-back for the Knights and has been impressive in the few games he has played there.

First grade representative honors

Mullen was rewarded for his consistent performances in 2006. He was selected in his first senior representative team, the Prime Minister's XIII for a game against Papua New Guinea. He played with a young team in Port Moresby on 30 September where he started on the bench as a utility player. In 2007, he was picked for the New South Wales side above older and more experienced candidates. It still remains to be seen how he will perform at the highest level of Australian Rugby League. Mullen was not selected in the NSW State of Origin team for Game 2 due to a torn calf muscle. When Game 3 arrived selectors chose Brett Kimmorley and Greg Bird over Mullen because of the club relationship the two halves had. In opening rounds of 2008 Mullen showed some promising signs but succumbed to a calf injury in Round 4. On his injury comeback he thrusted himself back into New South Wales Origin contention with some outstanding performances against top of the table leaders the Titans and the Storm. He was in contention for the halfback spot along with Brisbane's Peter Wallace, Manly's Matt Orford and Parramatta's Brett Finch. Despite his omission from the Origin squad for the first Origin game ,he is expected to remain in contention for the next two Origin games.

External links

* [http://www.newcastleknights.com.au/about/profile.asp?id=24 Mullen's profile at the Newcastle Knights website]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/6675891.stm New South Wales turn to rookie scrum-half]