Former Newcastle star Jarrod Mullen is hoping to make an NRL return in 2022 after serving a four-year WADA ban.
Mullen, now 34, missed the 2017, ’18, ’19 and ’20 seasons serving the ban before making a return in 2021 in the Queensland Cup with the Sunshine Coast Falcons.
After narrowly escaping prison time in 2019 for supplying a prohibited substance, Mullen was forced to bide his time with the Falcons to prove to the NRL Integrity Unit that he should get another chance in the league.
Having now gotten the green light from the NRL to pursue a potential first-grade opportunity, Mullen spoke of the relief he felt knowing that he can re-embark on his career.
“Obviously, it’s been a long journey,” Mullen said on SEN 1170 Mornings.
“To get that final email from the Integrity Unit to say that they’ve cleared me, to wish me all the best, it was very surreal.
“Karun Murphy, the head of the Integrity Unit there was good enough to ring me – she had heard about all of the good things I was doing up on the Sunshine Coast with my youth work and all of that.
“For her to reach out, give me a phone call, congratulate me and all of that, it was really good.”
While he made his rugby league return with the Falcons last year, Mullen says it wasn’t his best season due to the interrupted nature of the campaign.
“The body held up not the best (in 2021), to be honest with you,” Mullen said.
“In the first game I dislocated my shoulder, that kept me out for four weeks.
“I was sort of in and out throughout the season and it was a bit of a stop-start year.
“I think four years off with not much contact work, if any, I couldn’t get a good pre-season with any contact work … I think I’ll benefit a lot more (this season) with a full pre-season under my belt.”
With first-grade football being played at an ever-increasing pace, Mullen believes he could offer an NRL team a “calm head” on the field.
“I think you do need a calm head out there, the game has gotten so fast,” Mullen explained.
“People need to think so fast on their feet, the young halves these days most of them are very sort of structured I think – I’m not being critical of them – but they sort of don’t play what they see and instead go with set-plays.
“Playing the old-school type of way and obviously, the left foot kicking could be a positive to a team.
“I’m sitting here trying to sell myself, but I at least think I could be a back-up for a team … I really do believe my body can hold up.”
While he’s confident that he could add to his 211 NRL games, Mullen says he hasn’t gotten any concrete offers for 2022 at this stage.
“There’s been a few nibbles, nothing too big at the moment,” Mullen explained.
“I’m just going to bide my time, I’m sort of in a win-win situation.
“I’m loving my time up here on the Sunshine Coast, and I can play for the Falcons.
“If I’m playing good enough here, with a good pre-season, transfer windows and all of that, if I’m playing good enough a team could reach out and take me then.
“I’m not putting too much pressure on it.”
Listen to the full chat here.
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