The early days
Jarrod Mullen is as Novocastrian as they come. He was born in Singleton, the heartland of the Hunter Valley in 1987.
Some would even say rugby league has always run through his veins. His father Stephen played first grade football for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in the early 80s.
Mullen spent several years as a small child living in Taree, two hours north of Newcastle. It’s where the fledgling player made his first appearance on the field before returning to Newcastle where he began to turn heads with his natural ability and playing passion.
Mullen emerged as a front-runner in his age group playing for his junior rugby league club, Wests Newcastle before entering the Newcastle Knights juniors system.
As the young half edged into his teenage years, it was clear his talent was something special, earning him spots in a raft of junior representative sides including the Australian Schoolboys tour in 2005 and 2006.
The debut
The call from coach Michael Hagan came when Mullen was at high school at St Francis Xavier in Newcastle. He was told he needed to train with the first grade side that week, poised for a NRL debut on the weekend.
On the 15th of May 2005, at the age of just 18, Mullen made his first grade debut for the Newcastle Knights against the Tigers in Round 10 of the 2005 season.
It was a dream come true for Mullen who ran out alongside the likes of Australian representatives Danny Buderus, Steve Simpson and Matt Gidley on the NRL stage.
While the game eventuated in a 32-16 loss to the Tigers at the then named Energy Australian Stadium, it marked the start of a successful and lengthy career in the red and blue.
The stats
Debut: Round 10 2005 Knights v Tigers Energy Australia Stadium.
Games: 199
Tries: 39
Points: 165
Representative honours: Prime Minister's XIII (2006), NSW (2007), Country (2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014).
#Mullo200
Jarrod Mullen’s 200th NRL game was always going to be a special moment, but the fact it falls on a home game at Hunter Stadium means even more for the one-club veteran.
“It’s a pretty big achievement playing your 200th for the Club you grew up supporting and in the town that you live in and love,” he said about the milestone.
To celebrate the occasion, the Newcastle Knights will give out specially deisgned #Mullo200 try cards to the first 5000 people through the gates as well as the chance to win limited edition #Mullo200 muscle tees which will be shot into the crowd throughout the afternoon.
Be there when history happens on Saturday when Jarrod Mullen plays his 200th game in the NRL and for the Club. Buy your ticket now!
