Exciting young Sharks prospects Braydon Trindall and Ronaldo Mulitalo have been named in the Queensland Under 20’s Origin team to play NSW at ANZ Stadium on July 10.
The pair have been in outstanding form for the Newtown Jets in the Canterbury Cup this year, playing in the open-age competition despite still being eligible for the under-20’s.
Both are on top-30 contracts with the Sharks, who have high hopes for their future.
Originally from Wee Waa in north-western NSW, Trindall moved to the Queensland as an 11-year-old, running around for the Caboolture Snakes, before spending time in the Melbourne Storm system.
From there Trindall made the move to the Sharks and the Sutherland Shire and he hasn't looked back, moving into the NRL training group towards the end of 2018, before being permanently promoted into the full-time squad in 2019.
A member of the Sharks premiership-winning Jersey Flegg side last year, with Trindall man-of-the-match in the Grand Final, having played his first senior football north of the border he becomes eligible for Queensland selection.
As for Mulitalo, of New Zealand heritage but raised in Queensland, the 20-year-old outside back made his NRL debut in bizarre circumstances earlier this season.
Travelling to Brisbane as 18th man to gain experience and as a reward for signing a top-30 contract with the club just days before, Mulitalo went from observer to participant less than 10 minutes prior to kick off when Josh Dugan went down in the warm up.
With little time to prepare, Mulitalo ran out for his first NRL game, lining up against Maroons winger Corey Oates, in what was a baptism of fire.
He has played 11 matches for the Jets and a handful for the Jersey Flegg Sharks this year, with his strong running and finishing ability a feature of his game.
Both Trindall and Mulitalo, were included in an Emerging Maroons squad at the start of the year, with the Queensland hierarchy keeping a close eye on their progress.
The young Maroons will be aiming to retain the Darren Lockyer Shield following last year’s impressive 30-10 victory.
They will enter camp in Brisbane on Thursday, with their preparations including two opposed sessions against the Queensland Origin team.
The Queensland 20’s side is co-coached by Scott Prince and Paul Dyer.
Queensland Under 20s:
Elijah Anderson (Cowboys)
Nathan Barrett (Cowboys)
Logan Bayliss-Brow (Cowboys)
Eddie Blacker (Dragons)
Tanah Boyd (Titans)
Ethan Bullemor (Broncos)
Ben Condon (Cowboys)
Tino Fa'asuamaleaui (Storm)
Thomas Gilbert (Cowboys)
Kobe Hetherington (Broncos)
J'maine Hopgood (Panthers)
Ronaldo Mulitalo (Sharks)
Fanitesi Niu (Broncos)
Cory Paix (Broncos)
Brandon Russell (Knights)
Treymain Spry (Titans)
Murray Taulagi (Cowboys)
Braydon Trindall (Sharks)
