THE RISE AND APPARENT FALL OF JARROD MULLEN

MAY 2005: Makes his NRL debut as an 18-year-old, and immediately draws comparisons witrh Newcastle teammate and future rugby league Immortal Andrew Johns.

APRIL 2007: Johns, who had acted as Mullen’s mentor, retires suddenly after suffering a neck injury, fast-tracking the latters move into the halfback position on a fulltime basis.

MAY 2007: With just 31 NRL games under his belt, the 20-year-old beats the likes of Craig Gower, Brett Kimmorley, and Matt Orford to the NSW No.7 jersey for State of Origin I, where the Blues go down 25-18 in Brisbane.

MAY 2007: Tears his calf, ruling him out of Origin II, before his season ends prematurely in July when he dislocates his shoulder at training.

MAY 2009: Impresses for Country Origin, but is overlooked for a NSW berth in favour of halves Terry Campese and Peter Wallace.

July 2009: Misses a month due to a knee injury.

MAY 2011: Again in Origin contention after being picked at halfback for Country, but those hopes are dashed by a pectoral injury.

OCTOBER 2013: A strong season under Wayne Bennett sees Mullen earn equal fifth place in Dally M voting.

FEBRUARY 2014: Spends around two months on the sidelines after injuring his hamstring at the Auckland Nines.

APRIL 2014: Signs four-year contract extension with the Knights, but spends another spell on the sidelines with a head injury.

JUNE 2015: Suffers a long-term foot injury that sees him miss a large chunk of the remainder of the season.

FEBRUARY 2016: Disciplined for drinking in late 2015 while injured and is stood down from a trial match.

APRIL 2016: Misses almost three months with a hamstring injury which requires surgery.

JANUARY 2017: Provisionally suspended by the NRL for testing positive to an anabolic steroid.