Robbie Mulhern has always been rated highly in the world of Rugby League. After playing for Castleford Panthers and Normanton Knights as an amateur and after having a spell in Wakefield Trinity's academy, Mulhern was signed by Leeds Rhinos, arguably the club with the greatest youth conveyor belt in the game. After playing three times for the Rhinos in Super League in 2014 and impressing in Leeds' pre-season games in 2015, Mulhern was given a new three-year contract. But, 2015 was Leeds' treble-winning season and opportunities were hard to come by; he registered just two more appearances for the club in 2015, but 20 whilst on-loan at dual-registration partners Hunslet.
Move to Humberside
The signs that Mulhern was no longer in Leeds' short-term thinking were evident when he was omitted from Leeds' 25-man squad for the 2016 season. For the former England Under 18s player and current Irish international, it was a bitter blow. But, 21-year-old Mulhern took the decision on the chin, opting to leave Headingley for Hull KR in December 2015. It was a bold move; Mulhern could easily have sat out his contract at Leeds, hoping for another opportunity.
Instead, he desired first-team rugby. Though the 2016 season was a disaster for the Robins - they were relegated from the top-flight - Mulhern became a regular in the side, registering 21 appearances.
Coming of age
It was Hull KR's season in the Championship where Mulhern hit the form that his lack of game time in Leeds' first-team had not allowed him to.
He notched up 27 appearances in KR's devastatingly impressive 2017 season, becoming a thorn in the opposition's side. Not only was Mulhern becoming a metre-making, physical forward, he was also developing an offload game - now key in the modern Super League era. It is utterly remarkable how Mulhern has gone from the periphery of selection to an almost guaranteed starter in head coach Tim Sheens' reckoning.
Established Super League player
Yes, Mulhern had done it in the Championship, but, Super League is a different kettle of fish entirely. The step-up is significant - especially for a forward. So, when Hull KR took to the field against Wakefield in their first game back in the top-flight after a year's absence, few expected the KR pack to live with their Trinity counterparts.
And, on the whole, the Robins' pack was dominated by Wakefield's. Yet, Mulhern was one of the shining lights in the Hull KR side that night, working tirelessly in defence and attack for his side.
After five games, no one can doubt that the Leeds-born 23-year-old is brimming with confidence and is hitting the heights which had first attracted Leeds to him all those years ago. He is KR's top tackler with an incredible 223 and has made an impressive 87 carries and 620 metres with only powerhouse winger Justin Carney above him in carries and metres. However, it was Hull KR's superb 6-38 victory away at Huddersfield on Thursday night which demonstrated just how far Mulhern had come under Sheens whilst at the red-and-white club of Hull.
Determined not to give up
All night, Mulhern harassed and harried the Giants' forwards and caused a huge amount of problems for the Huddersfield defence. But, it was the 63rd minute of that game where Mulhern sent social media into overdrive. Picking up a Jordan Rankin kick, the 6 ft 4, 104kg monster ran 80 metres - grimacing all the way - swatting off Danny Brough and then Jermaine McGillvary before coolly passing to James Greenwood who romped home under the sticks.
Mulhern found the strength from somewhere for his team; it was a true depiction of his Rugby League career so far: outcast by Leeds, he was determined not to give up just as he was determined to carry the ball as far as he could on that scintillating run.
Now, both Hull KR and Mulhern himself are reaping the rewards of his exit from Leeds. His brave decision to move from comfortable surroundings at Headingley to the unknown at Hull KR, sets an incredibly good example for any youngsters out there that are struggling with the same issue that Mulhern faced whilst at the Rhinos. He had the self-belief, he knew could make it in the game and now he is hitting the form of his life. Never give up.
