NRL: Matulino Mk2 a rare breed indeed

Ben Matulino has such potential he stands above his peers. Photo / Getty Images

Ben Matulino could become the Warriors' version of Paul Gallen. And maybe even a little bit better.

According to his coach Andrew McFadden, Matulino has the potential to morph into the rarest of rare breeds - an 80-minute front rower.

Props who played from whistle to hooter were common in the 1970s and 1980s but disappeared after the advent of the interchange in 1991, when everything became bigger, faster, stronger.

Gallen, whose methods have been questioned, broke the mould; the modern prop who didn't stop. Now Matulino could join that club, if required.

"He's playing 65 minutes for us but could keep going if we got injuries," said McFadden. "That's his potential. I don't need to do that at the moment because of what is available on the interchange and we are better off giving him a rest but I definitely think he could get through an entire game."

Whether he plays 80 minutes or not, the re-shaping of and re-calibration of Matulino could become one of the great Warriors stories of 2015. He's always been a good player, sometimes very good, but only now, with Matulino Mark 2.0, might we see his true potential.

"He is completely committed to his footy now," said McFadden. "He hasn't always showed the right commitment. He's always been talented but maybe got a bit complacent around that. Maybe because he was so good from so young, he has just taken it for granted."

Matulino was 18 when Ivan Cleary gave him his debut midway through the 2008 season. He looked at home from the start, later becoming the first NYC graduate to reach 100 games and was a regular for his country before his 21st birthday.

He was a standout in the memorable 2011 season but hasn't always hit those heights since. Injuries, disrupted pre-seasons and coaching changes (and mixed messages) at the Warriors have been contributing factors but there has been a nagging sense Matulino hasn't realised how good he could be.

"He has played some good games but I don't know if he has played consistently well because he hasn't put that time into his game," said McFadden. " He's got a real fire in his eyes at the moment, that he really wants to reach his potential."

Matulino appears more relaxed and, importantly, more focussed. He's feeling the benefits of a full pre-season but the most significant change has been a mental one.

"It's a different mindset pretty much," said Matulino.

"I realised I needed to make some changes and I've done that. 'Cappy' [McFadden] has been challenging me every week. I haven't been able to get too comfortable."

A new nutritional approach has seen Matulino slim down to 108kg (he was around 115kg last season) and hard work in the gym has maintained the power.

"I feel like I am a lot younger on the field and I can get through a lot more work," said Matulino. "Now I can back my own fitness. Cappy has left me out on the field because he feels comfortable with me and I can do a lot more stuff."

He's averaging 16 carries, 145m and 23 tackles a game this year.

The same level will be needed today against a Knights team who out-muscled the Warriors 24-14 in round one. The Knights aren't world beaters - and their pack isn't the biggest - but they are tough and have two of the best enforcers in Jeremy Smith and Beau Scott.

"They are annoying on the field," said Matulino. "In the last game Beau Scott just kept rushing me and he was like a pest. But it works. You just need to take your medicine. If they whack you, they whack you and you just need to get up and run harder."