You guys invest way too much into Mullen.
He's very good, with a lot of potential, but that in no way means he'll make it. A lot of good young halves drop off as soon as the video test is put on them, with other teams working out strategies to defeat their playmaking abilities. Tim Smith is a good example of someone who will struggle because of this.
I remember seeing Brett Seymour being talked as the new Origin Halfback, but he never really lived up to it.
Also, at the young age of 19 (he's 19 right?), its around the time that your knees either hold up or give. A lot of young footballers get knee injuries as the timing between size build up and their joints becoming stable enough is usually bad. A popped knee can be the end of his speed, thus the end of his career.
Owen Cragie was supposed to be Matt John's replacement as a Brad Fittler esque 5"8 who will one day captain NSW. Different scenario, but relying heavily on someone young and relativly unproven has a lot of perils and should be left to the experts.