17 July 2025
As seen on nrl.com
Kiwis winger Ronaldo Mulitalo’s face lights up when the name Mark Nawaqanitawase is mentioned.
The Cronulla winger has watched with great interest as the former Wallaby has taken the NRL by storm in his first full year of rugby league.
His stunning solo effort to score against the Bulldogs in Round 11 has racked up more than 70 million views after going viral. It is the odds-on favourite to be named Try of the Year.
A prolific try-scorer himself, Mulitalo can’t help but be impressed. But any pleasantries will immediately be put aside when the two wingers go face to face in a fascinating one-on-one battle on Friday night.
Nawaqanitawase lined up in the centres when the two teams played earlier in the year, with this weekend the first time they have directly faced off.
The Shark has made a career out of dominating his opposite man and the goal will be no different when Cronulla host the Roosters on Friday night.
“He’s a freak athlete,” Mulitalo told NRL.com. “This is why you play the game, to play the best of the best. He’s really talented, comes from a great union background and is making his mark in league now.
“I’ve played plenty of good wingers in my time, he’s no different and I’m looking forward to that challenge.
“I want to put myself in that conversation with the best of the best and go toe to toe with them. It brings the best out of me and that’s what it’s all about. Fans pay their hard-earned money to watch the best go at it.”
Friday’s clash against the Roosters carries significant weight on numerous fronts for the Sharks.
Cronulla conceded they were “embarrassed” by a Roosters side missing their Origin stars in a 42-16 loss in Round 12.
Mulitalo endured a difficult evening in Gosford where he was sent to the sin bin and later suspended for a late hit on Nawaqanitawase.
The defeat triggered a rocky patch for the Sharks, where they lost four from five before steadying the ship with last week’s 24-12 win over the Dolphins.
Cronulla were firmly entrenched in the top eight before the loss to the Roosters. Now they sit on the outside looking in.
Trent Robinson’s men sit eighth on 22 points, with the Sharks ninth due to their inferior for and against.
With just seven rounds to go before the finals, Cronulla prop Addin Fonua-Blake said every match against a top-eight contender takes on greater importance.
“They got one over us earlier in the year and embarrassed us,” Fonua-Blake said. “There’s a bit of feeling going into the game but we’re going to have to do the little things right and worry about ourselves.
“The Roosters are playing really good football. They’re starting to find their feet and put the comp on notice. If we can get ourselves right and do the little things right, it will be a good contest.”
Fonua-Blake is preparing to play his 200th NRL game on Friday night, nine years after he made his debut for the Sea Eagles.
It’s been an emotional fortnight for the forward, after the death of his grandfather.
The funeral was held last Friday, with Fonua-Blake saying goodbye just hours before suiting up for the Sharks in their win over the Dolphins.
Despite the limited preparation, he still ran for 126 metres and made 25 tackles in another dominant performance.
Family has always been integral to the prop, it was a key reason why he left the Warriors to join the Sharks this year, and Fonua-Blake is eager to carry his grandfather’s legacy forward.
“It was really tough,” Fonua-Blake said. “I didn’t think about the game at all and didn’t have as good a prep as I could have.
“I’m thankful to the club for understanding and thankful to the boys for turning up the way they did and having my back.
“I’m grateful to get the opportunity to play 200 games and represent my family. I’m looking forward to it and hopefully we can have the same performance as last week.”
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