Sharks, New Zealand winger Ronaldo Mulitalo set for lengthy stint on sidelines with ruptured ACL

Sharks winger Ronaldo Mulitalo will be sidelined for a large portion of next season after rupturing his ACL while playing for New Zealand.

Mulitalo lined up in last weekend's Pacific Championships thriller against Samoa, but scans have since confirmed he will require surgery for the serious knee injury.

Cronulla released a statement confirming the news, but the club remains hopeful the fan-favourite will be able to return at some stage in 2026.

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Mulitalo left the field in the 74th minute as the Kiwis held on for a narrow win.

The 25-year-old has been one of the Sharks best players for a number of years and was a standout performer in their run to a prelim final this season.

The brash winger crossed for a double in his side's qualifying final clash with the Sydney Roosters, before scoring again in the semi final upset against Canberra.

His absence will likely open the door for Sam Stonestreet to lock down a permanent wing role again for 2026, while the reliable Mawene Hiroti is also an option.

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In the short-term, New Zealand will need to fill the void for the remainder of the Pacific Championships tournament, with a game against Tonga scheduled for November 2.

Sebastian Kris looms as the logical replacement on the wing for the Kiwis.