Sharks villain ‘lights fuse’ as Roosters get last laugh in fiery clash
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Ronaldo Mulitalo and Mark Nawaqanitawase have renewed their rivalry from last year’s finals series, after the Sharks villain did his best to “light the fuse” against his Sydney Roosters counterpart in the final game of round 16.
When the pair squared off in the 2025 finals, Mulitalo got the better of the recent NSW Blues debutant, helping his side advance against the Tricolours - but this time, it was Nawaqanitawase who got bragging rights with a 27-8 victory.
Ronaldo Mulitalo and Mark Nawaqanitawase get into a scuffle. Fox League
In the first half of Sunday night’s clash at Allianz Stadium, the two superstar wingers almost came to blows in a fiery exchange.
Nawaqanitawase was tackled on the last just 10 metres out from Cronulla’s line in heavy contact from Mulitalo, before getting up with some frustration.
He pegged the ball at Sharks five-eighth Braydon Trindall, which prompted a trademark reaction from Mulitalo that saw both teams race in for a scuffle.
“It only took Ronaldo 19 minutes to light the fuse and he got his man to take the bait,” Fox League commentator Dan Ginnane said.
Michael Ennis pointed back to the prior events between the two flyers.
“They’ve got history these two from last year’s final at Shark Park,” he said.
Nawaqanitawase got the last laugh moments later when Mulitalo tackled him and dug his forearm into the Roosters star’s face, earning a penalty from the referee.
Mulitalo then failed to defuse a cross-field kick that resulted on Robert Toia’s try, but scored down the other end right before the half-time break.
The hosts earlier opened the scoring through Lindsay Collins, as the prop finished off an elite team try that went through multiple sets of hands.
Nawaqanitawase helped set up the Roosters’ third try, popping a freakish one-handed offload before Billy Smith dived over.
Two minutes after the break, Sione Katoa scored out wide for Cronulla to narrow the margin, but the hosts managed to hang on at Allianz Stadium.
Roosters captain James Tedesco was left with blood pouring from his nose after a heavy mid-air collision with Katoa, but was allowed to stay on the field.
Things sparked again between Nawaqanitawase and Mulitalo at a crucial moment, with the latter giving away a penalty for tackling his opponent in the air.
Nawaqanitawase then got the last laugh, leaping above his opposite number to score a try off a brilliant bomb from Daly Cherry-Evans to the corner.
Mark Nawaqanitawase scores a try against Ronaldo Mulitalo. Fox League
Mulitalo then made a late error as the Sharks attempted to mount a comeback and the former Wallabies star made sure to let him know about it, before Cherry-Evans put the result beyond doubt with a clever field goal.
Cronulla conceded one more late try for, you guessed it, Nawaqanitawase, which ended with almost the entire Roosters team coming after Mulitalo.
The win sees the Chooks leapfrog their rivals from the Shire and move into the top-four ahead of the Knights on points differential.
