Roosters star delivers hat-trick against Ronaldo Mulitalo in thrilling win over Sharks
Updated ,first published
If there’s one reason to bring back Dave Smith’s legendary “war chest” of players he never actually used as the NRL’s general manager, it’s Mark Nawaqanitawase.
The biggest entertainers in rugby league are those committed to rugby union at the end of the season. Peter V’landys needs to move the chess pieces now. (And who can say it isn’t?)
In the Roosters’ 27-8 rebound win over Cronulla on Sunday night, every touch from Nawaqanitawase was a must-watch and opposite number Ronaldo Mulitalo had to be matched by any means or forearm.
A year on from the pair’s eye-catching stunner on the Central Coast, Nawaqanitawase was the Roosters driver to score another hat-trick at the Allianz Stadium when he sledged Mulitalo just weeks after they first met over a Magic Round beer.
Mulitalo capped off a fascinating man-to-man contest by also speaking to Roosters coach Patrick Lane before immediately embracing Nawaqanitawase with a hug and a smile after full-time work.
Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon said after the game: “Good football contest, 2-1 Mark in my estimation.”
“They’re competitive, they’re going after each other and Ronnie is an emotional guy sometimes, it spills around. That doesn’t mean he doesn’t respect his opponent. He’s just trying to get to him… but what does he say after the match? ‘Good job, you got me’. Ronnie eats that up.”
Before kick-off, Blayke Brailey’s shock return from a broken arm – 20 days after he inserted the bone into himself – had set off a tussle with the under-pressure incumbent No.9 Reece Robson in NSW Origin.
No hookers were able to contest for themselves at half-time. Blues full-back James Tedesco used brutal, legal contact that left his nose badly broken and apparently bleeding until the end of time.
News also came from the sidelines that his rugby player teammate Angus Crichton will be out of action for at least six weeks due to a foot injury. If surgery is required, a significantly longer break could mean he plays his final game for the Roosters.
But on all other fronts, it was Nawaqanitawase and Mulitalo who made the show.
Fresh off a two-try, defensively somewhat dubious Origin debut, Nawaqanitawase threatened to repeat his stunning MCG goal after 11 minutes, only for a toe-line on the touchline and desperate defensive defending from Braydon Trindall to deny him.
Instead it was experienced prop Lindsay Collins with her superb opening try, a 40-yard swoop in which she twice handled either side of loads from Daly Cherry-Evans and James Tedesco.
Nawaqanitawase battled an ankle problem early on but was fit enough to slot the ball to Will Kennedy and soon engage Mulitalo in some scuffles, shoves and sweet talk.
The Sharks’ winger then added a forearm to Nawaqanitawase’s face and conceded a penalty for his troubles, leading to the Roosters’ second try as Toia fell on the crumbs of another aerial battle on their wing.
“It’s part of Ronnie’s game and I think we enjoy watching it when it’s not your team,” Roosters coach Trent Robinson said.
“I really liked Mark’s reaction to it too. He stood his ground but also played football.”
As the cross-coded international roamed the pitch, much enjoyed by Nawaqanitawase ‘footballer’ Robinson, his fashionable late offload was next for Connor Watson, Sam Walker and eventually Billy Smith connecting on the try line.
Fittingly, it was Mulitalo who slid in reaction within a centimeter of the touchline before half-time, despite heavy contact that saw Tedesco get reported for a slide of his own against the Sharks flyer.
Cronulla further narrowed the gap to 14-4 just after half-time, with the returning Nicho Hynes lofting a perfect pass over three defenders for Sione Katoa to pass.
As the second half progressed, Nawaqanitawase flew high again. With 19 minutes left in the match, Mulitalo was given a warning for making a mistake.
When Cherry-Evans got on track once again, Nawaqanitawase sniffed the match-winner right over the top of the Sharks, then added another in the final minute as he stepped inside a KL Iro.
Nawaqanitawase’s NRL record of 38 tries in 34 matches now has the best try-scoring strike rate of any player since 1980, according to Fox Sports.
Mulitalo can attest to this, although he bravely kept up with him and was subjected to a few final insults away from home after the game had been won.
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Dan Walsh is sports correspondent for The Sydney Morning Herald.Connect with: X or email.
