Sharks legend ET challenges Mulitalo to break record
Andrew Ettingshausen says Ronaldo Mulitalo "better" break his record for most tries at Cronulla now that the gun winger is signed long-term.
Mulitalo's 83 four-pointers puts him exactly halfway to Ettingshausen's mark of 166, but the 25-year-old should be breathing down the legendary centre's neck by the time his new deal runs out at the end of 2028.
Mulitalo will still only be 28 when that season ends and, ahead of the Sharks' clash with Penrith in Las Vegas, told AAP he hoped to remain at the club for life.
The winger would be 17 tries away from Ettingshausen at the end of 2028 if he scored as many tries in these next four years as he has in the last four (66).
The sixth-most prolific try-scorer in competition history, Ettingshausen has been in Mulitalo's ear about crossing the chalk more often, and believes it's only a matter of time before the winger overtakes him.
"He better! I keep telling him every time I see him, you've got to score more tries, mate, keep them coming," Ettingshausen told AAP in Las Vegas.
"He'll definitely break my record and I'm excited for him to do that."
Mulitalo's 18 tries last season made him the sixth-most prolific scorer in the league, with the 25-year-old also in the top 10 for the two years before that.
A long-term shoulder injury to fellow winger Sione Katoa could make Mulitalo's left edge a more popular target for the Sharks' playmakers this year as the inexperienced Sam Stonestreet prepares to start on the opposite edge.
Ettingshausen is expecting a big season from Mulitalo.
"It's a shame Sione's injured at the moment, but they both scored well over 15 tries for this last season. I reckon they'll be up around 20 this year," Ettingshausen said.
"It's exciting. Ronaldo's got a big future, I'm glad he's signed for so long."
The Sharks have the chance to silence critics of their record against the NRL's elite sides when they face four-time reigning premiers Penrith at Allegiant Stadium on Sunday (AEDT).
Cronulla have beaten Penrith only once in nine clashes since mid-2019, and that was by a field goal when the Panthers were missing several players to State of Origin duty in 2021.
The addition of Cronulla's marquee prop Addin Fonua-Blake could tip the scales against a Panthers side that has lost its own middle-forward leader James Fisher-Harris.
"This is what you live for as a footballer," Ettingshausen said.
"You want to play the best teams and you want to beat the best teams. That's what rugby league's all about."
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