Latest news with #RonaldoMulitalo
ABC News
25-05-2025
- Sport
- ABC News
NRL live: New Zealand Warriors face Canberra Raiders, Liam Henry, Ronaldo Mulitalo facing bans
Liam Henry and Ronaldo Mulitalo face bans for nasty tackles in losses on Saturday, before the Warriors and Raiders face off for second spot. Follow all the action in our live blog below, check out all the stats in the full ScoreCentre, and tune in to our live radio coverage.
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Ban to stretch Cronulla's backline even further
Ronaldo Mulitalo has added to Cronulla's backline issues, with the winger facing a one-match ban for his late shot that levelled Mark Nawaqanitawase. Mulitalo was on Sunday hit with a grade-two dangerous contact charge for hitting Nawaqanitawase after he passed in the Sydney Roosters' win on Saturday. If the Sharks were to fight the matter at the NRL judiciary, Mulitalo would risk a second game on the sideline. Watch all the highlights as the Roosters take on the Sharks in Round 12!#NRLRoostersSharks — NRL (@NRL) May 24, 2025 Cronulla have already faced depth issues in their outside backs this year, after Sione Katoa required shoulder surgery after an injury in a pre-season trial. Sam Stonestreet is also out with an ankle injury, after sustaining damage to his syndesmosis against Melbourne last week. Cronulla are hopeful of Katoa returning after next week's bye, otherwise Mulitalo's ban would leave the Sharks without both first-choice wingers against the Warriors. In that case, Chris Vae'ila would be the front-runner to debut for the Sharks. Mulitalo was sin-binned for the shot on Saturday night, with referee Grant Atkins identifying direct shoulder contact to the head after Nawaqanitawase passed. But the match review committee on Sunday deemed it to be dangerous contact and not a shoulder charge, which would have resulted in an extra game out. Penrith forward Liam Henry is also facing a two-match ban out of Saturday night's games, in trouble for a crusher tackle on Fletcher Sharpe in the loss to Newcastle. The review committee on Sunday opted for a grade-two charge, meaning Henry would risk a third match on the sideline if he elects to fight the ban. The last-placed Panthers at least expect to have their entire State of Origin cohort back for those games, provided the quintet get through game one unscathed. Backrower Scott Sorensen is also due back from a suspension against Parramatta next Sunday, while Luke Garner should be able to return from a concussion.
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cronulla ace learns fate after ugly act as Roosters make mockery of Origin backlash
A severely depleted Roosters side have made a mockery of calls to pause the NRL during the State of Origin period after thumping a full strength Cronulla 42-16 on Saturday night. The Sharks' heavy defeat was compounded by an ugly high shot from winger Ronaldo Mulitalo that saw the flyer sent to the bin. On Sunday, the NRL match review committee slapped Mulitalo with a one-game ban, with an early guilty plea. The incident was a sour note in what was an outstanding against-the-odds triumph for the Roosters, who were missing five players to Origin duty, along with several more injured stars. The Origin situation had already led to renewed calls for the NRL to implement a standalone period for the representative game, after the ladder-leading Bulldogs were thumped by the struggling Dolphins on Thursday night. Penrith were also missing five Origin stars and were thrashed by Newcastle in Saturday night's earlier game, to leave the four-time defending premiers rooted to the bottom of the ladder. But the Roosters flipped the script against premiership contenders Cronulla in Gosford, running in seven-tries-to-three to score an extraordinary 26-point victory. Roosters No.7 Hugo Savala showed that the club's interest in veteran Manly halfback Daly Cherry-Evans may be unnecessary as he delivered the most mature display of his nine-game first-grade career. Savala scored one try and contributing three try assists with his pin-point kicking a particular highlight in the big win. The Roosters led 14-0 in as many minutes, with left winger Daniel Tupou catching and grounding two superb Savala cross-field kicks. Both tries were converted by Savala's excellent halves partner Sandon Smith, who added a penalty and finished the night with seven goals from eight attempts. Savala's long-term future at the Tricolours has been subject to scrutiny this season, with his agent declaring he would explore loan options if Robinson lands the signature of Cherry-Evans. But on the evidence so far this season - and with first-choice No.7 Sam Walker still not due back from injury for a month - Savala and Smith have established themselves as bona fide NRL playmakers. "I've been really clear with my intentions, and I also don't think it's the right time to talk about that," Robinson said when asked about his club's move for Cherry-Evans. "On a night like tonight, to shift direction towards that, I don't think it's the right time - I think it's right to celebrate the team and the players." The match was overshadowed by a brutal high shot from Mulitalo on Roosters centre Mark Nawaqanitawase that saw the Sharks winger sent to the sin bin midway through the first half. Nawaqanitawase caught and passed in quick succession, with replays showing Mulitalo making forceful contact with his shoulder to the head of the Roosters star, in an incident some fans labelled a 'dog shot' and many thought should have been a straight send-off. Dog shot by Mulitalo on Nawaqanitawase #nrlroosterssharks — Osman (@osmankarolia) May 24, 2025 Ronaldo should be sent off, not 10m — RichitiGrub (@WSWanderingEels) May 24, 2025 How is Ronaldo not sent off? #NRLRoostersSharks — Ray Stone's the Doggies! (@RocksBicep) May 24, 2025 Mulitalo lucky not to be sent off — 🟦🟥⬜ KCN ⬛ ⬜ x 🔴⚫️⚪️ (@EastsToWin1994) May 24, 2025 The Sharks trailed 20-6 at halftime, and Savala helped extend that advantage after the break with another kick that fell kindly for Nawaqanitawase, who crashed over for his eighth try in nine games. Roosters prop Xavier Va'a made it an NRL debut to savour after crashing over for a try with just his second touch of the footy and while KL Iro and Mulitalo pulled tries back for the Sharks, Roosters skipper James Tedesco and Dom Young hit back to put the exclamation mark on a big win. RELATED: Legend's Origin call backfires as Manly flops expose grim DCE truth Walters snubs Dogs in call on Galvin's future amid $2m 'clip' for Tigers Staggering new twist after Billy Slater snubs Queensland player "Back down to earth with a thud," said Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon in a press conference that lasted just 80 seconds. "I don't make excuses ... we got outperformed, and it was a real attitude check for us that we're going to have to work on." The win lifts the Roosters into 11th on the ladder, while the Sharks remain fifth after missing the chance to break into the top-four. with AAP
News.com.au
24-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Shark Ronaldo Mulitalo's sickening high shot rocks the NRL
Sharks winger Ronaldo Mulitalo may have just booked himself a decent holiday after a horror high shot on the Roosters' Mark Nawaqanitawase on Saturday night. With just over 15 minutes remaining in the first half of the Roosters' 42-16 victory in Gosford, Mulitalo set himself and wiped out Nawaqanitawase as he was making a pass near the right touchline. FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every game of every round in the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership, LIVE with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer. The former Wallaby's flick pass found Dom Young, who then passed inside to James Tedesco, with the Roosters skipper producing an audacious backhanded flick to Hugo Savala. Savala strolled over the tryline to cap a moment of absolute brilliance from the Tricolours, but Cronulla's woes deepened when referee Grant Atkins called Mulitalo over to inform he he'd been placed on report and handed 10 minutes in the bin. Watch the high shot in the video player above 'Off he goes,' Dan Ginnane said on Fox Sports. 'This night just goes from bad to worse and Ronaldo Mulitalo – not sure there'll be much sympathy for him outside the Cronulla region. 'He's been sent to the bin and he's got a problem.' Michael Ennis replied: 'He's got a problem all right. That's a heavy shot and he just launches. 'Although his body position is lowering at the point where he's delivering the pass, the duty of care which they look for, he gets him flush.' Those looking on were confident Mulitalo would be facing a suspension for the high shot. 'That's going to be a suspension and they're playing the Warriors next week,' Ginnane said. 'When a player is sent to the sin bin, it pretty much is an automatic suspension, but the match review team will have a look at that.' At halftime, NRL great Cooper Cronk said the Sharks winger was lucky the shot didn't have a worse result, with Nawaqanitawase managing to recover and play out the game. 'The lead up to that, Ronaldo Mulitalo put Mark Nawaqanitawase into next week with that contact,' Cronk said. 'He went to the sin bin, there was a penalty, and I think that is going to get looked at. 'He's lucky he didn't get him flush, he might be off the field for the rest of the game.' The Sharks were trailing 20-6 after the Savala try, with the Roosters playing some outstanding football. Trent Robinson's side scored two more tries after the break to stretch their lead before the Sharks rallied with two late tries of their own. But the Mulitalo act was a major talking point, with most watching on believing the 25-year-old should have copped a tougher punishment from the officials. Sports journalist Martin Gabor tweeted: 'That's a clear send off. Late, forceful, direct to the head. Gonna be a long break for Mulitalo.' X account Wandering Eels said: 'Ronaldo should be sent off, not 10m bin. Shocker.' Cookie man wrote: 'Just saw the Mulitalo shot, that's a send off.' There was a smattering of support for the Cronulla star, with Luke Sheppeard tweeting: 'He went low, had his head down and braced himself. Mark then went lower. Not much Mulitalo could have done in that situation.'
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Andrew Johns' fury after NRL Immortal completely ignored by Newcastle coach
😃 The good: Ronaldo Mulitalo and divisive antics 😔 The bad: Andrew Johns' plea to Adam O'Brien ignored 😡 The ugly: Terrell May's State of Origin snub There are two schools of thought when it comes to Ronaldo Mulitalo. Some fans (mostly from the Shire) love what the Cronulla winger brings to the game, with his all-talking, all-energy approach. Others label him a big-mouth and predict he's set for a big fall when karma pays him a visit. Whatever you think of him, there is no denying Mulitalo's value and contribution to a Sharks side slowly making its way up the table. After his winger spent most of the game getting in the faces of Melbourne players while playing a massive role in Cronulla's five-point win on Saturday night, coach Craig Fitzgibbon defended his man. "Passion's a good word (for him). He's one of those players that's a good barometer for where your team's energy's at and wanting it so bad," Fitzgibbon said. "He wears his heart on his sleeve and is a really passionate player. He sticks up for his teammates and sometimes pushes the boundaries a little bit, but he's one of those guys you want on your team. "He gets in a battle mode and he's hard to control once he gets into that. We love him for that. Sometimes the lines get blurred but he's doing it for his teammates." Nicho Hynes added: "He's awesome, Ronnie, but I'd hate to play against him. He's a pain the backside but he's someone who brings players together. When he crosses that white line, no one's his friend on the opposition team. We love having him." A host of former players are of the opinion he should just shut up and play football. Either way, Ronnie is box office. It's safe to assume Andrew Johns knows a thing or two about Newcastle and halfbacks. So, when the eighth Immortal says the Knights need to bring Jackson Hastings back at No.7 to reboot a season going nowhere, you'd think coach Adam O'Brien would lean in for a listen. Apparently not. Despite his side losing seven of their last eight to slide to slip to 15th on the ladder, the Knights boss dismissed suggestions Hastings should be recalled to the NRL following Friday night's embarrassing defeat to Parramatta. It's only increased speculation Hastings is off with several senior figures at the club and it's his divisive personality – not his football – keeping him anchored in the NSW Cup. Joey could barely contain his anger and frustration. He said: "They've got to work out who their halves are (because) Tyson Gamble's not a halfback, he's a really good 14. One thing about Jackson, he's polarising as we all know, but he can get you around the park. "He'll organise, he can get a game plan on, he kicks well and he brings other players into play. There's rumours about certain feuds and all this, which I couldn't give a rat's about. Whoever's the best No.7, put them in there and leave them there, because there's no stability in the key areas." There is no doubt Terrell May has the ability to play State of Origin. The Tigers prop has all the traits needed to succeed at that level. But you wonder if his chance will ever come given the reputation – warranted or not – he now carries as someone who doesn't buy into team culture. The Roosters have never fully explained why they extended May's contract last year only to flick him months later. No club gets rid of a representative class player like that without very good reason. The Chooks obviously didn't like what they saw away from the football paddock. May was only ever an outside shot at making the Blues side for Origin 1, but did himself no favours with an online chat telling a mate to throw his NSW jersey in the bin after word got around the front-rower would be overlooked. That fired up former Blues skipper and coach Brad Fittler. "(Manly's) Haumole Olakau'atu a couple of years ago did something very similar and last year I went into Manly and he came up and apologised and sat there and just spoke about how he was immature,' Fittler said. "I really respected things he was speaking about and how contrite he was. "I reckon maybe Terrell May should maybe ring Haumole and humble up a little bit. Seriously, what are these blokes thinking? There's people at home who just love this game. They just love it. And you sit there playing a game and all of a sudden you want to just talk like this. How blasé. Pathetic."
