Cronulla legend Mat Rogers has backed winger Ronaldo Mulitalo to continue his prolific try-scoring feats throughout the NRL finals and eventually catch Andrew Ettingshausen as the Sharks' all-time leader tryscorer.
The elite finisher moved into equal-third on the club's leaderboard in last week's victory over the Sea Eagles, crossing for his 82nd try to draw level with Steve Rogers.
Ettingshausen remains out in front on 165, ahead of David Peachey (110), however Mulitalo is rapidly closing in.
Mat Rogers is fifth on 75 tries, one ahead of current winger Sione Katoa.
Remarkably, Mulitalo has scored 82 tries from just 107 games, hitting double figures in five-straight years, including 17 this season. He'll be looking to add to the tally when Cronulla travel south to face Melbourne in a qualifying final on Saturday afternoon.
Ronaldo putting on a show
It's a strike rate up there with the best in the game, with the 24-year-old destined to soar up the NRL's all-time leaderboard if he continues at his current trajectory.
"What I love about both Ronaldo and Sione is their toughness," Rogers told NRL.com. "They play a tough brand of footy that helps their team out.
"Ronaldo is moving up the pecking order at the Sharks at quite a rate. He's only 24 years old, if he hangs around long enough with his strike rate it won't be an issue knocking off another 80 tries and he might knock ET off his pedestal if he stays at the club."
Match: Storm v Sharks
Finals Week 1 -
home Team
Storm
1st Position
away Team
Sharks
4th Position
Venue: AAMI Park, Melbourne
Match broadcasters:
- WatchNRL
Mulitalo has developed into one of the best finishers in the game, producing a series of acrobatic finishers to ground the ball in the in goal.
He's just as lethal from long range and has used his speed and fast feet to beat defenders from all areas of the field.
While he hopes to continue soaring up the leaderboard, Mulitalo is honoured to simply be in the same conversation as Cronulla legends.
"Being here since I was a young fella, I never thought my name would be mentioned with those legends of the club," Mulitalo told NRL.com. "Just to be able to be in that conversation around those guys is not only massive for myself but for my family.
"It's nice to know my last name will be there in the history books for the rest of my life. I'm looking to add to it but I'm really grateful for this club. They've stuck by me this whole time.
"I haven't played my best games or anywhere near what I could be and for the club to hold on to me for this long, I'm just a scrawny kid from South Auckland that moved to Brisbane, I'm forever grateful for it."
Growing up in New Zealand, Mulitalo was not well-versed in Cronulla Sharks history throughout his early years.
Remembering Steve Rogers
That started to change, however, when the winger arrived in the Shire as a 19-year-old and quickly learnt what the team means to passionate locals.
So Mulitalo has spent the past few years connecting with the club's legends, getting to know Peachey, Ettingshausen and a host of others. It's a vital piece, he said, in the current squad's quest to deliver success this season and long into the future.
"I didn't watch much league when I was younger but what I try to do is learn the history of the club whenever I get the chance to," Mulitalo said. "I like to hear stories about them and watch old clips. David Peachey getting around Shark Park on a Sunday arvo was a thing of beauty, the way he would glide around.
"ET is always around as well. He's a massive part of this club and its history. To even be able to talk to those guys and learn from them is important to me so I'm lucky to be around them."
Indigenous Inspirations: David Peachey
Rogers enjoys catching up with Mulitalo when the two cross paths, with the club legend impressed with his desire to learn and develop as a player.
The former outside back was in the Shire a few weeks ago for the Sharks' Old Boys Day and saw first-hand how coach Craig Fitzgibbon has leant on the team's history to fuel their current charge to the finals.
It's a process, he hopes, will lead to plenty of success over the next few weeks.
"One of the things Fitzy says to the boys is that they're only custodians of the jersey," Rogers said. "It's not ours so we need to leave it in a better position. The Sharks do a wonderful job honouring the past.
"Ronaldo has been very engaging with me and the other members of the old boys community. It's great to have a leader like Fitzy who understands the history of the game, what a club means to a community and how important the people who play for the club are for the community."
