Cronulla Sharks winger Ronaldo Mulitalo is embracing the challenge of going up against Sydney Roosters' cross-code star Mark Nawaqanitawase again on Saturday in a sudden-death final.
The duo has come head-to-head only a handful of times, starting in the finals series last year at Ocean Protect Stadium, forming a strong individual rivalry with a wealth of push and shoves along the way.
Plenty of fireworks went off in Round 16 this year when the two elite competitors came face-to-face on multiple occasions during the match.
The Kiwi international was first to strike with a try in the June encounter, before Nawaqanitawase crossed for a late double to claim the last laugh, for now.
Mulitalo is ready to embrace the latest chapter with his elite counterpart, this time with further stakes on the line in a sudden-death arena.
"Who's first up with Marky Mark questions aye?" Mulitalo said with a smile as he walked into the Sharks media conference.
Despite the on-field antics, Mulitalo remained full of praise for the Roosters winger.
"He's a generational talent, you don't get to have these games against people like that often and (I'm) looking forward to that contest," he said.
"I've got so much respect for him, spent time outside of the game with him briefly and obviously the battles on the field.
"It's a privilege to be in a game like this, to be in a semi-final and go up against the best of the best, I play this game for that exact reason."
Standing at 190 centimetres and 100 kilograms, Nawaqanitawase has provided an incredible highlights reel in his short time in the NRL, and shapes up as one of the most athletic players to grace the code.
MARK NAWAQANITAWASE IS OUT OF THIS WORLD! 🤯 #NRLBulldogsRoosters pic.twitter.com/5J3RZQ98bK
— NRL (@NRL) May 16, 2025
He shapes up as a nightmare for opposing wingers and is elite in the air while also proving to get the ball across the white line in incredible circumstances.
"He's bloody strong," Mulitalo said.
"He's a freakish player, he's got all the tools in the kit bag, and you just don't know what he's gonna do.
"That's the hardest thing. It takes all seventeen of our teammates to make sure we contain him."
Despite Ronaldo's reputation for getting under opposing players' skin on the field, he admitted the chatter between the two wingers is mainly coming from his corner.
"He doesn't really say anything. I think it's more myself," Mulitalo said with a laugh.
"He's a gentleman out there... if anything, sometimes I need to pull my head in.
"He knows I'm just going to keep talking, so he just ignores me anyway.
"I enjoy the contest, and every time you get a chance to run out onto an NRL field you understand it's gonna be hard, regardless of if it's Marky Mark or someone else."
It's likely Saturday night will be the last time the duo will go head-to-head, with Nawaqanitawase departing for Japanese rugby at season's end to sharpen his tools ahead of the Rugby World Cup at the end of next year.
The Sharks are armed with added confidence after a dominant win over the Cowboys last week, while the tri-colours went to war against Penrith in a highly entertaining seven-point loss.
It now brings the Roosters' losing streak to four consecutive matches, and are fighting against form to book a place in a preliminary final against the Dolphins.
The Sharks are also fighting to keep Braydon Trindall fit and firing, who continuously impresses when he steps onto the field with Cronulla.
It proved to be a gutsy performance last weekend following his return from a dislocated shoulder in Round 24, with Trindall looking in discomfort during the Cowboys clash but still doing enough to engineer a win to keep their premiership hopes alive.
The Roosters will host the Sharks at Allianz Stadium at 7:50pm on Saturday.
