NRL 2021: Cronulla Sharks Sione Katoa, Ronaldo Mulitalo open up on friendly rivalry
From Fijian flyers to human wrecking balls, these are the players who leave everything on the field and the guys we all love to watch.
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Big hitters, try-scoring freaks, all-or-nothing players who leave everything on the field.
Whether it’s acrobatics, bone-crunching defence or borderline madness, these blokes have got you covered and are Box Office Gold.
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THE LEILUA BROTHERS
Win or lose, the Leilua brothers double act will be filled with drama every single week. Luciano has evolved into one of the most destructive backrowers in the league since joining the Tigers and has a flair for the flamboyant he shares with his older brother. Throw in Joey’s wild streak, which seems to grow even longer when somebody cleans up his brother and Joey feels retribution is in order, and the good, the bad and the ugly is all possible - along with anything in-between.
NATHAN BROWN
Legendary enforcer Mark “Spudd” Carroll likes to call Brown “The Energizer Man” and it’s easy to see why. The Parramatta powerhouse is the kind of player who brings it off the back fence every time he carries the ball and despite his small stature compared to some of the NRL’s giants in the middle of the field he plays as if he doesn’t know the meaning of fear. One of the NRL’s toughest players, Brown’s controlled intensity has made him a force for the Eels.
JUSTIN OLAM
They breed them tough in Chimbu and Justin Olam has gone from the Highlands of Papua New Guinea to NRL stardom by playing the Kumul way - that is, at full speed and full power at all times. A missile in attack and defence, Olam is one of the most physical centres in the NRL and is always worth keeping an eye on when the Storm take the field.
HAMISO TABUAI-FIDOW
If Tabuai-Fidow gets a look at daylight then forget about it, it’s Hammertime. Along with Josh Addo-Carr and James Roberts, Tabuai-Fidow is among the NRL’s true speed demons but even at his fastest he has a loping grace that makes him seem born to be in open space. North Queensland’s attack is still a work in progress but in Tabuai-Fidow they have a speed demon. Don’t blink during a Cowboys game because if you do you might miss him.
MAIKA SIVO
Following in the footsteps of Semi Radradra was always going to be a tough ask but Sivo has done all he can to continue Parramatta’s legacy of Fijian flyers. Whether it’s going directly through his opposite number or turning on the jets, Sivo can beat a defender any which way and relishes winning one-on-one battles.
AJ BRIMSON
The Titans paid big bucks to land David Fifita and Tino Fa’asuamaleuai but Brimson is the homegrown firecracker they need to turn the big boys hard yakka into points. After announcing himself to the rugby league world with a stellar Origin debut last November, Brimson’s speed, footwork and ability to be in the right place in the right time has him poised to become one of the NRL’s most destructive players in 2021.
BRIAN TO’O
When it comes to finishing half-chances from close range there’s nobody better than Brian To’o. Even if the odds seemed stacked against him and there’s four or five defenders between the Penrith powerhouse and the tryline, put your money on tryscoring pride of Mt Druitt. Throw in his pre-match Kung fu routines and post-match renditions of Backstreet Boys songs and To’o is as close to rugby league has to a renaissance man.
BRANDON SMITH
Plenty of NRL fans can’t stand Melbourne because they win all the time, but even they have a soft spot for Brandon Smith. Be it at hooker or lock, Smith’s wholehearted play and willingness to take on anybody who gets in his way makes him a must-see every time you switch on a Melbourne game. One of the game’s great characters, on the field and off it, you can’t risk missing out on whatever “The Cheese” does next.
VICTOR RADLEY
“The Inflictor” is a bantamweight in a world full of heavyweights in the middle of the field but Radley doesn’t ever let that stop him from making an impact. Where most forwards rely on size and strength to get it done, Radley is a study of technique - with both his passing game and thunderous defence. The Roosters have plenty of stars but you can’t ever stop watching the boy from Bronte.
‘DON’T TRY THIS AT HOME’: SHARKS’ SECRET TO TRYSCORING ACROBATICS
Off the field Cronulla’s dynamic wingers Sione Katoa and Ronaldo Mulitalo are thick as thieves but on it they’re constantly looking to push one another to the absolute limit.
The two young Sharks have become one of the NRL’s most exciting wing duos with their incredible, gravity defying finishes becoming one of rugby league’s most electrifying sights in recent years.
“It started at training with me and Ronny, challenging each other all the time,” Katoa said.
“We were low key looking at each other when we’re doing time trials, I’ll be looking over to see where Ronny is and he’ll be right next to me looking straight back.
“We secretly challenge each other. Off the field we’re good mates, we’re close, but at training I’m always looking for him, seeing what he’s doing and wanting to do it better.”
The two have contrasting personalities - the 21-year old Mulitalo is confident and extremely self-assured for his age while Katoa, 23, is more quiet and reserved.
Mulitalo and Katoa never found a chance they wouldn’t take to the air to try and finish and the duo’s love the spectacular has them on the path to matching some of rugby league’s iconic wing duos.
Both are still in the early stages of their first grade career but the sky is the limit - one day, Mulitalo and Katoa could engineer as much excitement as Lote Tuqiri and Wendell Sailor, Ken Nagas and Noa Nadruku or Josh Addo-Carr and Sulisai Vunivalu.
“As a young bloke, I want to be the guy everyone hates playing against and other fans hate watching but everyone on my team and in my community love watching,” Mulitalo said.
“These are the people that matter to me, my teammates are the ones who matter to me.
“I want to make sure I set the tone right and get the energy right.”
They should flash the old warning from Jackass on the big screen before every Sharks game.
The following games features put downs performed either by professionals or under the supervision of professionals.
Accordingly, Mulitalo and Sione Katoa must insist that no one attempt to recreate or re-enact any put down or corner finish performed in this game.
And just like watching Johnny Knoxville back in the day, you can’t look away when the ball goes near Mulitalo or Katoa.
But, and they can’t stress this enough, we need to leave that sort of thing to the professionals.
“We speak about it all the time when people ask how we think about it or how we train for it - you can’t really train for it,” Mulitalo said.
“You’d probably break your neck if you tried, so I don’t encourage anyone to try it at home. I feel like Jackass, don’t try this at home cause I’m not.”
Mulitalo understands he’s putting his body on the line whenever he takes to the skies, but sometimes that’s the cost of doing business when tries are on offer.
“It’s one of those things where you want to sacrifice your body for the team,” Mulitalo said.
“We put ourselves in a dangerous position, everyone sees the highlights but it’s a dangerous position.
“I saw Xavier Coates go down and that’s the bad side of it. But you have to go for gold, you have to go for the tryline.
When coach John Morris noticed he was blessed with two excellent finishers he tried to get them to train for such situations, but to no avail.
As Katoa explains, it’s launch to the heavens, reach out, feel your way to the line and hope for the best.
“It’s instinct, you never plan for it. We never practice,” Katoa said.
“Bomber (John Morris) tried to get us to practice it in the sheds on the mats, but it’s just not the same.
“It’s like the feeling when a plane takes off.”
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