Rugby league\u2019s hottest rivalry might be over after just four games with Ronaldo Mulitalo and Mark Nawaqanitawase going at it for 80 minutes in one of the most fiery battles of the year before they showed their mutual respect when the full-time whistle sounded.<\/p>\n
Wingers haven\u2019t gone at it like that since Wendell Sailor and Adam MacDougall did it two decades ago, with Mulitalo\u2019s relentless chirping and his aggression bringing out a side of Nawaqanitawase that we\u2019ve never seen before.<\/p>\n
The Roosters winger threw the ball at his Cronulla rival at one stage and accidentally hit Braydon Trindall instead, with Nawaqanitawase wearing a forearm on the ground but having the last laugh with two tries and a 27-8 win.<\/p>\n
The pair were inseparable as they contested kicks at Allianz Stadium and combined for three tries on Sunday night that left fans wanting more. <\/p>\n
But there won\u2019t be another meeting this year unless the sides clash in the finals, while it could also be their last confrontation unless Nawaqanitawase returns to the NRL after his move back to rugby union in 2027. <\/p>\n
\u201cWhen was the last time everyone wanted to watch a game with two wingers going at it?\u201d Mulitalo asked after the game. <\/p>\n
\u201cWhen people come to pay their hard-earned money to come watch people go at it (it\u2019s good to put on a show) and I\u2019m going to back myself all day. <\/p>\n
\u201cBut it\u2019s a good contest. Sometimes you\u2019ve got to take some humble pie, and he won today. We\u2019ll get back to the drawing board, have some rest, spend some time with my family, and then I\u2019ll get back to work.\u201d<\/p>\n
It was a big week for Nawaqanitawase, who made his Origin debut on Wednesday and then sent a scare through NSW when he stayed down with a foot injury that he says was just a problem with the tape protecting an existing issue. <\/p>\n
But he probably needed ear plugs after his battle with Mulitalo.<\/p>\n
\u201cI threw the ball today. I never actually react but he got a little bit out of me,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut at the end of the day I just have to do my work and let the footy do the talking. I think that\u2019s fair enough.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt (the banter) is annoying while you\u2019re playing, but it fires everyone up. So it\u2019s good, and it kept my team in check. I love the boys, they backed me up when it got a bit fiery there. At the same time, it was good not to lose our heads there as well.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s actually a great fella after the whistle. He\u2019s a lovely man and I can\u2019t fault him. He just loves the competition of the game, so it\u2019s a credit to him. <\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s a talented winger. I think for his team he\u2019s very important.\u201d<\/p>\n
The pair have squared off four times in the NRL, with the ledger locked at two wins apiece, although Mulitalo scored a double last year when the Sharks knocked the Roosters out of the finals. <\/p>\n
There was a heated moment in their first meeting when the Sharks star was sent to the sin bin for a high shot on the former Wallaby, and Mulitalo was happy to cop it after Sunday\u2019s loss after putting on a show for the fans. <\/p>\n
\u201cHe got the two points at the end of the day, so I\u2019m going to eat my humble pie today. He gave me a good lesson today, but that\u2019s the respect that we have,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are two wingers going at it. I can\u2019t remember the last game that everyone watched two wingers have a crack at it, so I had to put some respect on the wingers and show that we can get into the rumble as well. <\/p>\n
\u201cThis is what I do it for. I\u2019m not scared of anything. I put my nuts on the line, I put my everything on the line to get out there and give you guys a show. He got it tonight, but I move on and we carry on with the season.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t think anyone wants to watch Roosters and Sharkies go at it after that (when Nawaqanitawase leaves).<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m sure you guys enjoyed it every time the ball went in the air with me and him, everyone was loving it. Everyone pays their hard-earned money to come watch people play at it. <\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s an elite athlete, but at the end of the day, I\u2019ll back myself and he\u2019ll back himself. And he\u2019s a special talent, so you\u2019ve got to give him respect, give him his credit where credit\u2019s due.\u201d<\/p>\n
The intense battle ended the moment the siren sounded, with Mulitalo respecting his rival for not being a \u201ccrybaby\u201d. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve got the best mutual respect for each other and we understand the game. I respect him more by going hard and giving him my hardest, and he respects the same,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe exchanged words during the game, but everyone does. But if you\u2019re one of those crybabies at the end of the 80 minutes, then you shouldn\u2019t be playing the game. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a gentleman\u2019s game, it\u2019s a rough man\u2019s game. And after 80 minutes, if you\u2019re still carrying on, you\u2019re a crybaby. But it is what it is, we carry on and I\u2019m just happy to be back after my ACL.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s a freak athlete for what he\u2019s been able to do, it\u2019s unfortunate we\u2019re losing him to union. <\/p>\n
\u201cBut at the end of the day, I\u2019m a Cronulla Shark. If I come out and say, \u2018Oh yeah, \u2018Marky Mark\u2019 is much better than me\u2019, what does that tell my fan base, my teammates, my club? <\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m one of those guys; if you\u2019re going to give it, you can take it. Last year we knocked them out, this year they got me today, and we\u2019ll go back to the drawing board.\u201d<\/p>\n