Just a trial?
Try telling the Bulldogs and Sharks — or more specifically Ronaldo Mulitalo and Jake Averillo — that.
The pair were engaged in a running battle in the first half of Sunday’s trial, with tempers boiling over in the latter stages of the opening period.
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Both teams came together after Mulitalo fielded a Matt Burton kick inside his in-goal area, with Averillo sliding in and collecting his Sharks rival.
There was nothing untoward in Averillo’s actions according to the officials, with the Bulldog not penalised, but that did not stop the Sharks from taking exception to the move.
“Here we go, they’re at it again,” said Michael Ennis as the two teams clashed.
“Here’s Mulitalo, seconds down round three or is it round four? Here he is and Katoa joins the action as well,” added Warren Smith in commentary.
“What is going on with these Sharks wingers? Mulitalo and Averillo, the first-half feud continues. It was a nice kick by Burton, Mulitalo did a nice job to read it, slides in and he’s not happy. He says the knee has come in.
“They need to keep their heads here,” said Ennis.
“It’s a trial game in all honesty.”
But there was plenty of the line for the Sharks — $100,000 to be exact — still in the running for the pre-season challenge’s top prize if they scored enough bonus points.
And Cronulla took a step towards doing just that when Nicho Hynes put up a kick and Mulitalo came down with it, getting the “last laugh” as Smith put it.
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“He goes up above everybody and the weight on the kick was perfect,” Smith said.
“It took the defence out of play. The timing was delicious. Watch this again from Nicho Hynes, what a star he is.”
“Won’t he get some enjoyment out of that Ronaldo,” added Ennis.
“He’s been up in the face, roaring all first half in the battle with Jake Averillo and doesn’t he enjoy it.”
