June 22, 2026 — 11:41am“It’s a gentleman’s game, it’s a rough man’s game. And after 80 minutes if you’re still carrying on, you’re a cry baby.”No wonder Mark Nawaqanitawase is going to miss Ronaldo Mulitalo when he returns to rugby union.After sledging and shoving each other up and down Allianz Stadium on Sunday night in the best one-on-one battle of the NRL season, Mulitalo sought out the Roosters star immediately after full-time.Rugby league’s angriest winger had been well and truly beaten, had watched Nawaqanitawase score a hat-trick on him and been sprayed by most of his Roosters teammates, including yellow shirt trainer Patrick Lane.But Mulitalo switched off as soon as the final whistle blew in the Roosters’ 27-8 win, and approached Nawaqanitawase for a cuddle, a handshake and congratulations.Not since Wendell Sailor and Adam MacDougall traded tries, talked in the third person and – if you believe the tall tales – gave pep talks to their own legs 25 years ago have two of the game’s flyers entertained in such combative fashion.Mark Nawaqanitawase and Ronaldo Mulitalo go at it.NRL Photos“I can’t remember the last game that everyone watched two wingers have a crack at it. We had to put some respect on the wingers and show that we can get into the rumble as well,” Mulitalo said afterwards.“This is what I do it all for. You know I’m not scared of anything. I put my nuts on the line, put my everything on the line to get out there and give you guys a show ... Obviously their fan base love watching him, and now I’m going to back myself all day. But it was a good contest.“You know, sometimes you gotta take some humble pie, and I eat one today. He gave me a good lesson today. But you know that’s the respect that we have.“I respect him more by going hard and giving him my hardest, and he respects me the same. Obviously we exchange words during the game, everyone does. But if you’re one of those cry babies at the end of the 80 minutes, then you shouldn’t be playing the game.”Blues winger Mark Nawaqanitawase was outstanding on debut for NSW.Getty ImagesMulitalo was put on report for a last-minute shoulder charge that the match review committee ruled on Monday warranted no further. He was also penalised for roughing up Nawaqanitawase’s face with a forearm midway through the first half.For his part, Nawaqanitawase loved every minute of it. Even if it brought out a side of him he says he’s never shown on the field before.“I threw the ball. I’ve never actually reacted like that,” the NSW Origin winger said.“He brought a little bit [of aggression] out. It’s annoying while you’re playing, but it fires everyone up … The boys, they backed me up when it got a bit fiery there. Honestly, he’s actually a great fella.“After the whistle, he’s a lovely man. I can’t fault him. He just loves it, he loves the competition of the game.”Nawaqanitawase’s rolling battle with Mulitalo capped a bittersweet week, headlined by his two-try Origin debut in NSW’s heavy MCG defeat on Wednesday.The 25-year-old returns to rugby at the end of 2026 on an eye-watering deal with Japanese outfit Saitama Wild Knights, worth more than $1 million a season.Nawaqanitawase’s return puts him in the Wallabies frame for a home World Cup next year, though the Roosters plan to keep the door open for a possible rugby league return from 2029.It’s all hypotheticals and hearsay for now, but Nawaqanitawase admitted Origin debuts, Roosters success and battles with Mulitalo all make it harder to rule out another code hop further down the line.“I’m going to miss everything,” he said. “The game’s been great to me. I love this club, and it’s just been so fun to be a part of.“Obviously it’s a long way away, and I’ve got a great opportunity where I’m going [in Japan]. But who knows what can happen hey? We’ll be back one day.”Dan Walsh is a sports reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald.Connect via X or email.From our partners