Sharks star Ronaldo Mulitalo has revealed the full extent of his season-ending injury after shattering his jaw in two places against Wests Tigers at the weekend.
Mulitalo was instrumental in the 50-20 drubbing, scoring two tries and setting up another as the Sharks firmed up their top-eight hopes ahead of finals football.
But the winger’s afternoon, and season, was cut short when he broke his jaw in a thumping tackle.
Fresh out of surgery on Monday, Mulitalo reflected on the moment he knew his 2021 campaign had come to a premature end.
“I just knew straight away I broke my jaw,” Mulitalo told Nine News’ Danny Weidler.
“I just felt my jaw kind of swinging, and I just knew from there it was done.
“I thought I’d try stand up and see if I could shake it off but I tried to move my head and it just started giving way. I could feel my whole mouth at the bottom moving.
“A few of the boys came running over and said I had a big gash on my jaw, as well.
“I actually clean snapped it, there’s a few pieces missing. And I also clean snapped it on the other side.”
Despite his gruesome injury, Mulitalo still found time to hand his boots to a young Sharks fan in the crowd at full-time in an incredible gesture of kindness.
“If I can make someone’s day or change a difference in someone’s life, in any aspect of life, then I’m going to do that,” he said.
His kindness also stretched onto the park when he gave up a chance to bag a hat-trick in favour of giving his good friend and teammate Luke Metcalf his first try in the NRL.
“I feel like that’s a massive milestone for anyone in their footy career, is to score their first try,” he said.
“I wanted to let him tick that box as soon as he could. He was next to me when it was happening and he was just calling for it and I looked at him. It was a good thing I saw him.
“Like I said, just trying to look after teammates.”
For a daily dose of the best of the breaking news and exclusive content from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by clicking here!