Cronulla Sharks winger Ronaldo Mulitalo has produced a selfless act for an NRL winger, giving up a hat-trick to hand teammate Luke Metcalf his first try in first grade.
The Sharks battled the Wests Tigers in the first NRL match to be played in Rockhampton on Saturday afternoon and the Sharks had the majority of the running for the match.
They raced out to a 16-4 lead at half time on the back of a double to winger Mulitalo who was getting the better of his match-up with David Nofoaluma on the left edge.
Mulitalo carried that form into the second half, producing a barnstorming run through the middle of the Tigers' defence, breaking three tackles and ending up in open space.
He had a two on one with Tigers fullback Moses Mbye, opting to dummy and not finding teammate Luke Metcalf on the inside.
It left Mulitalo with a free run to the line to bring up his hat-trick, with would have been the first time he had scored three tries in a match in his NRL career.
However, he selflessly opted to hand the ball off to Metcalf through the middle to bring up the young half's first NRL try.
Instead of scoring a hat-trick, Ronaldo Mulitalo gifts Luke Metcalf his first NRL try 👏
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It was a fantastic moment between two players who have come through the junior ranks at Cronulla.
The pair played together in the 2017 SG Ball grand final along with Teig Wilton and Franklin Pele.
Metcalf was a junior for Cronulla but left to spend three years at the Manly Sea Eagles.
Despite a strong showing at the NRL Nines, he was never able to break through and make his first-grade debut at Manly.
It left Metcalf frustrated and he made the decision to return to the Sharks for the 2021 season.
He eventually made his debut against the Sea Eagles in round 20 and the match against the Tigers was his fourth for the year.
Metcalf spoke with Sporting News before the season and stated that he had a point to prove after his disappointing stint at Manly.
Unfortunately for Ronaldo Mulitalo, he left the field during the second half clutching his jaw after a collision with Tommy Talau.
