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CRONULLA’S FAB FIVE MAKE PAY CUT PACT
Cronulla star Ronaldo Mulitalo says pay cuts have ‘got to happen’ if the club has any chance of keeping their starting back five together beyond 2023.
The Sharks are facing a feeding frenzy with Will Kennedy, Sione Katoa, Jesse Ramien, Sifa Talakai and Mulitalo set to hit the open market from November 1.
But Mulitalo revealed the five players have had numerous discussions about the club’s salary cap squeeze and made a pact to take a pay cut in a bid to remain together at the Shire.
“For all us, we all know we’re probably going to have to take a pay cut at some point, that’s just got to happen,” Mulitalo said.
“Sifa has played Origin, Sione is an international, Jesse is on the cusp of Origin and is having an outstanding season.
“It’s tough for the club, we just have to try and find some way of fitting us all in. I‘m pretty confident something will happen.”
“We’ve all had conversations about being together. We have won championships together through the juniors and through reserve grade, so we want to stick together.”
So serious are the backline quintet of not being torn apart by a salary cap squeeze, Mulitalo revealed their respective managers will meet to hash out a plan to fulfil the wishes of their clients.
Ronaldo Mulitalo says he is ready to take a pay cut to keep the Sharks back five together. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
“Our managers are all trying to get together, everyone wants a bit of the cake and it’s about how much we dish out to everyone,” Mulitalo said.
All five players are in fine form and have been crucial to Cronulla’s rise on the NRL ladder this season.
Talakai is now a NSW Blues player, while Jesse Ramien has factored in Origin selection discussions and Mulitalo and Katoa are international representatives. Kennedy is in career-best form at fullback.
It appears inevitable the players will field enticing offers from rival outfits, if any are allowed to hit the open market in just over two months time.
Any delay in negotiations could mean the club won’t be able to lock in the stars until after the Rugby League World Cup with all, except Kennedy, likely to feature in the tournament.
The Sharks are in extension talks with Mulitalo and the winger is keen to make a deal before the finals series.
“I have had talks, we all have. I think the club is communicating with us about it all so we’ve had those little conversations,” Mulitalo said.
“But we have the season to focus on. If I can’t get it done before November 1, which is not ideal, I’m sure it will be done by the end of the year.”
With the Sharks in reach of a top two finish there are fears contract talks could become a distraction heading into the finals.
Siosifa Talakai is set to hit the open market from November 1.
But Mulitalo insisted the focus remained solely on winning Cronulla’s second premiership with players no longer content riding the success of the club’s historic title in 2016.
“I think for us, we were riding on that for so many years, their success. Obviously we want to honour them but we have to build our own legacy and build our own history in this jersey,” he said.
“We spoke about really making a dent, rather than just being a part of it. The last time in 2020 we just made up the numbers … but now we have stability at the top and Craig Fitzgibbon.
“His standards are so high. Then you have guys like Dale Finucane and Cameron McInnes that have set the bar, they have come in and shown us what winning looks like and what it takes to win.”
Fitzgibbon’s ‘standards have done more than turn the Sharks into a competitive outfit but have also ‘tightened the screws’ on off-field expectations.
Mulitalo believes that has been the key to Cronulla’s turnaround in 2022.
“Touch wood, we haven’t had anything off the field, if you look at our history we maybe haven’t been the best,” Mulitalo said.
“He’s tightened the screws around off the field stuff. He talks about being a better man, that’s what comes before everything.
“It shows we are serious about our footy and how we hold ourselves in public and we stand tall anywhere we go.”
