Interviews with Ronaldo Mulitalo and Sifa Talakai

[00:00:00] SharkCast, SharkCast, SharkCast, SharkCast And to all you people back in the Shire, turn your points lights off because we're coming home with a trophy. Hey there, welcome to SharkCast, part of a podcast dedicated to the greatest sporting club in the history of the world, the mighty Cronulla,

[00:00:38] Subul and Sharks. This show is brought to you by Dyson Logistics, the Royal Motor Yacht Club, Import Hacking and Jason Hawes of Crips and Crips Real Estate. I urge you to seek out all three great companies. My name is Sam Shinazzi,

[00:00:49] I'm the one urging you to do this. I'm an OG from 2015, lifetime supporter before that, dare I say lifetime supporter afterwards. So, I've been on the show for 10 years, 10 years of podcasting about the Cronulla, Subul and Sharks.

[00:01:03] First three quarters of that was with my buddy Adam Newman. Last few years have been with a revolving but regular bunch of co-hosts, co-stars, legends, you know who you are, appreciate all of you. Thanks to everyone who's tuned in from day one,

[00:01:19] thanks to everyone who's tuned in recently on the YouTube and via the podcast apps and everyone in between. Totally appreciate it. This is a shorter sharper episode. We've got feature interviews with Ronaldo Molotalo and Sifatallake who will play his

[00:01:36] 100th NRL game. Ronaldo was very honest in what's happened in the past few weeks and Sifatallake was great with his time. It was the end of a long day for him, 100 games, so the focus was on him with the media and

[00:01:52] even though it's not his favorite thing to do, he was very generous with his time for everyone, myself included and I waited till we could go one-on-one which we did. We actually did it in the away dressing rooms, which was pretty cool.

[00:02:06] He was great. Sifatallake walked away again, probably second or third time interviewing him, walked away thinking he's a deep thoughtful soul, tough as nails, club first and super glad he's a Cronol shark. I think he'll have a massive game this week.

[00:02:22] I think the whole team and the club will live for him. It's a big occasion for him and his family. We need to win. It's Canterbury, it's Friday night. They're in the best form they've been in for three years or so and

[00:02:36] their defense is actually really good. The defense is almost competition best, so it's not going to be an easy one if that's what any of you are thinking. I'm not suggesting you are, but if you are, it's not going to be easy. Very winnable game for sure.

[00:02:49] They went down to the Roosters last and they weren't overly impressive in that game. I think that if we can stop the offload and stop the kicking game, then we'll go a long way to winning the game. Obviously we need to start early. The two players

[00:03:05] I spoke to address that. I feel confident having watched a long session today that they're up for it. They're amped and they'll come out firing on all cylinders. I don't think we'll get a slow start this time around.

[00:03:17] I think they realize the importance of a good start because even though we've won a bunch of games from trailing, it's just so much easier to do it when you're in front. So I'm sure that's the plan.

[00:03:31] I'm sure it's the plan every week, but I'm sure it's the plan this week. In the training session they all looked pretty good, pretty rockin'. It was very physical. Nico looked pretty good. I spoke briefly to him and a few other guys off the record.

[00:03:45] They're all in good spirits, and you wouldn't know they'd lost three of the last four. You wouldn't know some of them have been looked over for Retfooty. They were in just really positive, serious and game-face

[00:03:59] spirits, I guess you'd say. Interesting to see a bunch of the lower graders competing against the first graders as well as some really young kids part of the training session. So very cool to see that and watch some of these kids start to rise in their careers.

[00:04:18] But yes, I think having seen what I've seen today at training that the Bulldogs are in for a heck of a competitive game this week, and I think that's much like when we've had something to prove in the recent past.

[00:04:33] I think there's another game here where probably certain people in the media and maybe even certain fans of our own, as well as opposing fans, think we're gonna roll over. And from what I saw that's not gonna happen.

[00:04:45] You never know what's gonna happen on Friday night, but I'm pretty confident that a very competitive Sharks team is going to turn up. We have a better team than the Bulldogs in I think all facets, and it's up to that better team to shine,

[00:04:59] play to their potential and come home with the two points, move on. It's a second part of the season. We've got three games before the next buy. I believe it is Bulldogs, Titans in Coffs Harbour and Tigers at home. Now

[00:05:16] earlier in the season you put those three games down and you think pretty easy. I mean, I'm glad that at the moment we're not gonna be playing all those big teams we recently played. It's good to sort of, you know,

[00:05:25] come back to a lower level just to sort of get the confidence up and to try and get some consecutive wins. But having said that, that's a bit hypocritical of what I was just trying to suggest because they're gonna be competitive games.

[00:05:37] I mean the Bulldogs great defense as I said. The Titans put 66 in the Warriors last week and the Tigers up and down but on their day very up and we've already lost to them once. They're gonna be very very competitive games.

[00:05:53] Those teams have got a lot to prove to their fans and to their bosses and they're looking for contracts with those guys. So it's gonna be a tough three weeks, but different tough to Melbourne, Brisbane, Roosters, etc, etc.

[00:06:07] So the draw from here on out is favourable if the Sharks turn up and play to their best week in week out. It's favourable. So we're still striving for top four. I'd love minor premiership top two.

[00:06:19] It's not out of the question by any means and I think that we're getting some troops back, some forwards. Braden Hamlin-Willi played for the Jets in the weekend getting some fitness back in his legs and we've got a strong depth chart in a lot of ways.

[00:06:34] I mean sure after Dan Atkinson it gets a little bit more inexperienced in the halves but just watching him train today he still looks great and he's chomping at the bit to get out there. Trindle looked really good to be fair.

[00:06:45] Will Kennedy had a spring in his step. A lot of players I think are out there to prove a point. I can't wait to see what happens on Friday night. Stick around, we do have Ronaldo and Mooletalo coming up and then we'll roll into

[00:06:59] Sifatallaka who's got some really thoughtful and impressive things to say about his career and about the club in particular, the way he feels about the club. Everything being well, we're gonna have another episode for you flagship style episode with a guest co-host

[00:07:16] coming up in the next 48 hours I would think and then we'll roll into game time, which will be Friday, Canterbury Bulldogs at Homebush. I've got a bit of the spring in my step

[00:07:27] which didn't have last week because we've got podcasts to do. We did them last week, but this week there's a renewed energy and deadline situation and we've got a game to look forward to. Hope you're having a good week.

[00:07:40] Breathe in, the game is around the corner as is my chat with Ronaldo and Mooletalo and then we'll get to Sifatallaka as well. Thanks very much for your time, for your listenership, for your support. I say it every time, I mean it every time.

[00:07:55] Cannot thank you enough. Up up, Granola, we'll talk to you soon. Dyson Logistics have been on board with Sharkcast since day one and because of that and their excellent service we are proud to be associated with them. Dyson Logistics provides tailored logistical solutions to meet your

[00:08:13] individual client needs and is set apart by its personalized service. Dyson is a strong worldwide agent network enabling highly competitive rates and I should also point out their head honcho is a lifelong season ticket holder of the mighty Granola's level on Sharks. Find them online

[00:08:30] www.dysonlogistics.com or call them on 028339 1844. Dyson Logistics service delivered. Ronaldo, Mooletalo thanks for your time again on the podcast. How are you feeling mentally physically? What's going on? Yeah good. Had a good break.

[00:09:00] Obviously just getting away from the game after a long stretch of footy, but yeah, really looking forward to coming back this week and Hopefully getting into it obviously strong dogs outfit on Friday night so it's a good way to start our season back on the track again and

[00:09:15] Yeah, just really keen on it. The bad stuff what happened against Dolphins with that first 20 minutes? Can you pin it down or anything? Yeah, obviously just real disappointing to come out at Shark Park in our home and

[00:09:25] leaked so many points in the first I think it was like 14 or 16 minutes or something That's not where you want to be as a footy team and That's not what that's not the team that will build up a season up over

[00:09:36] you know, I mean we chosen to be better than that and just didn't display that so it's back to the drawing board for us and Trying to chase their earlier form and and that grittiness of our defense. Is it hard to turn around?

[00:09:48] I know you had the week off But is that something you can just sort of click and make it happen Is it is it the preparation before the game like what how do you change that? Yeah, it's just mentality

[00:09:57] I think you know, you're a full-time footballer you get paid to do a job for this club You know you get paid to come in and and be a professional and I think obviously some of the boys Life distractions and stuff like that are coming board

[00:10:11] over the past month or so so it's about narrowing our focus and Going back to what worked for us before and earlier earlier rounds and that's consistency You have a good life outside of footy. You have a good life on footy. So

[00:10:24] That's all we're after and the only thing you can do is come in here Drop your baggage at the front gate and get to work and other boys have done a good week or that

[00:10:33] Matt Burton and his bombs this week getting ready for some big ones. Oh, it's all right. It's footy You always come across and people that got good boots and which Moses we had him a couple weeks ago as well

[00:10:43] He's got a powerful boot and played broader a couple times now, so nothing to be scared of but That's your job. You're paid to catch a ball. So catch a ball I guess All right. Thanks you time running appreciate it. Thank you. Take care

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[00:11:29] Double-oh money in time for the Melbourne storm, but I'd really love to get it off this keep which doesn't have much trajectory on it and it's a terrific catch by the Lutalo and he got away He burned well then he got there now the pass to the Fatelakai

[00:11:49] Thunders his way to the line Surely gonna climb a massive Scalp and take the Melbourne storm out in in Melbourne here at Amy Park Oh, this is this is some night for the Cronulla shark

[00:12:07] Shark cast is supported by the best and most honest real estate agent in the Southland Shire Jason Hawes from Crips and Crips real estate. He's an expert in the carrying bar region and has his eye all across the Shire

[00:12:19] lifelong sharks fan and supporter of this podcast if you're looking to buy or sell in the region The person you need to be talking to is Jason Hawes from Crips and Crips real estate call him on oh four one

[00:12:30] Oh four one seven four five. Oh, that's oh four one Oh four one seven four five. Oh Jason Hawes Crips and Crips real estate Sifat ala kai welcome back to shark house pot has been a few years my friend you're in great form

[00:12:49] Big milestone 100 NRL games you played a little bit for the South Sea rabbit And then mostly for the sharkies, of course, how does it feel coming up to this big game? Yeah No feels good refreshed after a little break that we just had

[00:13:05] Yes, just back to work back to check. No hundred game milestone Coming up to be quite honest. It's just another game for me, but it's I'll be silly if I say if I said it didn't mean anything to

[00:13:20] My family especially my parents and my partner my kids but and You know, it's to honor the club as well for giving the option you to come back and relive this dream Yeah, I mean not all sharks players reach the hundred

[00:13:36] milestone in total let alone for the club and your What 12 13 games away from 100 for the clubs will have this conversation again. Hopefully at finals time But yeah, it means a great deal and you're in great form

[00:13:48] There was the ongoing battle about where you're gonna play this year. You've played all over I know you don't have a preference. You just team first, which is great off the bench man that impacts unbelievable Can you feel that? at times here

[00:14:05] It's just what I aim to do is to be that player now I'm to change the game I'm not gonna sit back and wait for the games to be To come up and myself. I'm gonna be the best player

[00:14:18] Try and get after the game and try guess on the front foot and change the momentum back into our swing So Broncos game we go into the sheds half time behind by six or eight points

[00:14:28] I heard a little whisper that you were pretty fired up in the sheds and Then within a few minutes you scored the try that got us back into the game You're very you know animated fired up on this on the field then after the game

[00:14:42] We saw you in the team huddle with some great words. So you've become a leader of this team What does that mean to you? Wouldn't say I'm a leader um you know I just think some of these boys don't know the potential that they hold and

[00:14:58] with a bit of confidence and guidance, um bring out the best of them Yeah, I'm not too sure You are related to me because of the way you play as you said you want to make the impact

[00:15:13] Then we like the whole world saw you leading a team huddle after the game like yeah, you got something to say Yeah, it's just um Yeah, well we've worked so hard Yeah, we've had the best places and that we've had in a long time

[00:15:31] You know I just thought Well, we all we all felt that you know we We were on top of the game especially when we went in half time Regardless of the score you can see in their faces that they're

[00:15:43] so as we were slowly chipping away at them that they were you know slowly fatiguing and making little errors here and there more picking up on it and Just yeah after the game a lot of emotions are running high and

[00:15:58] Letting the boys know that you know, it's good to be proud and what we've done is what everyone said that we can't do Yeah, so it was a big month of footy and a big couple of months really but there were some focus games the media are

[00:16:12] all over us Saying that we can't do this can't do that and yeah, we had a point to prove obviously I know the players didn't necessarily speak about it Before the games, but you could tell afterwards like as a fan I could tell that's what was going on

[00:16:27] Hey, this is what we can do a long way to go. I don't want to bring things down But let's talk about the Dolphins game How do we avoid those starts in the future what's how do we address that as a team? It's yeah, I'll start to I

[00:16:42] Feel like our starts and would have been letting us down Pretty much in. Yeah all our losses are we've started pretty slow Very good second half team, but there's no reason why we can't put that showcase that in the first half as well Yeah

[00:16:57] I think if we fix it our starts and we start fast and rather than waiting to get punched in the face we Land the first shot go for the first shot then How do you do that as a collective as a team? How do you do that?

[00:17:11] It's easy enough you say I'm gonna say yeah, definitely easier say but um, yeah something that we've addressed them It's more mentally I feel was more mentally and It's just here the mental warfare You know you come in feeling tired or

[00:17:30] You're feeling sorry for yourself. You kind of reflects in your performances Yeah, we just gotta learn how to be tough and gritty Not just physically but mentally as well Bulldogs this week fear hundredth came they're in pretty good form at a loss on the weekend

[00:17:45] But they're going pretty good defensively. They're really good What's the plan against them? Yeah, the Bulldogs are in really good condition. We're playing the best Bulldog side We've seen in a couple years last couple of years and it's gonna be a tough battle everything

[00:18:04] We're gonna have to earn everything You know we're gonna have to scrap for every little possession and win. Yeah, the game plan is just a make fire with fire They're one of the top defensive clubs and we have to get them

[00:18:20] We aim to be at the top of the defensive ladder. So Yeah, just gonna have to defend and when we get our opportunities in that type and make the most of it

[00:18:28] All right. I appreciate your time. Good luck with the hundredth and the rest of the season. Thank you. Thanks You All you people back in the shire turn your points lights off because we're coming over the trophy You