Sharks’ Mulitalo has lost count of his many surgeries
Jasper Bruce |
Ronaldo Mulitalo has lost count of the number of surgeries he has undergone during his rugby league career.
So it’s little wonder the experienced Cronulla winger knew what to do to recover from his anterior cruciate ligament injury in a speedy seven months.
Mulitalo made a triumphant return to the field at Magic Round on Friday night, scoring two tries in the Sharks’ 38-16 rout of Canterbury.
The 26-year-old had appeared a chance to miss the majority of the 2026 season when he went down playing for New Zealand in October’s Pacific Championships.
Mulitalo’s off-season surgery was only the latest in an extensive run of procedures that began with a shoulder reconstruction at 16.
“I think this was my seventh, or eighth, surgery,” Mulitalo said.
“I’ve had knees, I got my ankle done as well, I had my ACL, jaw, both shoulders done when I was a bit younger.”
Mulitalo credited the Sharks’ new physiotherapist Dean Zalunardo for helping him back to the field in quick time.
Working with Zalunardo also allowed 32-year-old Cameron McInnes to return from his second ACL injury in only eight months earlier this season.
“He’s done an awesome job,” Mulitalo said.
First-hand experience has taught Mulitalo how to mentally approach his recovery from serious injuries as well.
“People get stuck in their heads. If you think ahead, think forward, think positive, good things happen,” he said.
“I just kept it positive the whole time. I wasn’t kicking stones, I understood it, I accepted it and I got on with it.”
Mulitalo has also learned to listen to his body on the path to recovery.
He remembers suffering a second shoulder injury shortly after his first as a teenager, precisely because he had ignored the signs and returned too early.
“I did my first shoulder, played eight games, I wasn’t confident, did my second one,” he said.
“I’m confident in my ability and I’m confident that any time I step in, unless I’m ready, I won’t be there.”
AAP