CRONULLA match winner Toby Rudolf has been the subject of an unusual appeal from a team-mate – to the Perth Bears!
“I think he’s really desperate for a new contract,” winger Ronaldo Mulitalo told Sydney radio station Triple M after the big prop scored the match-sealing try in a 20-10 win over Sydney Roosters.
“He saved his best performance for this one. I’m really happy for him. Bears, sign him! He’s ready to go.”
Rudolf, 29, is under contract until the end of the 2026 season; the Perth Bears join the NRL the following year.
“What a way to go through.” Rudolf said after crashing over off a short ball from hooker Blayke Brailey.
“Usually the big moments aren’t about me. Tonight I was lucky enough to get across the line.
“I’ve been begging Blayke Brailey for a try all year. He’s been throwing me decoys all year.
“I told him ‘there’s only a few rounds left – set me up, my friend’. He picked the 75th minute to put me over and when I got that ball there’s no way I wasn’t scoring.
“I’m just so happy – I’M SO HAPPY!
“I think it’s going to be our year this year, I really do. I feel something in my bones. This has been a rocky season. It’s been up and down the entire time. We’re peaking at the right time. This is our time.”
Asked about Rudolf’s contribution, coach Craig Fitzgibbon said: “Every team has injuries, periods where you miss players, etc.
“Some are more valuable than others.
“We’ve barely had Hazo (Tom Hazelton) and Toby together the whole year and we’ve got them back.
“They’re showing their capabilities and I’m so happy for Toby. He’s driven me mad for 3.9 years and he’s delivered so …”