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Toby Rudolf scores one try a season. No more, no less.
And the Sharks’ prop picked a heck of a moment to hit his 2025 quota, scoring in the 75th minute of the Sharks 20-10 elimination final win against the Roosters to put the match to bed.
“I was telling Blayke Brailey all year, ‘Just one (try) mate, all I need is one’,” Rudolf said after Saturday’s match.
“He kept giving me decoys, and tonight he finally listened. Credit to Blayke, it was an eyes up play, 75 minutes in and he nailed it.
“Once he hit me with that ball, I wasn’t being stopped, I was just stoked to get it over the line.”
Since Rudolf debuted for Cronulla in 2020, he has scored one try every year. That’s six tries in six seasons with the Sharks, with Rudolf saying Saturday’s try was “equal first” for the biggest moment of his career and admitted that “every year I think I’m not going to get it”.
Toby Rudolf scores in the Sharks elimination final against the Roosters.Credit: Getty Images
“In 2020 I had a similar moment against the Warriors in the last round, I don’t know what the score was, but we were ahead by two, Blayke Brailey hit me again at the line and I scored over Roger [Tuivasa-Sheck].
“That was my first try in the NRL. This is my last one. Probably a bit more do or die this one, elimination final, but I would love to live in that minute for a bit longer than a minute. I’d love to live in it for an hour to be honest, or a day.”
After sealing his team a spot in next week’s semi-final, Rudolf took the opportunity to beg Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to help update Cronulla’s dilapidated stadium.
“Anthony Albanese give us your money, please,” Rudolf said. “I know we own it [the stadium], I’m sorry we own it, can you buy it back off us? Give us something?
“(Teammate) Tom Hazelton has golden staph as a result of the sheds here, so if you can please help use out, much appreciated,” Rudolf joked.
Despite the “external noise”, Rudolf believes Cronulla can go all the way in 2025.
“I hear from a few people that no one gives us a chance but so what? We give ourselves as a chance and that’s all that matters,” Rudolf said.
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“I don’t care about the outside noise, I care about the inside noise and the inside noise is belief, belief in what we can do.”
Rudolf, like coach Craig Fitzgibbon, feels that something has changed. 2025 is different for Cronulla.
“I think we’re just sick of losing, we’re sick of sitting in that bar over there and saying ‘next year’...Next year is right now. I think that’s the difference, we’re mature now as a team.
“We’re over it. We’re maturing as a team. We’re getting into the twilight, I’m 30 soon, so it’s time to make a run before this dynasty ends.”
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