Sharks speedster has unfinished business with the USA

Cronulla flyer Ronaldo Mulitalo could become the biggest star in America's international rugby league history after revealing a dream to represent his heritage alongside his brother.

Born in Auckland to American Samoan parents, Mulitalo played for the USA in the World Cup Nines in 2019, the last major tournament for which the fledgling rugby league nation qualified.

But the winger has never pulled the USA jersey on in 13-a-side rugby league, with the 25-year-old prioritising his Sharks commitments over World Cup qualifiers since then.

After reaching a quarter-final at the 2013 World Cup and the group stage in 2017, the USA missed qualification for the most recent World Cup in 2022 and won't feature at the 2026 edition.

But Mulitalo, currently in Las Vegas for Cronulla's NRL clash with Penrith, could be on hand to help the Tomahawks return to international rugby league's showpiece event in 2030.

Mulitalo has previously represented tier-one nation New Zealand and tier-two nation Samoa, but would be eligible to switch allegiance from Samoa to the USA with approval from the International Rugby League.

He's hopeful he would be joined by twin brother Lorenzo, who did not feature in the 2019 Nines tournament but made his NRL debut for Parramatta last year.

"Hopefully in the coming years we get a chance to maybe represent them (the USA) later down the track and give back to the game, grow the game there," Ronaldo told AAP.

"That's something me and my brother will probably do towards the back-end of my career. He's pretty keen on doing it."

Clint Newton, Eddy Pettybourne and Daniel Vidot are among those to have played both in the NRL and for the USA, whose national team is usually comprised mostly of American-based players and semi-professionals.

Mulitalo, one of the NRL's leading wingers, would undoubtedly be the best player to have represented the nation currently ranked 24th in the world - below Chile and the Philippines.

He was far from a household name during his last brush with American rugby league in 2019, having made his NRL debut as a teenager earlier that year.

"Thinking back on 2019, I was a young kid coming through. I get to this side of my career, I've played over 100 games in the NRL," he said.

"It's a bit of a funny feeling."

Mulitalo remains in touch with his former nines teammates via social media.

"They've kept tabs on me and I've kept tabs on them as well," he said.

"l'm still appreciative of the experience of playing for USA and hopefully one day I get to get back into that scene."

Cronulla's clash with the Panthers on Sunday (AEDT) will be Mulitalo's first premiership match since signing a bumper contract extension earlier this month.

Reports had linked him with a move north to Brisbane, but the winger is now aiming to extend his stay with the Sharks beyond 2028, when his new deal expires.

"Hopefully I ride out my career here with these guys. Most of these guys, I've come through all the grades with. I'm really happy I've stuck here," he said.