Fan forums – Next Monday-Tuesday
Have your say next week at two specially-arranged Community Fan Forums where you the Sharks fans can have a say about all things relevant to your club.
The first community forum is scheduled for the Sutherland United Services Club (SUS Club), located on the western side of Sutherland railway station on Monday, December 8, with the second fan forum to be conducted in the main auditorium at Sharkies on Tuesday, December 9.
Members, sponsors, fans and the general community are invited to attend with the fan forums set to get underway at 7.00pm on both evenings.
New Sharks group CEO Lyall Gorman, Chairman Damian Keogh and NRL Head Coach Shane Flanagan will be present at the two forums to field all fan questions and enquiries.
Save the date and come along to either have your say or just listen to the responses, with the Sharks to follow up with more details and reminders on their website and through social media channels over the coming days.
Sharks also in the Shire last Saturday
In something of a preview to the upcoming fan forums the Sharks NRL squad got out amongst the local residents and chatted with fans at three Shire shopping centres last Saturday.
An initiative aimed at better engaging with the local community the entire Sharks playing group, minus skipper Paul Gallen who was laid low in hospital while overcoming a staph infection, dropped by the main streets of Gymea and Sutherland as well as Cronulla Mall in spreading the word and making themselves known to both the shopkeepers and those out and about on Saturday morning.
The players interacted with the Saturday morning families and shoppers, handed out membership information and stopped for photographs.
The Sharks are planning similar meet and greets at local venues over the summer months so stay tuned to the Sharks website and social media channels for details.
Day one for Beale
New recruit Gerard Beale stepped onto the training paddock for his first session in Sharks colours today, with the Kiwi international returning after his extended break following the Four Nations tournament.
Beale got amongst the ball work and defensive drills with his new teammates, afterwards speaking briefly to Sharks TV about his first day as a Shark.
Also enjoying their first hit out of the pre-season was Sam Tagataese (Samoa) and Sosaia Feki (NZ) after the pair, like Beale, were given an extra couple of weeks of rest following the Four Nations campaign.
See some highlights from today’s training session, plus brief interviews with Beale and Tagataese, by following the link below, now playing on Sharks TV.
Sharks TV – Beale-Taga and training – December 1
NRL Coaches Conference
Sharks coach Shane Flanagan joined coaches from the other 15 NRL teams at a meeting today to review the 2014 season and look at ways to improve the competition in 2015.
The meeting began with 63 seconds silence for cricketer Phillip Hughes and a cricket bat was positioned at the head of the meeting table throughout the conference.
The meeting looked at possible innovations for the future including a standardised time keeping system for broadcasters, stadia and coaches boxes, the success or otherwise of 2014 rule changes, the first year of the new concussion rules, the performance of referees in 2014 and the effectiveness of rules ensuring player safety including clamping down on cannonball and lifting tackles.
They also discussed a review of the Match Review Committee’s activities.
NRL Head of Football, Todd Greenberg said it was the first time the coaches from all 16 teams had taken part in the conference, with the feedback aimed at making further improvements to the game in 2015 and beyond.
Sports Council awards
Young baseball player Ben Tsui was presented with the Steve Rogers Memorial Junior Sports Person of the Year award at the Sharks Sports Council Presentation night last Friday.
A former Sharks Academy and Development squad member, the Sharks and rugby league’s loss has been baseball’s gain, with Tsui representing NSW in the various age groups over the past four years.
He was also included in a Major League Baseball Academy Camp back in July, a training camp restricted to those players identified and selected from all states of Australia.
See more on the Sports Council Presentation Night in a dedicated article now live on the Sharks website.
The Jets training for 2015
The Sharks have entered into a partnership with NSWRL Foundation Club Newtown for the 2015 NSW Cup next season, with Jets pre-season training now underway.
To be coached by Greg Matterson (now into his 8th year as Newtown NSW Cup coach), the Jets have shown their willingness to work closely with the NRL Sharks with assistant coach Jim Pizanias a regular fixture at Cronulla NRL training sessions so far this pre-season.
Amongst the 30 players currently training with Newtown’s NSW Cup pre-season squad are three 2014 Sharks NYC players in Kurt Dillon, Patrice Siolo and Winstone Asotasi, with the trio fitting in well and impressing with their attitude and ability.
The Sharks will continue to provide updates on the progress of the Jets as the two clubs come together in the New Year to make an assault on the 2015 NSW Cup title.
Sharks merch – basketball in blue, Auckland Nines Jerseys now in stock
The Sharks have taken stock of their 2015 NRL Auckland Nines jerseys with pre-orders being dispatched as of today.
The new Nines jersey, featuring a distinctive design, will be worn by the Sharks in the Dick Smith NRL Auckland Nines event which is scheduled to be played on the weekend beginning January 31. The Nines jerseys are available in both adults and kids sizes.
Also arriving today were the blue Sharks basketball singlets. The black version has been a smash hit with both players and fans alike, so don’t hesitate and avoid disappointment while stocks still last and get your Sharks basketball singlets now. Available either on-line or from the Sharks store in Sharkies Leagues Club.
Sharks in the News – November 30-December 1
Phil Hughes tragedy
The news of the tragic passing of cricketer Phillip Hughes has struck a chord with the international sporting community, with a number of young Sharks squad members deeply saddened by the incident and the accident which claimed his life.
In a tribute the Sharks took a moment prior to training on Saturday to reflect on the circumstances surrounding the death of Hughes, the full squad posing for a photograph with a cricket bat front and centre.
Click on the following link to see a Sun Herald report on the Sharks tribute to Phil Hughes.
Sharks Phil Hughes tribute - Sun Herald – Sunday
Gallen fight night
Sharks skipper Paul Gallen has had a health scare ahead of his scheduled boxing bout with former teammate Anthony Watts on Wednesday night.
Gallen was laid low with a staph infection, spending three days in hospital however after two days at home he attended a press conference today to reassure all that he is fit and ready to go for what will be his second professional boxing bout.
Backing up his earlier promise to deliver tickets to those who might not otherwise have had opportunity to attend the fight, Gallen today arranged for tickets to be presented to the students at the local Kirinari Indigenous Hostel at Kareela. He has earlier provided tickets to clients from Sylvanvale Disability Services.
Gallen and Watts were at a press conference today. Click on the link below to hear what they had to say, with radio 2MMM on hand to record the highlights of the press conference.
Gallen press conference - 2MMM today
