First forum tonight
The first of two Community Fan Forums scheduled for February will be held at Sharkies Leagues Club tonight.
In a follow up to two successful forums conducted prior to Christmas, the Fan Forums gives members, sponsors, supporters and the local community a chance to voice their opinions about all thing relevant to the Sharks.
CEO Lyall Gorman and Chairman Damian Keogh will also speak about the current climate and the future direction, with coach Shane Flanagan absent from tonight’s event due to being in camp with the NRL squad on the Central Coast.
Flanagan will be a part of the second Forum, planned to take place on February 26 at the Menai xxx Club.
Tonight’s Community Forum gets underway at 7.00pm.
For more info – CLICK HERE
Lewis return on track
In an interview with Stuart Honeysett of The Australian newspaper today, Luke Lewis indicated that if this weekend’s trial was a competition game, he would be running out against the Tigers on Saturday night.
Lewis, who enjoyed a strong pre-season until a minor setback some three weeks ago, was still hopeful of getting game time this weekend, but with the big picture in mind the most likely outcome will see him remain in cotton wool before being unleashed round one against the Raiders.
As told to The Australian, Lewis will run at training this week and continue to do the rehab on his knee, with a final decision as to his status for the trial to be determined by Friday.
Catch The Australian tomorrow where the Sharks State of Origin and International forward speaks about both team and his own personal aspirations for 2015.
Dykes helping Sharks kick on
Adam Dykes was at training this morning, once again lending a helping hand to the Sharks general play kickers.
Dykes worked with the likes of Wade Graham, Ben Barba, Jeff Robson, Gerard Beale and Valentine Holmes for more than half an hour following a full team field session at Remondis Stadium.
The former Sharks standout also put some time into newcomer Todd Murphy and has liked what he’s seen of Brisbane import in their limited time together.
“He really strikes the ball well,” Dykes said of Murphy’s kicking. “I’ve been impressed with Todd, he’s a natural footballer.”
Murphy is likely to start the season behind the Robson-Barba halves partnership but it augers well for the Sharks to have a capable back-up waiting in the wings.
Sharks bunker down
The Sharks headed into camp on the Central Coast today for a little team bonding combined with some serious training as the kick off to the 2015 NRL season draws ever closer.
The Sharks will work on a few technical aspects of their game, before taking part in a scrimmage session against the Erina first grade team on Wednesday night.
In all, almost 30 players from the full time squad are making the trip to the Central Coast.
The training session on the Wednesday will double as a fan meet and greet, with all Sharks Central Coast members and supporters certainly invited to attend.
For more on the Open Training session – CLICK HERE
Shire shows spirit
The Sutherland Shire community joined friends, family, work colleagues and the Sharks NRL, 18’s and 16’s squads at Eluoera Beach on Saturday to offer their best wishes to media personality and former Sharks ground announcer Glenn Wheeler.
Injured in a motorcycle accident, Wheeler remains in a stable but serious condition in St George hospital but with the support of a crowd of almost 1,500 who turned up to form a giant human ‘Get Well Glenn’ sign on the sand near Eluoera surf club, it is hoped a speedy recovery is in store.
Channel 7 News was at the beach on Saturday to cover the event, CLICK HERE to watch.
Sharks website cameras were also down at the beach Saturday, with a photo gallery available from the event. CLICK HERE to view.
Sharks News Today will keep Glenn’s many fans updated once further news becomes available.
Jets fly in trial victory
The Sharks NSW Cup partners the Newtown Jets enjoyed a strong trial hit out with a win over North Sydney at Henson Park last Saturday night.
The Bears led the Jets 10-6 at half-time but in adding four second half tries the Newtown side came away with a 26-10 win, with it being reported that quite a few players showed the sort of form that could win them selection in the NSW Cup team for Round One competition.
Newtown 26:
Nesiasi Mataitonga 2, Blake Judd, Tim Robinson, Corey Brown tries; Jake Watts, Mataitonga, Brown goals
defeated
North Sydney 10:
Newtown’s next trial match will be as the curtain-raiser to the Sharks v Wests Tigers match at Campbelltown Stadium on Saturday night, that game scheduled to kick off at 5.00pm.
Sharks in the News
The All Stars match and the performance of Ben Barba received plenty of media attention and coverage, as did Paul Gallen’s tackle of on young Souths forward Kyle Turner.
Gallen has since been cleared of any further penalty over the tackle and will be free to take on the Wests Tigers in the Sharks final trial match on Saturday night.
The All Stars received coverage from as far away as Barba’s home town of Mackay, as well as across the ‘ditch’ in New Zealand.
See the reports below.
And in today’s Daily Telegraph, a feature on Michael Ennis who spoke to reporter Christian Nicolussi about the positive vibe around the club at the present time and of his hopes for the season ahead.
Ennis – Daily Telegraph – CLICK HERE
NINEMSN – Barba-Fifita – CLICK HERE
G-Train-Peace at the Sharks – Sunday Telegraph – CLICK HERE
Gallen-Barba - ABC.NET - CLICK HERE
Barba - Daily Mercury – Mackay - CLICK HERE
Barba - TVNZ – CLICK HERE
Monday trivia
It’s hard to fool Sharks fans, however here is some Monday trivia, to which only the most ardent supporters will know the answers.
As we know the Sharks entered the competition in 1967, played SuperLeague in 1997.
Who then scored the first Sharks try in the pre-season of 1967?
Who scored the first Sharks try in the 1967 season proper?
And who was the Sharks first try scorer during the 1997 SuperLeague season?
Finally one you should get, who was the first try scorer in the Sharks v Manly trial from a week or so ago?
Answers in the next edition of Sharks News Today.
Season fast approaching
The excitement is building as the 2015 season creeps ever-closer.
Just how long until the Sharks take on the Raiders on March 8 (kick off at 6.30pm)? As of right now 20 days and counting.
Whenever you feel the need to find out just how far the season is away, check out our 2015 Countdown Clock – CLICK HERE to view.
Not long now. Be there and be a part of the excitement when the Sharks play the Raiders at Remondis on March 8.
