The Sharks reputation as a development club was further emphasised with more than 170 players, along with parents or caregivers present at an Induction event last night (Thursday).
In launching their 2020 seasons, players from the Under 16’s Matthews Cup, Under 18’s SG Ball and Women’s Tarsha Gale, Under 20 Jersey Flegg, as well as members of the club’s Harvey Norman Women’s Premiership squad, listened to the expectations for the upcoming season as the Sharks look to continue their success of recent years.
Club values were stressed, training schedules and the respective team coaching structures detailed, with all concerned made aware of the opportunity they were being given and the support they could expect to receive from the Sharks Junior rep and development system.
In addition to the 170 players in the room last night, the Sharks also work with an additional 160 players across the various age groups in their elite academy and development program.
Sharks Academy and Talent Identification Manager Glenn Brailey, who addressed the crowd and outlined the programs, schedules and plans for the upcoming season, was excited about the prospects of all the Sharks teams next year.
“It was great to see all the players and their parents attending the evening as this program is extremely important to our club,” Brailey said. “The success of our development programs is evident with all grades playing finals footy in 2019 along with six players who have come through our system making their NRL debuts in the 2019 season.
“We are a development club and we will continue to work harder to improve where ever we can with the hope of producing more potential NRL players.” Brailey added.
In 2020 the Sharks will be aiming to emulate the success of recent seasons across the various competitions and age groups, with all teams qualifying for their competition finals in 2019.
Highlighting that recent success, the Cronulla club were crowned State and National Champions in both the 16’s and 18’s in 2015, the Tarsha Gale girls claimed the women’s under-18 title in 2018, while the Sharks Jersey Flegg side were Premiers in 2018 and Minor Premiers last year.
Flegg, SG Ball and the Sharks Women’s teams begin training next week, with Matthews Cup and Tarsha Gale to get underway the following Monday.
The Sharks Matthews Cup squad is made up entirely of players selected from teams in the local Cronulla-Sutherland Junior League.
The Junior representative season for Matthews, Ball and Tarsha Gale begins in early February, with Flegg and Harvey Norman Women’s to get underway in March.
