There was plenty of sweat and hard work going on, but there wasn't a ball in sight and it was a long way from the gym or playing field, with the Sharks getting down and dirty in helping with bushfire relief efforts.
The entire Sharks full-time NRL training squad, some 40 players plus John Morris and his coaching and high performance staff, visited Kangaroo Valley on Wednesday in giving the locals a helping hand in the clean up efforts after bushfires devastated the area earlier this month.
In all it was estimated 57 homes were destroyed in the area in the fires, with the Sharks visit aimed at lifting the spirits of those who had lost property while doing a little bit of the heavy lifting in helping to ease some of the massive workload that lies ahead in their efforts to rebuild.
The players arrived at Betty's Bar in Kangaroos Valley and donned work boots and gloves before being bussed to the affected properties and areas.
The day-trip to Kangaroo Valley was in addition to Sharks fundraising initiatives which have included cash donations made by players at the recent club training session and an auction of personal items donated by the NRL squad.
Once finalised, donations will be targeted at clubs, communities or individuals on the NSW South Coast most affected by the fires.
The Kangaroo Valley working-bee was organised by Sharks Have Heart, with special thanks for their assistance to Peter and his team from Salt Ministries in Bomaderry, Jordan Kerr from Ernst and Young, Stuart Greenhill and Specialised Rural, Jeremy Butterworth, Dave and Jay from JJ Farmers, the General Store Kangaroo Valley Pie Shop and Betty's Bar.
