Welcome to our CEO Update in covering off on the month of February and the first week of March, as we preview the start of the NRL season ahead of the Sharks trip to Canberra for a round one clash against the Raiders this Friday.
Throughout February we have been busy across the business getting ready for a huge 2022 season.
The NRL squad has been finalising preparations for not only the Raiders this weekend, but also for the challenges they are sure to face over the course of the season, and it has been all hands on deck getting PointsBet Stadium back up to speed before we welcome back our members and fans for the blockbuster round two match up with the Eels.
After two years away, there has been plenty to do as we look to make the experience at our PointsBet Stadium home games a positive one for all who attend. While the Woolooware Bay and Sharks Leagues Club construction is on-going, we intend to make the best of what we have to work with and are thrilled to be bringing games home.
Then when the team goes on the road, our second home in the Shire, Sharks at Kareela, will be the number one option for members and fans to watch our away matches.
Sharks at Kareela has continued to trade strongly through Covid and the associated restrictions and is the perfect place to cheer the team on, alongside your fellow Sharks members and fans, when travel to games isn’t possible.
Also in February we conducted our Corporate Season Launch, with our major partners attending an NRL training session and hearing from coach Craig Fitzgibbon and our senior players, while last month our administration staff made the move from PointsBet to offices in Miranda as we continued to work towards having our stadium ready for the season ahead.
Plenty going on and a lot to look forward to, please see following our CEO Update for February, which was held back to preview the season. Thanks again for your interest and for your support of the Sharks in 2022.
Sharks at Kareela
With the easing of the NSW Government Covid-related restrictions, Sharks at Kareela is beginning to see visitation to the Club increase and we thank our Members for their continued patronage and support.
The NRL team and football department is excited that the season is about to get underway, so too Sharks at Kareela, with all Sharks games Live and Loud on the Big Screen in the main bar area. Members can indulge on Sharks game days with 1kg of wings for just $12. And if you haven’t entered our Footy Tipping competition yet, visit Sharks at Kareela reception to register.
Also at Sharks at Kareela, the Mega Jackpot Wheel promotion is proving very popular. Visit the Club on a Thursday or Sunday for you chance to win a share of thousands of dollars, with draws from 7pm. Simply swipe your Membership card at the Rewards Kiosk from 6pm to enter.
Another major attraction is the Cove Bar & Grill, with host Gina recently launching a new menu featuring their award winning 8-hour slow roasted lamb shoulder and $16 weekday specials (including $5 kids meals). Make a booking at The Cove now. CLICK HERE to book online.
While in making the experience at Sharks at Kareela and The Cove a more enjoyable one for the whole family, our Kids Club is open again Thursday to Saturday for Dinner and for Sunday Lunch. Call reception on 9521 5555 to book ahead to avoid missing out.
Our shuttle bus will also be back in action from Friday, March 18 and will operate on Friday and Saturday evenings. Call Sharks at Kareela reception to request a pick-up.
Finally, it will come as no surprise that the torrential rain we have been experiencing has resulted in the golf course being closed in recent weeks. Once the rain eases and our ground staff have had an opportunity to get it back into shape, we look forward to welcoming our golfers back to the course.
Woolooware Bay
The back end of February and early weeks of March have no doubt been difficult, not the least for the construction industry and specific to us, the Woolooware Bay Town Centre and our new Sharks Leagues Club.
With the rain tumbling down activity has stalled somewhat, however with an improved run of weather our development partners Aoyuan remain committed to delivering a final product mid-2023.
See once again the latest drone photos and stay tuned for further updates.
Commercial
Those attending our first home game against the Eels will notice a marquee which has been constructed on the hill area to the north of the ET Stand. This marquee will act as the venue for our Chairman’s Club while our Leagues Club is out of action, and we are pleased to report it has completely sold out for the Parramatta match.
We trust our corporate supporters and special guests will enjoy the game day experience from this new structure while the Sharks Leagues Club and Woolooware Bay precinct construction continues.
Also extremely positive from a commercial perspective, as mentioned in previous CEO Updates, we have a full complement of apparel partners on board, led by our front of jersey major sponsor Aramex. In addition, all 17 player sponsorships have also been sold.
There are some in-ground signage opportunities still available and limited game day hospitality options remaining, however overall, it has been an outstanding summer from Rebecca Hughes and her commercial team in having us partnered up with so many reputable and supportive brands ahead of the kickoff to the 2022 season.
Further to the above, we have a couple of exciting announcements to make in welcoming GEMA Catering as the Sharks Official Stadium Caterer, along with Accolade who have become Official Wine Partners. A warm welcome to both organisations in joining with the Sharks family.
The commercial report also wouldn’t be complete without a mention of our recent Season Launch, when on a rainy day in late February we hosted our major partners and corporate supporters at an exclusive open training session.
With Jessica Yates from Fox Sports the master of ceremonies, the NRL squad went through their paces on the field, while the launch festivities took place on the top deck of the ET Stand. Paul Gallen and Luke Lewis spoke during the session in explaining to the gathering exactly what the team was attempting to achieve and later we had Craig Fitzgibbon, Wade Graham, Nicho Hynes and Dale Finucane address the group. And in giving him the recognition he deserved, we took the opportunity to officially present Will Kennedy with his Porter-Gallen Medal, with Paul and members of the Porter family in attendance to carry out the duties after circumstances relating to the NRL Queensland ‘bubble’ last year had prevented us from doing so.
Also at the launch, Josh Hannay was named the Andrew Ettingshausen Club Person of the Year for 2021, a fitting reward for his efforts in guiding the team through the challenges of a Covid impacted season.
Community
We go into 2022 with a major focus on community once again in continuing our support of schools, junior league and a variety of charitable causes and organisations.
The first significant community event for the year is coming up next Thursday when a group from both the Sharks and Eels take part in the Johnny Mannah Walk for Lymphoma. Myself, Tim Mannah representing the family, and the likes of Luke Lewis, Paul Gallen and other former players will walk 35 kms, starting from CommBank Stadium in Parramatta and finishing at PointsBet Stadium.
Johnny, who tragically passed away at age 23 from lymphoma, with the walk to coincide with the Johnny Mannah Cup match to be contested on the Saturday night. Johnny represented both the Sharks and Eels, with a trophy played for each year when the two teams first meet. To read more and find out how to contribute, with all funds going to Lymphoma Australia, CLICK HERE.
At our trial match late last month we collected funds for the Tongan Relief Appeal, after the island nation was devastated by a volcanic eruption and subsequent tsunami. We will work with the Tongan Red Cross in purchasing much-needed supplies with the monies raised and with the assistance of Aramex, transport those goods to the areas most in need. It’s not too late to contribute to the fund. CLICK HERE to find out more and to make a donation.
While in early March we also confirmed our partnership with the Guy Sebastian Foundation in support of Open Parachute, an in-school program designed to protect the mental health of young people and to promote their social and emotional development. CLICK HERE to read more about our aim to help Open Parachute deliver their valuable program to local Sutherland Shire Schools.
As always, plenty happening as our Club, through Sharks Have Heart, strive to grow our engagement in the community.
Membership
Ticketed membership for PointsBet Stadium is close to a selling out, with only concourse and General Admission (GA) memberships available. Those interested are urged to contact Ben Ross and the membership team to avoid disappointment.
Currently being offered is a limited time GA deal where adults can purchase a full season membership for $12.50 a game, juniors for $8.
Get on board and show your support as we aim to break our membership record in 2022, which in addition to ticketed categories includes our perpetuals, junior league and country/interstate members.
Also keep an eye out for our soft launch of the new eMber+ merchandise portal, where members can use their membership credits to purchase customised Sharks gear.
Merchandise
Merchandise sales for the period post-Christmas have been very strong, despite a stock shortage to start the year involving international freight issues over which we had no control.
Stock of most items has arrived, with more on the way and due sometime in April.
Tomorrow watch out for our launch of our 2022 Heritage Jersey, most will agree it is a striking throwback design, one which is sure to be popular with the fans, as well as amongst the players when they get to wear it in round 10.
Pre-Sale orders are now being taken online, with the jerseys, available in men’s, women’s and junior sizes, to be shipped late March/early April.
We have more exciting 2022 jerseys designs to watch out for and to be released in April.
In relation to round one, for country interstate or any Sharks members travelling to Canberra this weekend, the merchandise van will be on site at the Eastern Entrance Forecourt at GIO Stadium stocked with a full range of Sharks gear.
Visit our Sharks Store at Sharks at Kareela, with opening hours Monday to Saturday, 10am-2pm, for all your merchandise needs, or go to the Sharks Store online to view our complete range or to make an order – CLICK HERE
Football
After a long and physical pre-season, one which culminated in an impressive trial performance against the Bulldogs, Coach Craig Fitzgibbon has the team prepared and ready to go for round one and the Raiders for what is sure to be an intense battle.
Although Wade Graham, Cam McInnes and Jack Williams due to injury, Bradyon Trindall through suspension, will miss the Canberra game, the coach and the team have full confidence in those who will come into the squad and we all look forward to the season getting underway.
The big wet in late February and early March, which has seen NRL training move to the Sharks Academy fields over the past week, has certainly put a dampener, so to speak, on the progress of our junior rep and pathways teams as well.
Rounds were cancelled, matches postponed, but with hopefully some sunshine and a clear run, we should have some positive results to report. At the time of publishing this update, our Matthews team was undefeated, sitting near the top of the ladder and had a washout game to make up this weekend, while the SG Ball and Tarsha Gale Sharks enjoyed their first wins in round four ahead of a bye this week.
The Jets in the NSW Cup and our Jersey Flegg team kick off their season’s this coming weekend and after encouraging form in the trial matches, we are keen to see what they might be able to produce in their respective competitions.
And while the NRLW is two rounds into their season, our Harvey Norman Women’s Premiership squad continues to prepare for round one, which now isn’t too far away.
Good luck to all teams representing the Sharks, especially to our NRL boys on Friday night.
In closing
While the NRL team continues to follow stricter Covid protocols than the rest of society, it has been pleasing to see restrictions easing.
Sharks at Kareela no longer has a mask mandate, nor the double vaccination requirement, as we return to normality, and similarly PointsBet Stadium will welcome all members and fans to our home games, beginning with the Parramatta clash on March 19. All that considered, we still hold the health and safety of patrons and staff as the highest priority, encouraging social distancing and masks to be worn where that may not be possible.
Thanks again for your support and if you can’t make it down to Canberra to support the boys in round one, we look forward to seeing you at PointsBet for when we play the Eels for the Johnny Mannah Cup in round 2.
