Sharks announce Lisa Fiaola Cup squad

Author: Sharks Media
Timestamp: Thu 2 Jun 2022, 08:48 PM

Following on from the appointment of Corban Baxter, Kiana Takairangi and Holli Wheeler as team coaches, the Sharks have announced a 30-player squad to play in the under-17’s Lisa Fiaola Cup.

A Gala Day to be played at St Mary’s Stadium on July 6, the Lisa Fiaola Cup will add to the female pathways already in place at the Sharks, leading to the Tarsha Gale, Harvey Norman and potentially an NRLW team were the Cronulla club to be successful in gaining a license to compete in the 2023 elite women’s competition.

The team will undergo four weeks of training under the tutelage of three Baxter, a Jillaroo and NSW Sky Blue, Kiwi international Takairangi, who currently partners Baxter in a junior coaching business, as well as another former Jillaroo and NSW Origin rep in Wheeler who joined the Sharks Harvey Norman team in 2022.

While the Sharks are eagerly awaiting the outcome of their application to be a part of the 2023 NRLW competition, the Lisa Fiaola Cup is an example of the Club’s continued efforts to offer pathways and playing opportunity to young female athletes in another display of the Sharks commitment to growing the women’s game.

“I’ve felt we’ve always had a good pool of young girls that play league tag and touch footy and Oztag, but to have a full contact competition for that younger age I think is going to be great for their development,” Baxter expressed.

“I’m excited to see some of the young girls coming through, especially in the Cronulla area. They can start playing at a more elite level at a younger age which will be great,” she added.

The Sharks Lisa Fiaola Cup squad, made up of players turning 16 or 17 and registered with a club in the local Cronulla-Sutherland junior league, begin preparations with their first training session on Monday.

Sharks Lisa Fiaola Cup squad

Elle Mercer

Sage Gray

Erica Pritchard

Lailah Sheridan

Stephanie Faulkner

Alena Pale Eli

Kelsey Wilson

Keona Quinn

Maddison Shatte

Ava Williams

Jessica Stonestreet