Welcome to the CEO Update for July, a successful month on the field and where again there was plenty of work being done away from it.
The NRL team managed three impressive wins in a row, before a spirited loss to the Panthers and there is a lot to look forward to as we move towards the business end of the season.
Commiserations and congratulations are in order for our Harvey Norman Women’s team who lost their Grand Final in heartbreaking fashion, going down in extra time to the Tigers in what has been described as one of most entertaining games of the year. We also have plenty to cheer about watching the Newtown Jets sitting at the top of the ladder leading into the finals and we wish our Jersey Flegg team the very best as they also pursue a finals berth.
Again, I will provide a brief update on the Woolooware Bay development project, which continues to forge ahead, then as always, there is a lot to report from behind the scenes with the various department heads to again take over the CEO Update and personally detail what has taken place during July, while offering a preview of some of the initiatives coming up.
Sharks at Kareela, our Commercial, Membership, Merchandise and Community departments, along with our General Manager of Football Darren Mooney, all have plenty to communicate in relation to some of the behind-the-scenes activity just a little over a month out from the NRL Finals.
Once more thank you for your ongoing support, we have two home games remaining so hope to see you at PointsBet Stadium in the coming weeks, and again I encourage you to patronise and enjoy the first-class service and facilities offered at Sharks at Kareela.
Regular interaction with our members is extremely important to us, so please take the opportunity to read this July instalment of the CEO Update.
Woolooware Bay
While the weather continues to have a detrimental effect on construction progress, a site visit by myself, members of our executive, our Chairman Steve Mace and a couple of our Board of Directors, displayed to us that Parkview and Aouyan are certainly hard at work and pushing forward towards the mid-2023 completion date.
From a more technical and construction specific standpoint, Aouyan inform us that high level services and blockwork has advanced through on ground floor and level 1 including under slab insulation works, while high level services rough-in has also commenced to Level 2 Building D.
Building A has been formed to Level 6 with the lift core jump form currently at Level 9, Building B has been formed to Level 5, Building C has been formed to Level 4, Building D is currently formed to Level 6 and Building E has been poured to level 6, all that indicating the construction process on the entire precinct, as well as the new Shark Leagues Club, is well advanced.
As detailed in the recently published Chairman’s Address, the recent unofficial walk through of the Sharks Leagues Club building site, emphasised to us that the Club will be the centrepiece of the precinct, with confidence high that the scale, outlook and proposed future offerings will leave us unrivaled in comparison to other Clubs in the Sutherland Shire. We continue to be on target for the Clubs completion mid-2023.
See following some of the latest drone photos of the Woolooware Bay site.
Dino Mezzatesta
Sharks CEO
We are pleased to report, for the second year in a row Sharks at Kareela and the Cove Bar & Grill has taken out the 2022 ClubsNSW Perfect Plate award.
A Gochujang soft shell crab dish, served daily on the A-La Carte Menu, was named the winning dish for the Southern Metropolitan Region. The Cove was also second state-wide for medium-sized clubs, with our congratulations going to Gina Louloudakis and her team on an outstanding achievement.
Father’s Day on the first Sunday in September will be soon upon us, followed by the Melbourne Cup in early November, so make sure you book into the Cove Bar & Grill early to avoid missing out. Dad will love our 350g Scotch Fillet special with succulent bone marrow, why not add a Whisky Sour Cocktail, while our Father’s Day Raffle will feature loads of prizes.
We’re ramping up our raffles, with the monthly Mega Meat and Seafood Raffles continuing in the coming months. Can’t get there mid-week? Then come along to our new raffles to be held every Sunday.
How good are our mighty Sharks travelling this year? The atmosphere in the main bar has been electric and supporting your Sharks with fellow members and fans makes for a great night at the Club. Catch every game live and loud on the big screen at Kareela and get behind the boys in their run into the Finals.
The rain was back in July which meant the golf course was closed or partially closed yet again, however we are hopeful of clearer skies in the weeks and months ahead as we look forward to seeing our golfers back playing a full 18 holes, then enjoying the facilities in the Club after their round.
I wish all our dads a Happy Father’s Day and look forward to seeing you all around the Club.
Members of the Sharks playing group tried their hand at acting earlier this year, with the final product appearing on TV screens a highlight during the month of July.
Aramex launched their new TV commercial featuring Wade Graham, Dale Finucane, Toby Rudolf and Nicho Hynes. Aramex put them through their paces to see if they could succeed as an Aramex Courier Franchisee, then it was Toby, Braden Hamlin-Uele and Royce Hunt starring in an entertaining Pilot commercial as part of their Channel 9 Thursday Night Footy Partnership promoting Men’s Health.
All concerned did an outstanding job in representing and promoting two of our major partners.
The Sharks Commercial team joined by Andrew Ettingshausen and Paul Gallen. hosted some of those major partners on a State of Origin trip to Brisbane for the deciding game of the series.
Our former legends were popular additions to the travelling party and while from a NSW perspective the result was disappointing, an outstanding time was had by all.
Just last weekend, Aramex supported the NRL Women in League Round with giveaways of Pink Shark Temporary Tattoos, also providing Sharks Women’s Player Cut outs for photo opportunities at the Souths game, while the Aramex Special Delivery had a very special WIL theme.
The Southern Comfort Kick for $10k Cash competition is about to be drawn, with three lucky participants getting the chance to kick to win at half time of the Sharks v Dragons clash, Lloyds Building & Development are soon to launch a fantastic promotion that will appeal to homeowners, be sure to watch both Lloyds and Sharks social media channels for more details very soon, and with the inclement weather affecting the NSW east coast, don’t forget to contact Ace Gutters should you require any assistance with your roofing and guttering needs.
Once again, we thank you, our 2022 Members, for your support throughout the year as we enter a very exciting time in the season.
The support of our members and fans has resulted in multiple sell outs, including the game against Souths last Saturday, and in all likelihood we are heading for a full house for both remaining matches against the Dragons and Bulldogs.
If you don’t have a ticket and are hoping to attend, get in early, and that includes Flexi Members looking to redeem tickets. When games are sold out, there are no more tickets available for Flexi redemption.
In other matters, we hope everyone who attended enjoyed the open training session during School Holiday’s on July 11, especially our Diamond Members who were treated to a special experience on the day. We look forward to announcing further Membership events for 2023 shortly.
In relation to 2023 Membership, please register your interest if you WERE NOT a member in 2022 by CLICKING HERE.
By doing so, you will receive an exclusive 24-hour on sale window prior to memberships going on sale to the general public.
Planning for the 2023 Membership program is well underway, however if you have any feedback or suggestions, please contact us by emailing [email protected]. We are excited to be soon able to share a membership program that offers even more choice and flexibility.
As we progress through the remainder of the season and leading into the Membership renewal period, vital information will be sent to Members and it is important you receive all correspondence. So as not to miss anyone with 2023 Membership information, if your address or contact details have changed, please ensure to update as soon as possible.
Those needing to update details, log in at sharks.com.au/membership or contact the membership department.
And finally, 2022 NRL Grand Final ticket on sale dates and times are soon to be released.
Ticketed Members will need to use your AAN to purchase tickets, Non- Ticketed Members a code to purchase tickets. All information will be sent to members as soon as it is confirmed. Please keep an eye on your emails.
Our Sharks Have Heart team continued to make an impact during July, conducting successful School Holiday clinics, honouring NAIDOC week, offering a unique experience to local junior league coaches, before ending the month on a high in celebrating the NRL’s Women in League Round.
We began by hosting 850 youngsters at our various holiday clinics, an exercise which was successful but proved challenging due to the inclement weather. Thanks to all those who participated, we hope to see you back in October.
Our Club was involved in NAIDOC week celebrations, our mascot Reefy and Indigenous coordinator Rachal Allan representing us at the local event at Gunnamatta Park. A cultural immersion workshop was also held for children with local Elder Aunty Deanna, hosted Sharks at Kareela. It was a special event and enjoyed by those who attended.
In continuing to enhance our relationship with the Cronulla Sutherland Junior League, a ‘Coach the Coaches’ evening was held at PointsBet Stadium, with NRL assistants Steve Price, Josh Hannay and Daniel Holdsworth imparting their vast knowledge on those taking part. It was a unique experience having access to senior rugby league coaches, with the night still being talked about weeks later.
CLICK HERE to see a Sharks website article detailing the event.
Then last but far from least, was our celebration of Women in League Round, a week featuring numerous activities for our staff, female players and the wider community in recognising the contribution of women to the game of rugby league.
There were many highlights from the week, including school visits, a ‘Train like an NRL Referee’ coaching clinic delivered by Kasey Badger for our local female referees, staff seminars and much more.
CLICK HERE to see a wrap of all the activities conducted by the Sharks during Women in League Round or check out the Sharks website and social media channels for more coverage of the events of the week.
Merchandise Sales have been extremely positive this season and are tracking ahead of budget.
Men’s jerseys continue to be amongst our most popular items, with limited stock remaining, however additional Home and Heritage Jerseys have recently arrived in store and are now available for purchase.
Similarly, stock levels on a number of other items are currently low and winter gear such as quarter zip hoodies, anthem jackets and club hoodies are all selling fast, with men’s stock expected to sell out within weeks. With no further stock ordered for the rest of 2022, the message would be to visit the shop or to go online and purchase now to avoid disappointment.
Once our position in the top eight is guaranteed and let’s hope the boys can do that this week against Souths, we will be launching a finals series tee. Keep an eye out for presales via the online store in the coming weeks.
In relation to next season, the 2023 on and off field apparel designs have been finalised, with some existing news to be announced in August regarding this new range.
And finally for our regional or travelling supporters, the Sharks Merchandise van will be attending all our remaining away games. We are locked in for round 22 v Tigers in Tamworth, round 23 when we play the Sea Eagles at 4 Pines Park in Manly and for our final game of the season when the boys take on the Knights at McDonald jones Stadium in Newcastle.
If attending those away games drop by the van, while for local members and fans, we are on site as usual at the last two PointsBet Stadium home games and the Sharks Store @ Kareela is trading from Tuesday to Saturday, 10am to 2pm, for all your Sharks Merchandise needs.
Three wins, a narrow loss where we were competitive with the competition-leading Panthers, prior to our match against Souths to close out the month, sees us in a strong position to cement a place in the finals and push for a top four finish.
With five games to go we have it all to play for, with the coaching staff and playing group excited about what lies ahead.
Still on the NRL and congratulations to Siosifa Talakai for his selection and participation in the second and third Origin games, also to Nicho Hynes who was 18th man for games one and two and Dale Finucane as a member of the extended NSW squad for the final match.
There were certainly highs during July, although disappointing was the season-ending injury to Sione Katoa, who now joins Jack Williams on our long-term injured list. We wish them both all the best with their recover and look forward to them being back bigger and better than ever to start the 2023 pre-season.
Also frustrating was the two-game suspension handed down to Dale Finucane following an incident in the Panthers game. We didn’t hesitate to challenge what we viewed as a defendable charge however the verdict went against us on the night, meaning he misses two crucial matches. Knowing Dale, he will be around the playing group ensuring they are well prepared for those two games and he will then return fresh and ready to assist with our push towards the Finals.
In relation to milestones, congratulations to Jesse Colquhoun on making his NRL debut, while Kayal Iro, who although yet to play in the NRL has been promoted into our full time training squad for the rest of this season. A standout for the Jets in the NSW Cup, Kayal also signed a new contract for the 2023-2024 seasons in a reward for his hard work and with both young men of great character and ability we believe they can make their mark in the top grade in the years to come.
While on the Jets, they continue to enjoy a very successful season and as we speak are sitting in first position on the NSW Cup ladder just four weeks out from the Finals. Good luck to everyone at Newtown in the run home and for the remainder of the year.
In the Jersey Flegg, the boys have slipped outside the top five to be in sixth place, and with that competition featuring a five-team Finals series, have some important games upcoming.
Finally, the Football report wouldn’t be complete without special mention of the Harvey Norman Women’s Premiership Sharks who went within a whisker of taking out the Grand Final. They lost no admirers in going down in Golden Point to the Tigers and we are very proud of what they achieved. Congratulations to Tony Herman, his coaching and support staff and to the entire playing group on an outstanding season.
The women’s presentation night was held on Thursday in celebrating the Tarsha Gale and Harvey Norman seasons, while also recognising their respective awards winners, and with our acceptance into the NRLW in 2023 it is a very exciting time for women’s rugby league in the Shire and at the Sharks.
CLICK HERE to see a wrap of the women’s presentation night and their award winners.
In closing
At the upcoming Sharks v Dragons game we will be holding our Great White Reunion (Old Boys Day), which will include a lap of honour before kick-off, starting at approximately 7pm. For those attending the game, please show your appreciation for their past deeds and service to our Club.
Thanks again for your support, hope to see you at a game either at PointsBet or on the road as we get behind the boys during the run into the Finals.
Dino Mezzatesta
CEO
