Young Sharks outside back Sam Stonestreet, impressive in this year’s two NRL pre-season trials, has extended his time at the Cronulla club in signing a two-year contract extension.
From the De La Salle Caringbah club and having come through the Sharks junior representative and academy system, the new deal will see Stonestreet remain at the Cronulla club through until at least the end of the 2025 season.
Appreciative of his opportunities to date, the 20-year-old Stonestreet was excited to have had his immediate playing future sorted ahead of this weekend’s kick off to the 2023 season.
“I’ve grown up in the area, always supported the Sharks, and to be here for the next three seasons as a part of the NRL squad is a great opportunity for me,” Stonestreet said. “I’m learning a lot under Fitzy, the coaching staff and from the senior players and I look forward to further developing my game this year and in the years to come.”
Stonestreet began his rugby league journey at the Sharks with the club’s under-16 Matthews Cup team, before progressing through the ranks to where he was named the Sharks Junior Representative Player of the Year in 2020.
Backing up his award-winning season at the junior level in the Jersey Flegg Cup competition in 2022, scoring 13 tries in 16 matches for what was an impressive strike rate, Stonestreet then moved up to The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup where he made five appearances for the Newtown Jets.
It was in a round nine match against North Sydney where Stonestreet announced himself as more than capable of handling the step up to the senior ranks, in just his third NSW Cup game the strongly built youngster, who stands 193cm tall and tips the scales at 97kgs, notching a hattrick of tries in the Jets’ 40-28 victory over the Bears.
For the opening round of the 2023 season Stonestreet has been named on the wing for the Newtown side for their match against the South Sydney Rabbitohs on Saturday.
Sam Stonestreet – Fact File
DOB – 8/07/2002
Birthplace – Westmead, Sydney
Height – 193cm
Weight – 97kgs
Position – Wing
Junior Club – De La Salle Caringbah
Studying – Bachelor of Commerce UNSW
