Following the announcements of their initial player signings over recent weeks, the Sharks continue to build towards their first season in the NRLW competition with the unveiling of five talented players committing their immediate playing futures to the Cronulla Club.
While bringing established and quality players to the club is crucial, the Sharks can now announce the signings of Andie Robinson, Kiana Takairangi, Maddie Studdon, Telei Holmes and Tegan Dymock, with all having represented the Cronulla club at various levels in coming through the female pathways over a number of years.
The confirmation of the signings complements adds depth and quality to the Sharks squad following the announcements of Quincy Dodd, Emma Tonegato, Holli Wheeler and Jada Taylor in continuing to assemble an impressive roster ahead of their inaugural season in the NRLW.
An outside back with power and speed, Andie Robinson is an emerging star of the women’s game. Robinson began in the Tarsha Gale, moved up to play at the Harvey Norman Women’s Premiership level at the Sharks, then for the Dragons in the 2022 NRLW, while twice representing the NSW under 19’s. Her performance for the NSW ‘Baby Blues’ in their Origin victory over Queensland in 2022 made many sit up and take notice, with Robinson scoring a hat trick of tries.
For Kiana Takairangi her rugby league journey began at Cronulla Caringbah and has culminated in her representing the Kiwi Silver Ferns. Capable of playing wing, centre or fullback, Takairangi has represented the Sharks in the Harvey Norman competition, while last season while as member of the Newcastle NRLW team she crossed for two tries in the Knights Grand Final win over the Eels.
A goal-kicking half back, Maddie Studdon has been a regular member of the Sharks NSWRL Harvey Norman premiership side, while also playing at the highest levels of the women’s game. Six matches for the Jillaroos, six for the NSW Sky Blues and with five seasons in the NRLW under her belt and Studdon brings her rugby league IQ and experience to the Sharks team in 2023.
The daughter of rugby league legend Jimmy, Tegan Dymock is making her own name in rugby league. Having been a member of the Sharks Tarsha Gale team, before moving up to play at Harvey Norman Premiership level, to then gaining some experience in the NRLW with the Dragons, Dymock possesses many of her famous father’s traits, is a hard running, tough tackling front rower set to make an impact with this first Sharks team.
While certainly last but not least, Talei Holmes was a member of the premiership winning Sharks Tarsha Gale team in 2018 alongside fellow local junior Quincy Dodd. Graduating to the senior ranks Holmes has played a Test match for Fiji, a handful of seasons in the Harvey Norman Women’s premiership, 10 games in the NRLW competition and is coming ‘home’ to play with the Sharks in 2023. A back rower with skill and huge work rate, Holmes is the sort of player every coach needs and appreciates.
Players with ties to the Cronulla club dating back a number of years, five significant signings for the Sharks squad ahead of what is certain to be an exciting first season in the NRLW in 2023.
