There were plenty of bright spots for the NRLW Sharks in their maiden season, finishing a creditable sixth and laying a strong foundation ahead of an aggressive tilt at the finals in 2024.
With the draw now locked in, here are the games you won't want to miss as the Tony Herman-coached girls aim to make their mark on the competition.
Round 1 v Cowboys (home)
Buoyed by local support, the Sharks will aim to spring out of the blocks in this standalone clash at PointsBet Stadium. Having downed the Cowboys 40-12 when they last met, they'll hope to produce a similarly powerful performance.
Round 2 v Eels (away)
The Sharks ended the 2023 season with a record-breaking 56-6 win over the Eels, the biggest-ever NRLW victory. If they can recapture anywhere near that level of attacking potency, the entertainment value will be through the roof.
Round 4 v Knights (home)
PointsBet Stadium is set to be packed for a Sunday afternoon NRLW-NRL double-header, with the women kicking off a blockbuster afternoon against back-to-back premiers Newcastle before the men also face the Knights.
Cronulla gave a solid account of themselves against Hannah Southwell's Knights this year, fighting back from 22-0 down to score 14 unanswered points.
Round 5 v Dragons (away)
What's bigger than a local derby? Two in one afternoon! This time, the NRL side will get the action started against the Dragons at WIN Stadium, hopefully setting the stage for the girls to chalk up another win over the Red V.
Round 6 v Titans (away)
Revenge will be on the Sharks' minds after the Titans broke their hearts by scoring at the death to snatch a thrilling two-point victory in August.
While the result wasn't ideal, the fact the Gold Coast ended up reaching the grand final showed Cronulla can certainly match it with the big guns.
Round 7 v Roosters (home)
The third of four home matches will see the Sharks tackle the high-powered Roosters, who finished the 2023 regular season in second.
A smorgasbord of representative stars will lock horns in a match that could test Cronulla's premiership credentials a few weeks out from the finals.
