Welcome to the first monthly CEO Update of 2024 as we count down to rugby league's return and report on what's happened around the club since the festive period.
I hope all our members and fans enjoyed a safe and happy holiday break. We wish you good fortune and health this year and can't wait to see you at PointsBet Stadium soon.
Speaking of which, the NRL season is fast approaching. As GM of Football Darren Mooney expands on below, our top squad resumed training on January 6 and look fantastic ahead of the first trial against the Knights at Industree Group Stadium, Gosford on February 17.
For those keen to get an earlier footy fix, the NSWRL Junior Representative action kicks off this Saturday with our young Sharks all facing the Tigers at PointsBet Stadium. Come and watch future stars in the Lisa Fiaola, Tarsha Gale, Harold Matthews and SG Ball Cup ranks.
CLICK HERE to view the Lisa Fiaola and Tarsha Gale team lists and CLICK HERE to view the Harold Matthews and SG Ball team lists. Congratulations to all our junior rep players – we know you'll do the club and yourselves proud.
While the NRLW season doesn't start until July, there's been plenty of retention activity and more exciting signing announcements are forthcoming. Head coach Tony Herman and women's manager Casey Bromilow are working hard to shape a very competitive squad.
Elsewhere, our Sharks at Kareela licensed premises has thrived throughout the summer months, with an array of terrific school holiday events and delicious food specials. There remains no better venue to enjoy a meal, a refreshing beverage and watch live sport.
Our wonderful Sharks Have Heart team are in full swing, having already hosted and attended multiple brilliant events with a focus on inclusivity to underline our status as the 'Community Club'.
This included Indigenous players Will Kennedy, Braydon Trindall, Jada Taylor and Quincy Dodd taking part in a Sunset Cultural Ceremony near the Woronora River on January 25, joining members of the local First Nations community for impactful yarning circles.
More on those initiatives from Head of Community Vinh Tran in his section.
In what's sure to stir up many great memories, club historian Ash Taylor has dug through the archives and started a new web series reflecting on events that shaped the Sharks. CLICK HERE to take a trip down memory lane and read his articles.
As you'll see below, all our departments are now back on deck and preparing for what promises to be another huge year.
Thanks for your ongoing support and taking the time to read our first CEO Update of the year. I look forward to keeping you informed each month.
Woolooware Bay – Sharks Leagues Club development
The developer at Woolooware Bay has announced that Woolworths, Aldi and Dan Murphy's are looking to open on Wednesday, 7 February. The remainder of retailers in the precinct and the Quest Hotel are due to open later in the month.
We've been advised the accompanying car park will also be operational on 7 February to support the opening of the anchor tenants.
For our Leagues Club timeline, nothing has changed since our update late last year given the Christmas and New Year break. We're still working hard with the developer to complete our roof works by the end of February/early March.
Once the roof is complete, the club will need to appoint a builder to complete the façade and, in parallel to this engagement, look to engage a contractor to do our fit-out works.
Assuming the works are completed on time and without significant variation, our anticipated timeline remains the same. We expect the roof to be completed by March this year and hope the façade is ready no later than July ahead of a Leagues Club opening in late 2024.
Due to the construction of our Leagues Club being delayed, we will again have a restricted capacity for home games with PointsBet Stadium capped at around 13,500 spectators like previous years.
Please see below for the updated images of the development.
94 Cronulla Street
We are in the final stages of negotiating and documenting an offer to lease the building we acquired at 94 Cronulla Street on a long-term basis.
Having fielded some strong enquiries from reputable brands, we hope to have this finalised in the coming weeks and then inform Members on who will be occupying the premises.
Sharks CEO
Dino Mezzatesta
Dear Members,
Join us for the club-classic Member's Badge Draw every Friday night, starting from February 16th. Simply be present at the Club, and if your Membership number is called, you win the Jackpot prize, reaching up to $2,000 in cash! If the winner is absent, we'll draw another Member's name from the bonus draw barrel to spin the Wheel of Fortune for a cash prize!
Following its popularity last year, themed trivia is making a return in 2024. Up next, immerse yourself in Taylor Swift Trivia in February right before her sold-out Sydney performances. The trivia is free, stone-baked pizzas are available for just $17, and you can savour a themed cocktail. Gather your friends for an evening of laughter and knowledge!
With the NRL Pre-Season Challenge kicking off in mid-February and our Sharks in action against the Knights and Bulldogs, Kareela is the ultimate place to watch the footy 'live and loud' on the big screen surrounded by fellow passionate Sharks supporters.
Valentine's Day is just around the corner, and we've prepared something special for the romantics among us. Indulge in our seafood platter for two with a special Valentine's dessert fondue, available on February 14th. Don't miss our Cupid's Sparkle Crush Cocktail, available from February 12th to 15th for just $15.
Make sure you don't miss our Mega Meat Raffle on Wednesday, February 28th. This is your chance to win a share of the $2,000 in meat trays up for grabs. For bingo players, mark your calendar for our Mega Housie session on Friday, February 23rd, featuring guaranteed prizes totalling $2,000, including 15 x $100 cash games.
I look forward to seeing you all around the club.
Happy New Year to all our valued sponsors, corporate partners and Members. I hope you had an enjoyable Christmas break with your loved ones and are ready for a great 2024.
The Commercial Team has hit the field running after a well-deserved break. Plenty of work is happening behind the scenes to ensure we deliver a successful season for all our partners whilst working closely with them as to how we can deliver value back to our Members.
With that said, I would like to make mention of our long-term valued partners that continue with us in 2024. We are proud of their extensive tenures which provide stability within our commercial program.
Platinum Major Partner Aramex adorn the front of our jersey for their fourth season, with Zambrero also sitting across the top back for a fourth season.
For six years, PointsBet have been our stadium naming rights partner while sitting on the sternum of the jersey. Ace Gutters are into their fourth year on our kit and have been supporters of three decades. Madimack remain on the lower back of the jersey and are into their fourth year. Classic Sportswear, our official Apparel Partner, continue into year two of creating our impressive playing, training and speciality jersey ranges that you can purchase from the Sharks Store.
We recently announced Stewart Toyota are extending an association that spans two decades as our Official Car Partner. BSc have renewed as our supplements and compression partner of 17 years. Our teams are well looked after with Victor Sports providing medical supplies for an 11th year and HART Sport again covering our sporting and training equipment as a partner of 10 years.
As you can see by the lengthy list of partners with an impressive tenure of support for our club, it goes without saying the team could not run onto the field without this corporate backing. We are very proud of the partnership and association we have with such impressive global, national and local brands. Thank you.
In reiterating a message from the last CEO Update regarding game-day hospitality, sales and renewals have exceeded our expectations. All private suites have been sold and the marquee is close to capacity.
We look forward to once again hosting our valued corporate hospitality partners, many of whom have been supporting the club for 20-plus years. We are grateful for their support.
When you next look around PointsBet Stadium, please be sure to take note of the amount of local businesses advertising across signage, player sponsorships and the corporate boxes.
If you would like to support those businesses that support us, you can always view our partner network list with click throughs to their respective websites. No matter your needs, whether it be plumbing, building, insurance or more, you will find a business to assist.
With everyone heading back to school and work, I hope your year is starting off well and we look forward to seeing you very soon at PointsBet Stadium.
Thank you to all Members who have 'Joined The Hunt' for 2024.
We have now surpassed 13,000 Members and there are very few reserved seats left for the season. CLICK HERE to view those still available.
Members are being urged to save the date of the 18th of March for the Sharks Member Bingo Night. Sure to be a night of fun and laughter, further information will be sent shortly on how you can secure your spot.
Tickets to PointsBet Stadium NRL matches will go on sale to Members on the 12th of February from 10am. This will also be the first day Members can redeem ticket entitlements as part of any Membership package or purchase additional tickets with a Member discount.
Please ensure you check your emails or digital pass for all relevant discount or entitlements codes before heading to Ticketek.com.au.
Sharks fans yet to Join The Hunt for 2024 are reminded that seated or GA Memberships guarantee your spot in the stands or on the hill, alongside your mates or family, for every PointsBet Stadium game from only $250 for adults.
Or consider joining as a family, with packages from just $475. See over 33 games of footy in 2024, with full-season Memberships including entry to at least 23 PointsBet Stadium games (10 NRL, eight Jersey Flegg, four NRLW and one NSW Cup) in addition to 10 Newtown Jets matches at Henson Park plus Lisa Fiaola and Harvey Norman Women's Premiership matches.
With six of ten PointsBet Stadium sell-outs in 2023 and the prospect of more in 2024, becoming a Member is your only way to guarantee access to home games this season.
Thanks again to all who have become Members for the 2024 season. We can't wait to see you at our opening home game against the Bulldogs, Friday 15th March.
The start of 2024 has seen a raft of Sharks Have Heart programs and initiatives in the local community. We are looking forward to getting busy as the season approaches.
Footy meets the Surf
Our 2024 slate of programs kicked off with Sharks Have Heart, in partnership with Cronulla Surfing Academy, hosting a sold-out Footy and Surf Junior Jaws clinic to 150 youngsters at North Cronulla Beach on a sunny Wednesday, January 7.
The skills clinic was delivered in conjunction with our local NRL Game Development Officer, Holly Furness, and our NRLW players – Emma Tonegato, Jada Taylor and Andie Robinson.
NRL players Blayke Brailey, Jesse Ramien, Kade Dykes and Toby Rudolf were in the thick of the action both on the sand and in the surf with all the participants. This event has become a highlight on the community calendar and a great partnership has developed with a prominent Shire brand and institution in Cronulla Surfing Academy and Blake and Lauren Johnston.
See the pictures HERE.
Junior Mega Jaws Clinic brings inclusive holiday fun
Tuesday, January 23 saw Emma Tonegato and our local NRL Game Development team, led by Holly Furness and Huw Ellis, deliver an all-abilities coaching clinic to over 30 kids at the Sharks Academy fields at Cronulla High School. Some of the club's biggest fans turned out to learn some skills from a host of NRL and NRLW players including Cam McInnes, Kayal Iro, Max Bradbury, Nicho Hynes, Sam Healey, Jada Taylor and Quincy Dodd.
Read more HERE.
Sutherland Shire Council – Sunset Cultural Ceremony
Proud Indigenous players Will Kennedy, Braydon Trindall, Jada Taylor and Quincy Dodd represented the Sharks and engaged with the community at a reflective Sunset Cultural Ceremony last Thursday, January 25.
Led by local Aboriginal Elders as part of the Sutherland Shire Council's Australia Day weekend program, about 1500 attendees gathered at the picturesque Burnum Burnum Sanctuary, along the Woronora River, in solemn and respectful recognition that January 26 is a day of mourning for many First Nations people.
Read more HERE.
Sharks ready to blitz schools in 2024
As students and teachers head back to school for 2024, we too are ready engage with the schools in our community.
Sharks Have Heart have a range of curriculum-aligned programs for schools, led by our flagship anti-racism and diversity program – One Heart. In partnership with Deadly Choices, we also offer programs dedicated to local Indigenous students that focus on healthy lifestyle choices and wellbeing.
In an exciting development, we will also be piloting a school-based program for students with a disability. The program will focus on physical education and fundamental movement skills with a Sharks and rugby league flavour.
For more information on our school programs, please visit our Sharks Have Heart page or email us at [email protected].
We are now taking bookings from schools for 2024.
From the Heart
We are in the process of selecting our 2024 From the Heart Partners and will be soon announcing four new charity/not-for-profit partners. These partners will have the opportunity to use the reach and engagement of our club and resources to help promote their work and charitable causes as well as have a home game dedicated to their cause.
The Sharks merchandise van will be in attendance at both upcoming NRL trials, giving local and travelling fans the chance to kit themselves out in fresh gear ahead of the new season.
Of course, the Sharks Store at Kareela is also there for all your merchandise needs and continues to trade Tuesday through to Friday, 10am to 2pm. Saturday trade will reopen closer to round one – stayed tuned to social media for updated hours.
It's been a high-energy start on the Marketing, Brand and Digital front as we prepare for an exciting season '24.
A fresh new strategic plan will see us intently focus on continuing to embed our much-loved brand in our local community and beyond. We will be embracing pride and passion with fan avidity and experience at the very heart.
The true character of our Sharks NRL squad was on show at our full day in-house photography and videography shoot. The players enthusiastically (some more than others!) revealed their best moves and try celebrations as we captured content to feature in-stadium on game days and across our social channels. A similar event is planned for our NRLW players once the squad is finalised.
See below for a snapshot video from the shoot.
Elsewhere, some of our NRLW and NRL squads travelled to the Channel Nine studios for a season '24 promotional shoot. The content will be aired on Nine's NRL broadcasts, advertisements, and social media channels throughout the season.
As part of the many new initiatives on the horizon, we will soon reveal a bold new "HOME OF OUR SHARKS" super sign outside PointsBet Stadium. This will be complemented by a new Sharks 2016 NRL premiership "celebration wall" adjacent to Gate 1 to be showcased for season kick-off.
Our fan engagement across all Sharks social channels continues to grow as we inform and entertain with unique content. We encourage all Sharks Members and fans to follow us and check out some of the latest content including a new editorial series "This Week in History", the "2024 depth analysis", and the candid "Get To Know You" one-on-one player interviews bringing fans even closer to their favourite Sharks players.
We can't wait to share so much more in 2024. UP UP CRONULLA.
Our NRL squad are in top shape with games on the horizon. The players enjoyed a well-earned break over Christmas after finishing their first block of pre-season training with a formidable two-day army-style camp.
The team regrouped on January 6 and are building nicely for trials against the Knights and Bulldogs on February 17 and 23 respectively.
Please note our second and final NRL trial has been shifted from PointsBet Stadium to Belmore Sports Ground – CLICK HERE for more information. The first trial will be played at Industree Group Stadium, Gosford.
Coach Craig Fitzgibbon will lead the team on a training camp at Lennox Head in the week before our opening pre-season match to continue planning for a big year ahead.
Congratulations to Nicho Hynes and Cameron McInnes who have been selected for a two-day NSW State of Origin training camp on February 3 and 4.
On the NRLW front, our squad for 2024 and beyond is taking shape after a series of key re-signings, headlined by a long-term extension for dual international Emma Tonegato. CLICK HERE for more information.
Tony Herman and his team have done a fantastic job in also retaining 2023 Dally M Rookie of the Year Annessa Biddle, fellow Kiwi Ferns international Brooke Anderson as well as promising forwards Rhiannon Byers and Chloe Saunders.
A further congratulations to Emma and Quincy Dodd who attended a Jillaroos training camp in January.
After strong trial efforts, the youngsters in the Lisa Fiaola, Tarsha Gale, Harold Matthews and SG Ball teams will begin their campaigns against the Tigers at PointsBet Stadium this Saturday.
Robbie Taylor will coach the Lisa Fiaola (under 17s) girls while Isaac Michael takes over the clipboard duties for the Tarsha Gale (19s) side. Experienced coaches Brad Kelly and Dave Howlett remain in charge of the Harold Matthews (17s) and SG Ball (19s) squads.
Good luck to all involved throughout the junior representative seasons.
While the Jersey Flegg (under 21s) squad and the Newtown Jets – our NSW Cup feeder team – don't kick off their seasons until March, they are both set to play respective trials against the Knights (February 17, Morry Breen Oval) and Bulldogs (February 24, Henson Park).
CLICK HERE to view all draws for the NSWRL competitions.
Regarding our Academy program, Russell Aitken has come on board as our new Elite Pathway – Player & Coach Development Manager, replacing Michael Ennis.
A Sharks junior who played 17 NRL games including a grand final for the Storm, Russell performed a similar role at St George Illawarra. He stood down from his previous position with us as an SG Ball assistant coach to focus on this job.
His responsibilities include overseeing our pathway coaching program and ensuring it aligns with our NRL system. He will also provide intensive coaching to our Elite Academy Players and assist Glenn Brailey with junior recruitment and retention.
