Dale Finucane, Nicho Hynes, Emma Tonegato, Tiana Penitani and Jada Taylor represented the Sharks at the Rugby League Players' Association's annual Leaders In League conference over the weekend.
Across two days, 70 of the game's most influential current and emerging player leaders came together at the Novotel in Brighton-Le-Sands to participate in workshops and soak up knowledge from esteemed guests.
Speakers included inspirational AFL champion Joel Selwood, who played 355 games for Geelong and won four premierships, as well as a female athlete panel - hosted by NRLW star Millie Elliott - including Sydney Swans AFLW co-captain Chloe Molloy, NSW Swifts netballer Maddy Proud and former Matildas player Ellie Brush.
Performance coach Dan Haesler also ran an interactive group session on how to thrive professionally and personally, while former professional surfer Cooper Chapman conducted a mental health class focused on positive daily habits.
Sharks forward Finucane, a member of the RLPA Player Advisory Group, took away valuable lessons and insights from the event.
"It's been really good. We obviously heard from Joel Selwood, the previous Geelong captain who has recently retired," said Finucane, who has played 248 NRL games.
"He spoke about obviously his life in football and experiences outside of football that have helped shape that (mindset) for him as well."
He added: "It's been interesting to hear the perspectives of those women (on the panel) and where they've come from to where they are now."
The third annual Leaders In League conference provided male and female players with the unique opportunity to connect and network with leaders from other clubs and between the NRL and NRLW competitions.
Preparing for his 13th NRL season, Finucane knows he is in the twilight of his career and as such is determined to help "leave the game in a better place".
"When we come to camps like this it's a real show of solidarity and we've got one common goal that we want to achieve being here," he said.
"It's good that we can bounce ideas off each other, people from different clubs."
As a long-time AFL captain, Selwood was able to impart his wisdom on the group.
"I have been fortunate enough to be invited up here by the Players' Association to talk to current and emerging leaders," Selwood said after his talk.
"I shared a little bit of my story, the way that I went about things in the AFL landscape, but also just share knowledge that I learnt along the way.
"I think the balance of being a good leader is knowing that you're never going to nail it. You're never going to be perfect at it and you can do it in so many different ways.
"The good thing about it is that we have so many different personalities and cultures within this room that they're not only leading the players that they play with, but also a whole heap of people in this country and outside of this country too."
