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Celebrating diversity at 2025 Cultural Season Launch

It was a season launch like no other – a powerfully unique celebration of the various cultures that unite and strengthen the Sharks.

Players, staff, sponsors and media gathered at Sharks Stadium on Thursday night for the club's first Cultural Season Launch, a special event featuring traditional Indigenous Australian, Māori, Tongan and Samoan performances.

Representatives across all grades, from pathways to the NRL, took to the stage and proudly shared their cultures through stirring song and dance displays.

"Here at the Sharks, we have over 45 different cultures and heritages," Sharks CEO Dino Mezzatesta said in his welcoming address.

"That's what makes this club the unique club that it is – all the different cultures and heritages that we have coming together to celebrate," he added.

A cultural banner, comprising the flags and symbols of all heritages at the club, was unveiled. It will take pride of place in the players' tunnel, a visual reminder of who and what the Sharks are representing each time they run onto the field.

The evening was capped off by a Polynesian feast, with attendees enjoying delicious sample packs made fresh by the Pasifik Flava food truck.

The 2025 NRL squad was introduced between the cultural festivities. Captain Cameron McInnes and coach Craig Fitzgibbon expressed their excitement about the year ahead, kicking off with a trial against the Warriors on February 7.

"Obviously last season was a good one club wide, but we have a bit of unfinished business. From our point, the way the boys have all turned up from day one (of pre-season) shows that everyone's got that same mentality," McInnes said.

"We're tracking well. We play in a couple of weeks, so it's come up quickly, but the boys are ready to go after it."

Fitzgibbon added: "I'd echo Cam's sentiments. The attitude and application from the players has been really startling in how quickly we've got back to form.

"I think it's important to acknowledge the success of last year. It's given us a real springboard. There are real signs of prosperity, and opportunity lies ahead.

"We're into our fourth season now together. We've had a pretty stable crew. We know what we're about. We know what the club's about... The club's about nights like this (Cultural Season Launch). We're just a small part of the organisation.

"It does feel really inclusive at the moment and we're going to need that if we're going to have a successful year."

CLICK HERE to view a photo gallery of the Cultural Season Launch.

Acknowledgement of Country

Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks respect and honour the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands we meet, gather and play on.

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