Tomorrow's clash with the Warriors will carry extra meaning for Sharks centre KL Iro as more than 70 of his family and friends from the Cook Islands pack the stands to support their homegrown hero.
The tour group includes the under-13 Arorangi Bears – Iro's junior club – who will face the Kurnell Stingrays in an exhibition match at Marton Park tonight.
The Cook Islands contingent were invited to watch Cronulla's NRL squad train earlier in the day, embracing KL and meeting stars they'd only ever seen on TV.
For many, the trip marks the first time they've left their small South Pacific nation.
It's a proud occasion for Iro, whose younger brother Kaleb is playing for the Bears.
Fittingly, the Sharks will wear their inaugural 'Tangata Moana' jersey against the Warriors to celebrate the deep cultural connections of the squad's Pasifika players.
"Some of those boys wouldn't have left the island once, so this is a massive trip for them," Iro told Sharks Media of the crew travelling to Sharks Stadium.
"I know all of them. Back home, you know pretty much everyone.
"My mum (Tina) drove it heaps. She put it out early in the year and they've been fundraising all year for it. It's going to be a special game.
"Including my family that are already in Australia, I think 80-odd people are coming. It's a pretty big group. It's mostly for the under-13s team coming over to play the Kurnell Stingrays. They're all in my little brother's team.
"It'll be weird having all the family here at once, but special at the same time."
Iro's mother Tina, the president of the Arorangi Bears, and father Kevin, a rugby league legend who represented New Zealand and the Cook Islands at Test level, spearheaded the fundraising efforts to make the tour a reality.
We thought he was going to be the family's first jockey – or at least a halfback!
Kevin Iro on his son KL's slight frame as a child
They organised a car wash and a fun run to drum up money for the trip, which comes after their Kurnell counterparts travelled to the Cook Islands for a game last year. The Bears, coached by Kevin, won the inaugural contest by two points.
"It's a small village and a small island. I think KL would probably be the first local kid from Arorangi in Rarotonga that's made it into the NRL," Kevin said.
"He's a bit of an inspiration for the kids that are coming on this trip to look at what he's done and make it a goal themselves."
Tina added: "Our goal is to inspire the young ones to dream big. Not all children fall into that educational box, so we wanted to open their eyes and give hope for the ones that are into sport and show them what they can do, like KL did."
The entire Cook Islands is right behind KL, tuning into every Sharks game. His parents are understandably chuffed about what their boy has achieved.
"We've got six children and they've all come from Japan and New Zealand and everywhere to be here for this tour and to support KL," Tina said.
Kevin remains a leading influence on the 25-year-old. KL's name – which he changed from Kayal earlier this year – is a nod to his dad's initials.
"I give him a call every other day after games!" Kevin laughed.
"If he wants encouragement, he comes to me," Tina interjected.
"If he wants the truth, he goes to dad!"
As well as scoring 15 tries in 32 NRL appearances to date, Iro has represented Cook Islands in eight Tests. He lived in Rarotonga from age two until 14, having been born in the UK when Kevin was playing in the Super League.
"I'm so happy for KL because he's had so much grit," Tina said.
"He's had so many setbacks ... Everything he's got, he deserves so much."
"He's always had the determination about him," Kevin concurred.
"Growing up he was a tiny little guy. He was always the smallest in his age grade. We thought he was going to be the family's first jockey – or at least a halfback!
"He shot up when he was about 15 or 16. I think because of his size growing up, he had to have that grit. He got tossed around, but he always got up. He always had a big heart and I think that's really what's brought him to this level."
The Iros hope this weekend's Australian trip is a gateway to establishing more development systems and nurturing the immense talent in the Cook Islands.
"One of the reasons we're doing this is to connect the dots. We've got so many Polynesians who are natural rugby league players," Tina explained.
"Just to bring them and expose them here, like a lot of other countries have, is to show what we have to give. We've got a very small competition. The under 14s only have two clubs – they play each other every week.
"Yet when you see the raw talent they have, some of that stuff you can't teach. It's just in their blood. If they had the proper competition, they'd be so much better.
"We've only just started wearing boots, which are only compulsory in the under 14s, in the last two or three months."
Iro's passionate support crew will bring traditional Cook Islands drums to the game, adding to the proud Pasifika theme as they cheer on the Sharks.
"If the Warriors look and see drums they'll think it's for them, but unfortunately there won't be any drums if the Warriors score any tries!" Kevin said.
"It'll only be after the Sharks score. I'll tell KL to tell the boys, 'Don't think when you hear the drums it's trying to intimidate' – that's for them."
