Score Sharks all-abilities team ready to make history
For the Score Sharks all-abilities team, Thursday night's historic match against the Score Dragons under the bright lights of Sharks Stadium will be a memory they'll never forget.
After training once a week for just over a year and tuning up against local teams, the Score Sharks will make their much-anticipated official debut tomorrow night in a curtain-raiser to the Cronulla-St George Illawarra NRL clash.
Last Wednesday, the excited players and their families gathered at Sharks Stadium for a jersey presentation with NRLW superstar Emma Verran, who leads the Score Sharks program in conjunction with The Disability Trust.
NRL players Braydon Trindall and KL Iro presented the participants with their playing kits. Representatives from Classic Sportswear and Sharks community partner Quest Apartment Hotels were also on hand to show their support.
Verran has developed a close bond with each Score Sharks player.
"It's really cool to have that connection, and to be able to see them develop over the time that the program’s been running, it’s really special," Verran said.
It was gratifying for the NRL stars to give back to the community.
"I hope it makes their day as much as it makes mine," Trindall said, adding how much he's looking forward to seeing the Score Sharks play before the NRL derby.
Verran, the Sharks Equal Access Program Lead, has been the driving force in getting the initiative to where it is today. The NSW and Jillaroos representative adapted the concept from the Dragons, who launched their Score program in 2014.
“It shows the club's passion for inclusivity and that they’re willing to support that,” Verran said.
The State of Origin champion said it's always been a dream to see the program come to life at the Sharks. Alongside NRLW young gun Jada Taylor, she has coached and trained the team in preparation for tomorrow's game.
Verran described the program as "life changing", not only for the players but also for herself, having seen the impact it's already had on so many people.
Amongst the Score Sharks playing group, the excitement levels are unmatched, with every participant beyond grateful for the opportunity they have been given.
Having both Trindall and Iro present their jerseys and provide valuable advice last week, the players could not wipe the smiles off their faces.
"It was probably the best moment of my life!" Score Sharks star James said.
James declared his eagerness to take on the Score Dragons in a local derby, with the team having trained extremely hard for their moment to shine.
"I reckon it's gonna be a heck of a lot of a good game," he said.
The Disability Trust Sport & Recreation Officer Elizabeth Evangelou said her organisation was "absolutely thrilled" to be aligned with the Sharks.
"The Score Sharks program has touched so many of our participants. It means a lot, not just to our participants but also to The Disability Trust being that we are the first organisation in the Shire to have an all-abilities team," Ms Evangelou said.
"Emma and the Sharks community team have been so supportive. Anything we discuss is actioned. We're so grateful for their support. They really are a blessing and we're really lucky to be involved with this."
