Sharks ready to score in all-abilities clash with Dragons

Cronulla stars Emma Verran, KL Iro and Braydon Trindall have helped launch the club's new Score Sharks program ahead of Thursday's clash with the Dragons. 

The concept has been developed in conjunction with the Disability Trust, with the club establishing a team for people with disabilities. 

The side has spent 18 months training together before they played a series of games against local Cronulla sides throughout the past month. 

Now, they are gearing up for their first official match, where they will take on the Score Dragons in the curtain raiser before the NRL clash between the two sides. 

Verran, Iro and Trindall were on hand for the jersey presentation and Verran said it was an emotional evening. 

"It was super special," Verran told NRL.com. "The team has been training for about a year and a half and it's been amazing to see them progress over that time. I'm so glad we can finally give them a platform to perform.

"Having some of the NRL boys there for the jersey presentation was really special. There was so much cheering and clapping and a couple of little dances. Looking at the parents in the room and watching them watch their kid get their jersey was a special moment. You could see the pride radiating from them so that touched me."

The Score Sharks program has been closely modelled on the Score Dragons, with Verran playing a key role in its inception. 

A qualified occupational therapist, the NSW Blues star has been a passionate advocate for providing opportunities for people with disabilities to play rugby league.

Verran works as the Sharks Equal Access Program Lead in addition to her playing responsibilities and hopes the Score program will continue to expand. 

"This shows rugby league is a game for everybody and I'm a big fan of giving everyone the chance to engage with the game," Verran said.

"I think of myself and if that was my child, I would want them to be able to play and the skills they have are amazing. The passion for the game they've got is incredible and I'm honoured we can give them this opportunity."

The Sharks men are desperate to return to form when they host the Dragons on Thursday, while the women are ramping up preparations for the NRLW season.

Verran has returned to Cronulla following a successful State of Origin campaign with the Blues, where she played a key role in their series victory. 

The playmaker is set to line up in the Sharks halves alongside Queensland youngster Georgia Hannaway throughout the upcoming NRLW season.