Fond memories came flooding back for Great Whites Edrick Lee and David Peachey as they returned to Sharks Stadium for the club's Deadly Choices First Nations Community Day on Friday.
Sharks Have Heart joined forces with Deadly Choices and the Central and Eastern Sydney Primary Health Network (PHN) to host more than 100 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members at NRL training ahead of Saturday afternoon's Indigenous Round double-header against the Gold Coast Titans.
Free 715 Health Checks – designed for early intervention and better health outcomes – were provided through the local Vitalis Family Medical Practice. Anti-smoking organisation Na Joomelah, youth mental health foundation Headspace and the Rotary Club of Caringbah, which provided a BBQ lunch, also had stalls.
That's the special part of Indigenous Round – for people to see who we are and where we come from
David Peachey
Cronulla's NRL squad wore Deadly Choices shirts – underlining the strength of a partnership between the club and the Indigenous health organisation dating back to 2018 – before signing autographs and taking photos at the end of the session.
Sharks NRLW star Jada Taylor, a proud Gamilaroi woman, has been delivering the Deadly Choices education program to local First Nations students for more than three years. Taylor was instrumental in organising the Community Day.
Queensland State of Origin representative Lee, who scored 14 tries in 24 matches for the Sharks (2017-18), now works full-time for Deadly Choices.
"It's a nice way to blend football into my passion, into what I really grew up with, which is community health," said Lee, who played his final NRL game in 2023.
"Aligning the two fits in my 'why', and it's great to be partnered with clubs I played for previously (Sharks and Dolphins)," the former winger added.
"We're helping to promote the (Deadly Choices) program, which helps enable our community to get their 715 Health Check and get on top of things early.
"Not only that, we offer a healthy lifestyle program within schools and education. Part of the program enables the kids to get a Deadly Choices shirt."
Reflecting on his stint at the Sharks, Lee is extremely thankful.
"I had my second child here, so it holds a significant part of my life and my career. It enabled me to experience new things, which the Shire did offer," he said.
"The playing group was open and welcoming, which allowed me to have relationships until now. I've been away for so long, but since I've come back (to Sydney), we kick off where we last met. It's a nice way to come back, just to feel the love and the opportunity I had in the Shire. I'm really grateful for it."
Fan favourite Peachey was rapt to be at Sharks Stadium, the fullback having played 232 matches for Cronulla (1994-2005) and scored an incredible 110 tries.
"Each and every time, getting invited back for certain occasions definitely brings back a lot of memories," said Peachey, who will attend tomorrow's NRL game.
"The Sharks are going well and I think that's both on and off the field."
Peachey is delighted to see the continued growth of Indigenous Round.
"We come from far and wide and I suppose that's the special part of Indigenous Round – for people to see who we are and where we come from," he said.
"If they get an opportunity to talk with certain people, they get those stories – how we're connected to country through culture, how families play a big part in moulding kids into young men, and then the clubs grasping onto that as well.
"(Indigenous Round) is a special time. For these young kids coming through, it really highlights where they're from and what they bring to the game individually."
CLICK HERE to learn more about the Sharks' partnership with Deadly Choices.
