Welcome to the final CEO Update for 2025 as we wrap up a huge year on and off the field and preview another milestone campaign.
From the long-awaited opening of the new Sharks Leagues Club at Woolooware Bay to the 10-year anniversary of our unforgettable 2016 NRL premiership, 2026 looms as one of the biggest and most exciting seasons in the club's history.
On behalf of our chairman Steve Mace and his board of directors, comprising David Nicholson, Morry Waked, Martin Kennedy, Wayne Knight, Patrick Bourke, Matthew McGrath, Madeline Tynan and Paul Gallen, we thank all our dedicated Members and fans for their support and wish everyone a happy holiday period.
It's been an outstanding season on all fronts, starting with our inaugural Hall of Fame induction dinner in February and moving into a historic trip to Los Angeles and Las Vegas for a Round 1 NRL clash with the Panthers at Allegiant Stadium.
Watch the video below for a recap of our 2025 highlights.
2025 Sharks highlight reel
Our club enjoyed outstanding results across the board this year, headlined by our NRL and NRLW teams reaching preliminary finals. With hopes high for next year, our men are hard at work under the guidance of coach Craig Fitzgibbon as our women's side continue to bolster their stocks with several shrewd signings.
Our pathways are strong, with the Harvey Norman NSW Women's Premiership team winning the competition and our Jersey Flegg, SG Ball and Tarsha Gale squads – along with our NSW Cup partner club Newtown – all reaching the finals.
The Junior Representative season is almost upon us again. Premiership heroes Andrew Fifita (Tarsha Gale) and Chad Townsend (SG Ball) have been appointed to head coaching roles in a fitting link to the all-conquering 2016 team.
Away from football, our business is thriving. More details will follow from Xenia Constructions and project managers CARAS, however our Leagues Club build is progressing well with the internal fitout now underway.
An opening date of mid-late next year is still expected.
In the meantime, Sharks at Kareela is trading strongly and will remain open throughout the festive period except for Christmas Day. Pop in and enjoy an ice-cold beverage, an award-winning meal and a smorgasbord of promotions including meat raffles, drink specials, member badge draws and bingo/cash housie.
The multi-purpose capability of our stadium was underlined in October when we hosted the AUSX Supercross Championships, bringing some of the best motocross riders in Australia and across the world to the Sutherland Shire.
Ocean Protect Stadium was also slated to host a Community Christmas Carols evening earlier this month, but promoter Roundbox Group made the tough decision to postpone the event due to feasibility considerations. We're hopeful of delivering a potential event in collaboration with Roundbox Group in 2026.
Our 2026 Membership campaign is in full swing, with more than 10,000 Members already on board. After a club-record 17,923 Members this year, we're eager to raise the bar for a third consecutive year and break through the 20,000 barrier.
If you want to become a Shark Forever and access a range of exclusive benefits, CLICK HERE to view an array of Membership options.
Commercially, we head into 2026 with great momentum after the acquisition of Ocean Protect as our new stadium naming rights partner on a three-year deal.
Ocean Protect's mission is to preserve our waterways through stormwater management, and with our club surrounded by beautiful beaches, the brand synergy is perfect. We welcomed Ocean Protect CEO Michael Wicks and his team into our corporate family with a spectacular media launch in November.
Elsewhere, we've announced a raft of pathways sponsors for next season, with Panetta Mercato signing on as major partner. D.Velop.R, United Rentals, A Corp Computers and Cronulla Carpets will also play vital roles in nurturing the next generation of Sharks stars as valued members of our corporate network.
Thanks to all our valued sponsors for your support throughout the 2025 season – you give so much to our club and we couldn't do it without you.
In the community space, the Sharks Have Heart team are leading the way. We celebrated the International Day of People with Disability earlier this month with a heart-warming clinic featuring clients from various disability support organisations, while the Junior Jaws Beach Footy school holiday clinic is right around the corner.
Capping off another impactful year of community engagement, the NRL squad also split into groups and spread festive cheer across the local region at The Sutherland Hospital, St George & Sutherland Shire Community College, Stella Maris Aged Care and Dandelion Support Network on Thursday morning.
As part of our premiership anniversary celebrations, we recently unveiled our 2026 home jersey that pays homage to the strip worn during the 2016 season – one of many ways we plan to acknowledge and honour our title-winning team next year.
For all your merchandise needs, the Sharks Store at Woolooware is open throughout the holidays with the exception of Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day. Orders can be placed through store.sharks.com.au anytime.
The Sharks Store has relocated to a bigger shop directly opposite its previous location in the Woolooware Bay Town Centre (now next to the UFC Gym). Make sure to stop by, visit our friendly staff and stock up on fresh threads!
The NRL and NRLW draws have been released since the last CEO Update. Highlights include 10 NRL matches at Ocean Protect Stadium, starting with a Round 1 blockbuster against the Titans, and five standalone NRLW home games.
CLICK HERE for more draw information.
We look forward to hosting an NRL trial against Parramatta at the iconic Henson Park on Sunday, February 15. Fans will enjoy a summer festival of footy, with Harold Matthews, SG Ball, Jersey Flegg, NSW Cup and NRL games on the bill.
Stay tuned to our various social media pages and sharks.com.au throughout the off-season to keep up with the latest Sharks content and information.
For now, I hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable Christmas and New Year enjoying the summer period. We can't wait to see everyone back at Ocean Protect Stadium in the new year as we step up our pursuit of premierships and strive for the top on and off the field!
Sharks CEO
Dino Mezzatesta
Xenia Constructions
The project has continued to progress over the past few weeks, with key advancements across the façade, internal works, and the main outdoor deck construction. These milestones reflect a steady transition from the demolition and core structural activities into the internal fitout works.
The new façade continues, with the installation of the new structural elements, façade panelling and glazing all underway. Internally, works are actively progressing across multiple areas, with the installation of services, construction of new walls and fireproofing.
The construction of the main deck on Level 2 has also made progress, with primary steelwork installation in progress. This work represents another important structural milestone and supports the continued advancement of the project.
What's Coming Up
- Completion of northern façade steelwork
- Commencement of partition works
- Ongoing fire spraying and services penetrations
- Continued progress on deck primary steelwork
These upcoming works will deliver another period of visible progress across the site, as structural elements are finalised and internal works continue to gain momentum.
Gerard McNamara
General Manager NSW
CARAS Project Management
We are pleased to update on project progress to date, with a significant focus on the club façade.
Xenia Constructions have now completed façade demolition on all elevations. As demolition works progressed on each elevation, an engineered rainscreen was installed to ensure protection of the club and surrounds during the façade replacement process.
Façade replacement works are the latest major phase to commence, starting with the delivery and installation of structural steel for the new façade, which is now complete on the northern façade and continuing around the perimeter of the building. CARAS will continue to engage closely with multiple stakeholders to ensure strong communication and manage expectations around the project delivery.
We continue to maintain strong oversight of WHS and environmental standards, undertaking regular site inspections and collaborating with the wider project team to ensure a safe work environment.
CARAS are also continuing to support the design development process for the internal fitout, acting as the bridge between Xenia's design team and the Sharks project team to resolve design queries and ensure quality deliverables in line with the project objectives. The CARAS team remains committed to delivering a world-class facility – symbolic of the Sharks' legacy and future.
Football Update
After a well-earned rest, the vast majority of our NRL squad has been back in training for several weeks. The younger brigade hit the field in late November before being joined by established first-graders earlier this month, with our international representatives slated to return in the new year.
All reports have been extremely positive heading into the Christmas break as the boys look to use back-to-back preliminary finals as a launchpad for more success.
In signing news, fullback Will Kennedy, forward Hohepa Puru, centre Mawene Hiroti and hooker Jayden Berrell all recommitted for 2026 during the off-season, while promising back-rower Harry Hassett (end of 2026) and dummy-half Xavier Cacciotti (2028) have arrived from the Panthers and Raiders respectively.
Meanwhile, world-renowned French rugby icon Frédéric Michalak will join the club as an assistant to NRL head coach Craig Fitzgibbon midway through next season after completing his commitments with European powerhouse Racing 92. Fred has previously worked with the Sharks as a specialist skills consultant and will now step into the full-time coaching role vacated by Josh Hannay.
While the NRLW season doesn't kick off until July 2, when we'll host the Knights at Ocean Protect Stadium, our women's department has been busy in announcing a number of exciting re-signings and additions in recent weeks.
Winger Cassie Staples (2026), forward Steph Faulkner (2027), fullback Jada Taylor (2027), prop Filomina Hanisi (2027) and back-rower Anne-Marie Kiria-Ratu (2027) will remain in black, white and blue after inking new deals.
Second-rower China Polata will make the move from North Queensland to the Shire next season on a two-year contract, while Tongan international Tegan Dymock is returning home to the Sharks after a season with the Bulldogs.
A big congratulations to Talei Holmes, who has announced she's pregnant with her first child. We look forward to welcoming a new member to our Sharks family!
On the Junior Representative front, as mentioned above, 2016 champions Chad Townsend (SG Ball) and Andrew Fifita (Tarsha Gale) will assume important head coaching positions. It's Chad's first opportunity with the clipboard since his NRL retirement, while Andrew returns after leading the Tarsha Gale side to the finals.
The experienced Brad Kelly (Harold Matthews) and highly rated Isaac Michael (Lisa Fiaola) will take charge of our other Junior Representative squads.
The Harold Matthews and SG Ball teams trialled against Parramatta at Kellyville Oval on Saturday evening, showing encouraging signs in tight losses, while the Lisa Fiaola and Tarsha Gale sides blew out the cobwebs in solid performances against the Eels the weekend prior.
All four Junior Representative teams will officially commence their campaigns with Round 1 matches against the Knights in Newcastle on Sunday, February 8.
Looking back, we had a plethora of players shine on the world stage in October.
Congratulations to Briton Nikora and Ronaldo Mulitalo, who were part of New Zealand's Pacific Cup-winning squad. Ronaldo unfortunately ruptured his ACL while representing his nation and is set for a lengthy recovery period.
Addin Fonua-Blake and Sione Katoa represented Tonga with pride, while Cook Islands captain KL Iro helped clinch a 2026 World Cup berth for his nation.
He may not have played a game, but NRL hooker Blayke Brailey was an important squad member for the Kangaroos in their 3-0 Ashes win over England in the UK.
Tiana Penitani Gray, Ellie Johnston and Quincy Dodd played key roles in the Jillaroos' Pacific Cup final win over Annessa Biddle and Tyla King's Kiwi Ferns.
Cassie Staples helped create history by ensuring Fiji secured a place at the Women's World Cup for the first time with qualifying wins over Canada and Nigeria in Ontario. NRLW head coach Tony Herman assisted the Bulikula squad.
Rounding out the highlights, sisters Chantay and Anne-Marie Kiria-Ratu starred for Cook Islands against Papua New Guinea and Tonga. Halfback Chantay's sizzling form resulted in her being shortlisted for the IRL Golden Boot award.
The focus is now squarely on 2026, with our NRL and NRLW teams both poised to challenge for premierships after falling one game short of the Grand Final.
And with under two months until our opening NRL Pre-Season Challenge match against Parramatta at Henson Park on February 15, followed by a trial clash with the Raiders at Polytec Stadium on February 21, it's not long until footy is back!
Until then, have a safe and happy holiday period. Up up Cronulla!
