Welcome to the first CEO Update for 2026 as we move closer to the re-opening of our new Leagues Club at Woolooware Bay. Coming somewhat sooner than that will be another exciting year on the field, with expectations high for a successful season ahead for both our men's and women's teams.
This year also represents the 10-year anniversary of our 2016 NRL premiership, so as we chase a second title in 2026 we plan to celebrate and recognise that achievement from a decade ago.
First up and in relation to the NRL season which gets underway with our first home game on March 7, it is pleasing to report the pre-season has gone according to plan with Craig Fitzgibbon, his coaching staff and the NRL squad heading into the round one very positive about their prospects.
The football report to follow will go into more detail, however with less than a month to go before kick off, I would encourage all those fans without either a membership or a ticket to our first game to purchase now to avoid disappointment. Against the Josh Hannay-coached Titans, it promises to be a clash not to be missed.
Before that is our first trial, to be played this Sunday at Henson Park against the Eels. Five matches will be contested on the day, from round two of the junior reps through to the NRL trial, with the now infamous 'Beer Footy Food Festival' at Henson ensuring a party atmosphere and a great day of rugby league entertainment. It's an opportunity for Sharks members and fans to get their first look at the senior squad and some of young talent in the club who will push for inclusion in the NRL team this season and in the years to come.
As for the Sharks pathways teams, our men and women in SG Ball, Matthews Cup, Tarsha Gale and Lisa Fiaola Cup kicked off their campaigns in Newcastle last weekend. Check out the football report or CLICK HERE for more detail as to how they performed first up.
With 2016 premiership-winning players Andrew Fifita (Tarsha Gale) and Chad Townsend (SG Ball) appointed to head coaching roles, Brad Kelly and Isaac Michael in charge of Matthews Cup and Lisa Fiaola, much interest will centre around the performances of the young Sharks pathways teams in 2026.
The NRLW and Harvey Norman NSW Women's Premiership seasons are still some months away, so stay tuned to Sharks media channels for updates as we move closer to those competitions getting underway.
Away from football, with an eye towards 2026, while also looking back on 2025 and as will be detailed at the upcoming Annual General Meeting and in the Annual Report and financials for 2025, all areas of the business are tracking positively.
More details will follow from Xenia Constructions and project managers CARAS, however our Woolooware Leagues Club build is progressing well with all indications pointing towards a mid to late 2026 opening.
In exciting news, we are pleased to announce the appointment of experienced hospitality professional Julien Bova as General Manager – Leagues Club.
Julien has served as the CEO of Manly Leagues Club since 2018 and comes highly regarded with an impressive résumé spanning multiple areas of the industry.
He is extremely familiar with the Sutherland Shire, having worked across Tradies venues at Caringbah, Gymea and Helensburgh from 2012-2018, starting out as Duty Manager and finishing as Senior Gaming Manager – Operations.
Prior to his time in clubs, Bova's hospitality career commenced in several well-known suburban pubs while studying in his younger years. He enjoyed stints at Burwood Hotel, Royal Oak Hotel Lidcombe and Alfred Hotel Camperdown, where he developed a strong passion for hospitality and advanced through various management roles, building a wide-ranging and highly successful career.
Julien will officially start his employment with the club in March. CLICK HERE to read our full media release on his appointment.
Sharks at Kareela continues to trade strongly and remains the ideal venue for Sharks fans to gather to enjoy away games in 2026, while it is also a great spot to catch all major sporting events, shown live and loud on the big screen. The award-winning Cove Bar and Grill continues to be a premier dining option in the Shire and under the leadership of Nathan Bougoukas the team at Sharks at Kareela look forward to delivering our first-class service and hospitality to all Members, guests and golfers.
Stay tuned to the Sharks at Kareela website and to Sharks Member communications for upcoming events and special member offers.
In regard to Football Membership, a turnout of over 1000 enjoyed the Members Season Launch event at Ocean Protect Stadium last Saturday, where the NRL squad met and mingled with the crowd. After a club-record 17,923 Members signed on in 2025, and with almost 12,000 already on board for this season, we're aiming to break the 20,000 barrier. If not already a member, don't delay, CLICK HERE to join us in 2026 and to 'Create your Moment'. There are a number of membership options available.
Commercially, we head into 2026 with great momentum following the acquisition of Ocean Protect as our Stadium naming rights partner, and we thank all our valued corporate partners for your continued support. We couldn't do it without you. That said, there are a number of NRL and NRLW apparel sponsorship properties still available, as well as individual player sponsor and corporate hospitality opportunities. Contact our commercial department with all enquiries and become a part of our Sharks corporate family this season.
In the community space, the Sharks Have Heart team conducted another successful School Holiday Experiences event in January, and planning is in place around a number of programs and initiatives which will roll out during 2026. First up will be a school blitz on February 23, which will see the entire NRL squad visiting local schools.
For all your merchandise needs, the Sharks Store at Woolooware is stocked full of new Sharks gear, including the full range of 2026 apparel.
A must-have for this season, as part of our premiership anniversary celebrations, is the 2026 home jersey, a throwback design which pays homage to the strip worn during the 2016 season. The jersey is one of many ways we plan to acknowledge and honour our title-winning team, so be sure to get yourself a new jersey now.
All merchandise orders can be placed through www.store.sharks.com.au, or visit the Sharks store to check out the range in person and stock up ahead of the upcoming season.
As mentioned, first up is the NRL trial against Parramatta at the iconic Henson Park this Sunday, a summer festival of footy with Harold Matthews, SG Ball, Jersey Flegg, NSW Cup and NRL games on the schedule.
Stay tuned to our website and various social media pages ahead of the kick off to the season proper on March 7, then throughout the year to keep up with the latest Sharks content and information.
Thanks for your interest and continued support, as we look forward to welcoming everyone back to Ocean Protect Stadium early next month and later in the year to the re-opening of our Sharks Leagues Club in Woolooware.
Sharks CEO
Dino Mezzatesta
Xenia Constructions
The Cronulla Sharks Leagues Club project has continued to progress steadily over the past few weeks, with key milestones achieved across the façade, structural works, and internal fire protection.
Installation of windows along the northern façade is now underway, further defining the building envelope. Structurally, the Level 2 new concrete slab infills and Level 3 stair installation mark important progress in the vertical build, while deck steelwork continues to advance. Internally, fire proofing has been completed within the gaming lounge and Function Room 2, supporting both compliance requirements and the continued rollout of internal trades.
Safety remains a key focus on site, with all works carefully planned and sequenced to manage risk as multiple trades operate concurrently. Strong site controls and collaboration have ensured these milestones have been delivered safely while maintaining momentum.
What's Coming Up
- Continued northern façade glazing
- Ongoing deck steelwork progression
- Further internal trade works following completed fire measures
These upcoming activities will deliver another period of visible progress as the project continues to move confidently into the next stage.
Gerard McNamara
Xenia General Manager, NSW
Caras Project Management
Works at the Cronulla Sharks Leagues Club have continued to progress steadily over the holiday period and the past month, with positive momentum maintained as the Club's redevelopment takes shape.
On site, glazing and cladding works to the northern façade are now underway, delivering clear and visible progress to the building's exterior. Structural steel installation is also advancing along the eastern façade and across the northern deck. Inside the Club, fire protection works are well underway and, following the completion of most concrete infill works, lightweight framing has commenced, beginning to define the future internal spaces.
Behind the scenes, our focus during this period has been on maintaining alignment between construction activities and the final stages of design development. Design development and coordination is now well advanced, with remaining details being resolved in close collaboration with the Club and Xenia to minimise construction risk, avoid rework, and maintain programme certainty as the project transitions into the next phase.
Work health and safety continues to be a key priority. With multiple trades operating concurrently, our team remains actively engaged in WHS oversight, reviewing site controls, sequencing, and risk management processes to ensure works are undertaken safely and in accordance with best-practice standards. Strong collaboration between all parties has supported the safe delivery of recent milestones while maintaining productivity on site.
The project continues to track well, with visible progress on site and design nearing final stages, positioning the works positively for the next phase of delivery and the ongoing enhancement of the Club for its members and the wider community.
Mattia Bianchetti Fettolini
Caras Associate Director - Head of Project Management
Football Report
With trials only a matter of weeks away, another demanding NRL pre-season is almost in the rear-view mirror. The squad recently held a week-long camp in Lennox Head, spending valuable time connecting and fine-tuning their preparation for the year ahead.
After pushing themselves to raise the bar in fitness and strength throughout summer, our players will enjoy a long-awaited hit-out against the Eels at Henson Park on Sunday, February 15. As well as getting miles into the legs of seasoned professionals, the match is set to provide a platform for several promising youngsters to experience a taste of first-grade football and put their training into practice.
The day will also showcase the strength of the club's pathways, with the Harold Matthews, SG Ball and Jersey Flegg teams in action alongside the Newtown Jets, our NSW Cup partner club. CLICK HERE to secure tickets to watch five bumper games of football while enjoying the atmosphere of the inaugural Summer Beer Footy Food Festival!
On the same day, Nicho Hynes, Braydon Trindall and Jesse Ramien (Indigenous), along with Briton Nikora and Mawene Hiroti (Māori), have been selected to go head-to-head in the annual All Stars fixture, representing their cultures at FMG Stadium Waikato in Hamilton, New Zealand.
Meanwhile, the women's All Stars to be played before the men's match will feature Jada Taylor, Quincy Dodd, Rhiannon Byers and Caitlan Johnston-Green (Indigenous). Congratulations to all involved – we know you'll fly the Sharks flag proudly.
Our NRL squad will head to Gosford on Saturday, February 21 to face the Raiders at Polytec Stadium in our second and final Pre-Season Challenge game. From there, it's all systems go for a Round 1 home clash with the Titans at Ocean Protect Stadium on Saturday, March 7.
It's easy to say before a ball's been kicked in anger, but we're confident that 2026 will bring about another successful season on and off the field for our NRL side. Aside from Cameron McInnes and Ronaldo Mulitalo, who are progressing well in their recovery from ACL injuries, we're poised to enter the season with an extremely healthy, hungry unit.
In a major boost for our long-term prospects, impressive forward Jesse Colquhoun recently knocked back offers elsewhere to re-sign until the end of 2030. Jesse has only played 29 NRL games but his work ethic, talent and leadership qualities are undoubted.
While the NRLW season doesn't start until July, there's been plenty of activity on the recruitment front of late. Kiwi Ferns representative Najvada George is the latest player to become a Shark, joining Tongan internationals Tegan Dymock and China Polata.
Excitingly, NRLW squad members Emma Verran and Dominique du Toit have followed Talei Holmes in announcing their first pregnancies via social media. On behalf of the club, we wish you a healthy, happy journey during a truly special time in your lives.
The Junior Representative season is now officially underway. After trial matches against Parramatta, Western Suburbs/Wests Tigers and Canterbury, our male and female teams took on Newcastle in Round 1 matches at Maitland Sports Ground on Sunday, February 8.
It was a tough opening to the season for our young Sharks, with all except the Tarsha Gale side – who won 16-10 – going down to the Knights in hard-fought contests in Maitland. The four teams will face the Eels at Henson Park on Sunday.
