While the 2026 seasons may have finished somewhat prematurely and short of expectations for the Harold Matthews Cup and SG Ball teams, the club's young women will fly the flag for the Sharks in week one of the 2026 NSWRL Junior Representative Finals series.
Following a six win-two loss season, the under-19 Sharks Tarsha Gale Cup squad finished fourth and will play a qualifying final on Saturday, while the Lisa Fiaola team tackles the Melbourne Storm, on the same day and at the same venue, in a sudden-death encounter.
For the Andrew Fifita-coached Tarsha Gale Sharks their assignment at Leichhardt Oval is a daunting one, up against the first-placed Sydney Roosters Indigenous Academy team.
In a game kicking off at Leichhardt Oval at 11.30am, the Sharks, who beat the Raiders 22-10 in their most recent clash played at Ocean Protect Stadium last weekend, will be looking to upset the high-flying Roosters outfit and to move on to a Grand Final qualifying match.
While Fifita has had strong input from all players across his Tarsha Gale squad, he will again be hoping the forwards can lay a platform for his talented backline, with hooker Koffi Brookfield a key inclusion in returning after missing the Canberra match.
The two teams didn't meet during the nine-round regular season.
Match: Indigenous Academy v Sharks
Finals Week 1 -
home Team
Indigenous Academy
away Team
Sharks
Venue: Leichhardt Oval, Sydney
In the Lisa Fiaola match, which will follow at 1pm at Leichhardt Oval, the Sharks will be aiming to reverse a heavy loss suffered in Melbourne when they last tackled the Storm back in round six.
On that occasion the Storm proved far too good for the under-17 Sharks girls, running out 48-0 winners, however since that match up the Cronulla side has regrouped, with their 30-4 victory over the Raiders last weekend, in what was essentially a sudden-death match to qualify for the Finals, giving them a boost of confidence ahead of the Melbourne clash.
The Lisa Fiaola Sharks finished seventh after the home and away season with a four win-four loss record.
Match: Storm v Sharks
Finals Week 1 -
home Team
Storm
away Team
Sharks
Venue: Leichhardt Oval, Sydney
