Sharks Have Heart Round – Giving back to our community

Sunday's clash against the West Tigers will mark a significant date in the calendar for the Cronulla club as we celebrate Sharks Have Heart Round, proudly presented by Quest Apartment Hotels.

This round sheds light on the local community and highlights how the club gives back to their loyal supporters. The club has hosted many community events leading up to this weekend’s round nine match, as well as providing plenty of game day excitement involving the Shire community and Sharks community partners.

Sharks Have Heart (SHH) foundation aims to promote equality, inclusion, cultural understanding, health and education for all areas of the community, including those who are disadvantaged.

To set the stage before the game on Sunday, the beloved Mermaid Megastars will entertain the crowd with a pregame performance, led by equal access program lead Emma Verran, and Mermaids Director Robyn Parras.

This group of people with disabilities have cumulated weeks of hard work at practice learning the cheer routine.

NRLW star Emma Verran was in attendance at their final rehearsal and could not believe how far they had come.

“I went to the Mermaid Megastars rehearsal on Wednesday night, and I could feel myself tearing up at the back. So Sunday will definitely be emotional for me.” Verran said

Another pre game initiative is a lap of honour which will see Score Sharks Participants greet fans before they kick off their second season.

The Score Sharks are a rugby league team of passionate fans with a range of disabilities, and this program provides the opportunity to showcase their talents. They participate in the Cronulla Junior Rugby League competition, as well as playing matches against the Score Dragons and Score Raiders during the year.

Presented by Quest Apartment Hotels, to highlight the immense growth of women's rugby league in the Shire community, at halftime of the NRL game there will be a relay featuring close to 70 female players from across different junior league clubs, with the race to decide the quickest team in the Shire.

Leading up to gameday, a number of events involving the community have taken place, among those a Mega Jaws skill clinic run by Emma Verran gave participants across all ages, with disabilities, the chance to enhance their Rugby League skills alongside their favourite players.

Verran believes it is vital that the club engages with their community so lasting connections are built.

“It’s so important, a community is what makes a club. This will probably be my last clinic which is so sad, I've got to make so many beautiful connections over the last three years,” she said.

During the week the Sharks Have Heart team was also in the local community at events including Sutherland Shire Council’s meeting of Two Cultures event at Kamay Bay National Park.

The Sharks Have Heart stall featured NRLW and Indigenous All Stars fullback, Jada Taylor, who promoted the Deadly Choices programs as well as encouraging local indigenous community members to get their 715 Health Check.

Someone continuing to make a lasting impact in the Aboriginal community is NRLW Player Rhiannon Byers. After a very impactful year off the field throughout the 2025 season, Byers was awarded the Veronica White Medal for NRLW Community Player of the year, recognising her outstanding contribution to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth through the Kurranulla Aboriginal corporation.

After overcoming battles with injuries, her resilience is inspiring the next generation on and off the field.

To make your own impact, donate to the Sharks Have Heart Foundation here.