The Sharks are hosting a First Nations Community Day this Friday at 10am, in partnership with Deadly Choices and the Central and Eastern Sydney Public Health Network.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people from around the community will get the chance to watch the Sharks’ NRL captain’s run and see the team training in special Deadly Choices’ shirts.
The club will have Vitalis Family Medical Practice healthcare workers set up at Ocean Protect Stadium on the day, offering 715 Health Checks.
The 715 Health Check is a free, annual health assessment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to identify risks of illness and support overall wellbeing.
Those who do a health check will receive a Sharks Deadly Choices shirt.
It’s an event that’s run since 2024, and one Cronulla’s NRLW fullback and current Sharks Deadly Choices Program Coordinator, Jada Taylor, is very proud of.
“It’s been an honour to run the club's DC program for the last few years and to see how it genuinely has such a positive impact,” Taylor shared.
“They say you can’t be what you can’t see, so the Community Day is all about giving back and showing young Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander kids that they can chase their dreams, and that they can live a healthy lifestyle too.”
Cronulla’s NRLW side celebrated Indigenous Round at Ocean Protect Stadium last Saturday, with the Kurranulla Aboriginal Corporation Dance Group performing and Kurranulla Director and Elder in Residence, Aunty Deanna Schreiber delivering the Welcome to Country.
Players were presented with painted boots by a group of kids from the Cultural Choice Association’s Boots for Brighter Futures (BFBF) program.
Now the Sharks’ NRL side gets its chance to host the round at home against the Raiders this Saturday afternoon at 3:00pm.
Proud Gumbayngirr-Dhungutti man Phil Dotti will lead the team out on game day; he was the first person who identified as Indigenous at the time to play first grade for Cronulla.
Aunty Deanna Schreiber will again do the Welcome to Country as she has done many times before.
The local Elder has previously designed and collaborated on other Sharks’ Indigenous jerseys and partnered with the club to deliver cultural programs for many years.
There’ll also be a pre-game cultural performance and smoking ceremony by the Gamay Dancers.
At half-time, the Deadly Choices Mini League games will kick off, where the stars of tomorrow will put on a show, with kids from around NSW invited to the turf of Ocean Protect Stadium for their memorable moment in the spotlight.
This weekend's partner for the 50-50 Charity Raffle is Sutherland Shire Reconciliation, who are a community organisation that works to advance Reconciliation through advocacy, cultural events, education, and partnerships with First Nations communities.
Cronulla’s NRL and NRLW teams will again run out in their 2026 Indigenous Jerseys with the women playing in Townsville on Sunday night at 6:05pm.
The jersey was designed by renowned Bidjigal artist and proud Dharawal woman Jordan Ardler, who has crafted the Sharks' Indigenous jersey for the past four years, and again worked closely with the club’s players and staff to capture the history and cultural essence of the 'Kurranulla' area.
Read more about the jersey HERE and buy your own through the Sharks Store HERE.
For more information about Deadly Choices healthy lifestyle programs in your school, or community group, or to learn about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health assessments, contact: [email protected]
Or CLICK HERE to learn more about the Sharks' partnership with Deadly Choices.
