The Sharks have announced the signings of Blake Hosking, Harrison Hassett and Brad Fearnley in adding strength and depth to their forward stocks for 2027.
All three, integral to the success of a Newtown side which won its way through to the NSW Cup Grand Final, will be members of the Sharks full-time NRL squad next season.
A lock/middle forward, Hosking, a local junior from the Engadine club, edge back-rower Hassett, in his first season with the Sharks and Jets in 2026, and Fearnley, a member of Newtown’s 2024 Premiership-winning team, have signed one-year contract extensions.
“Blake is an ultra-consistent performer who continues to improve and will push for an NRL debut in 2027,” Sharks General Manager Football Darren Mooney said.
“Harry, in his first season at our club, established himself as an important member of our squad. He provides excellent depth in the back row and has been a major contributor to what the Jets have been able to achieve in the NSW Cup this season.
“Fearns has been the backbone of the Newtown team over the past few seasons and has earned the opportunity to show what he can do as a member of our full-time NRL squad.
“We are extremely pleased all three have signed on with the Sharks for next season. They add strength and depth to our roster, and we look forward to them challenging for places in our NRL team in 2027,” Mooney added.
The announcement of the signings comes following a season in which the Jets came within one game of claiming a second NSW Cup Premierhsip victory in three years, following on from their success in 2024.
Hosking, a 24-year-old former Engadine Dragons junior, has come through the Sharks academy, pathways and junior representative system. A lock with a high work rate, with an injury-free run Hosking is more than capable of pushing the Sharks’ established stars for a place in the NRL team from next year.
The 22-year-old Hassett, a member of the Australian schoolboys touring squad to tour Fiji in 2023, has impressed both at a NSW Cup level and in the company of the Sharks fulltime NRL training group during his first season at the Sharks in 2026.
An edge backrower, Hassett who played one NRL game for Penrith in 2025, appeared in 25 of 26 matches for the Jets in 2026.
Last but far from least, a tall, rangy front rower originally from Bathurst, the 25-year-old Fearnley has continued to produce for the Jets in the NSW Cup, having played all 26 games for the Sharks NSW Cup partner club this year. He was also a part of the Jets Premiership-winning team in 2024.
The Jets have proved to be a valuable pathway for Sharks NRL players. In 2019 Newtown won the NSW Cup with a team which featured a number of players who went on to enjoy successful NRL careers with the Sharks, including Will Kennedy, Braydon Trindall, Blayke Brailey, Toby Rudolf, Teig Wilton, Sione Katoa, Ronaldo Mulitalo and Siosifa Talakai.
