As the curtain comes down and we reflect on another rugby league season, one in which our NRL team won its way through week two of the finals before being beaten by the eventual premiers, there was again plenty to celebrate not only in football, but across the business.
The NRL team were finalists for a fifth consecutive year under Craig Fitzgibbons’s coaching; our NSW Cup partner club, the Newtown Jets, qualified for another Grand Final; and despite the many challenges they faced, the NRLW Sharks finished the year with two strong wins and now look to 2027 with a great deal of positivity.
Also, congratulations to our pathways teams and everyone involved for their efforts this year. We have an abundance of young talent coming through the ranks.
In other areas relating to the football club business, I say thank you to all our 2026 corporate partners, from our major NRL and NRLW apparel sponsors, many of whom are back on board in 2027, to our signage, hospitality and pathways partners.
In Membership, just shy of 18,000 members signed on and supported our men and women this year and with 2027 Memberships on sale Thursday, 15 October, and the Reserved Seat Renewal Deadline Friday 30th October, we trust that support will continue in 2027.
Those who renew their Membership for 2027 before Sunday, 31 January, you are in the running to win the lucky Golden Ticket as we celebrate 60 years of the Cronulla Sharks. This is our way of saying thanks for being part of the journey.
CLICK HERE to find out more about the Golden Ticket membership promotion.
And if you weren’t already aware, we will have 11 home games at Ocean Protect Stadium in 2027 after hosting just 10 during the previous few seasons.
As for Sharks Have Heart, it was another benchmark year for our community department. Our players and the entire organisation are amazing ambassadors, and our engagement and impact continue to grow as we make a genuine difference in the community. This impact is embodied through players, such as Jada Taylor, who was a finalist for Veronica White Medal - Community Woman of the Year and our Ken Stephen Medal nominee Tom Hazelton.
Our Sharks Store in Woolooware Bay and sales through the game day merchandise outlets and online were up 15% on 2025 figures. In all, 58,000 products were sold, highlighted by the Heritage Jersey, Women In League Jersey and the Premiership Anniversary Jacket. The sales figures were an obvious success, but more importantly, it was very pleasing to see so many members and fans proudly displaying our colours at both NRL and NRLW games as well as in and around the Shire.
And while the opening of the Leagues Club in Woolooware is becoming ever closer, we remain committed to making Sharks at Kareela another welcoming home in the Sutherland Shire.
Drop in for a meal at the Cove Bar and Grill, the food offerings and service are second to none, emphasised by recent awards won in the Most Inclusive category, and as highlighted by the nomination as a finalist for Best Restaurant at the Australian Women’s Small Business Champion Awards.
This recognition comes after Cove Bar & Grill was named winner of ‘Outstanding Restaurant – Family’ at the prestigious Sutherland Shire Local Business Awards.
Congratulations to Gina Louloudakis and her staff and visit Cove Bar & Grill for lunch or dinner sometime soon.
As for events, the Porter-Gallen Presentation Night was a fitting end to our 2026 season, and congratulations to all award winners, while the Grand Final luncheon, our 49th, celebrated 10 years since our 2016 Grand Final success.
Attended by almost 400 and hosted by Channel 9’s James Bracey, the Grand Final Luncheon featured several members of the 2016 team, with an entertaining afternoon for all.
Now, across all areas of football, the focus quickly shifts to 2027, with NRL pre-season training set to begin in mid to late November, but before that, something very exciting is just weeks away.
The new Sharks Leagues Club is nearing completion, with more detail to follow in the coming weeks. See below a brief report from our club project managers Caras, while continue to access the Sharks Leagues Club microsite - https://sharksleagues.com.au/ - for more information or to join as a member, with the new Leagues Club website launching soon.
Thanks again to all who contributed to our success and achievements in 2026, and we look forward to taking you on another exciting ride in 2027.
Sharks Leagues Club - Caras
The Cronulla Sutherland Leagues Club Fitout and Facade Project is now heading into its final stages, with the transformation becoming increasingly visible both inside and out.
Level 2 is largely complete across the internal areas and external deck, with defect inspections and commissioning now underway. Furniture deliveries and landscaping have also commenced, bringing the finished spaces another step closer to their final form.
Externally, the removal of the solid perimeter hoarding has revealed the new façade, along with glimpses of the foyer and deck through the remaining site fencing – an exciting first look at the Club’s new identity.
As the project moves through its final stages, CARAS is working closely with Xenia Constructions, the Certifier and the consultant team to coordinate final inspections, commissioning, defects, close-out documentation and the certifications required for completion and occupation.
From a project management perspective, these final weeks are all about coordination and timing: bringing together the contractor, the consultants, the certifier, and the Sharks Team to ensure the many individual workstreams converge toward a successful project outcome.
We look forward to sharing more as the project approaches completion.
Football Report
Our men and women, from the NRL and NRLW through to junior rep and pathways teams, are all enjoying a well-earned break after a season that teased us, tested us, and again made us proud.
The NRL team had an impressive mid-season run, only for circumstances late in the year to derail our challenge for a second premiership.
In the NRLW, they faced much adversity; however, we are proud of how they regrouped and beat the Warriors and Dragons to finish the year on a positive note.
We continue to proudly boast a strong junior development and pathways program, with our NSW Premiership women competitive throughout the year; our Jersey Flegg squad won through to week two of the Finals, added to by strong performances from our SG Ball, Mathews Cup, Tarsha Gale and Lisa Fiaola teams earlier in the year.
It has also been another outstanding year for our NSW Cup partner club, the Newtown Jets, who won nine consecutive games to qualify for the Grand Final, but unfortunately found the Panthers just too good in the competition decider.
While still on the Jets, we were pleased to announce the continuation of our partnership with Newtown as our NSW Cup partner club for a further three years. Thanks to Barry Cotter, CEO Stuart McCarthy and all involved at the Jets for another wonderful season as we look forward to more success in the years to come.
As for our players, congratulations to our award winners named at the Porter Gallen Presentation Night. Following a season in which he played at a consistently high level each and every week, while playing every minute of every game in 2026, Will Kennedy was a worthy winner of both the Porter Gallen Medal and the Tommy Bishop Players Player.
Our major NRLW award, the Player of the Year, went to Quincy Dodd, with her class and commitment shining through during what was a tough season for our women’s team.
For more on the Porter Gallen Presentation night and all the award winners, CLICK HERE.
Still on awards, further congratulations go out to Braydon Trindall on being named Dally M Five-Eighth of the Year, and for being included in the Dally M Team of the Year. Braydon enjoyed an outstanding season and had he not missed games through injury late in the year, may have challenged Nathan Cleary for the major Dally M award.
In 2026, we also celebrated several player milestones: Will Kennedy and Ronaldo Mulitalo played their 150th NRL games for the Sharks; Sifa Talakai and Oregon Kaufusi reached 150 NRL games; and Braydon Trindall played his 100th Sharks NRL game, as did our co-captain Cam McInnes. Well done to all.
Also, congratulations to Addin Fonua Blake and Blayke Brailey, who played a significant role in the NSW Origin team's series victory, and to Briton Nikora, who debuted for Queensland and played all three games of the series this year.
We also had Niwhai Puru, Riley Jones, Michael Gabrael and Riley Pollard make their NRL and Sharks debuts; congratulations to all.
On something of a sad note, I acknowledge those from our NRL squad who are moving on. We say farewell to Jesse Ramien, Sione Katoa, Braden Uele, Sifa Talakai, Mawene Hiroti, Cam McInnes, Jayden Berrell, Chris Viella and Niwhai Puru.
Good luck to all in your future endeavours, and we will be forever grateful for your service to our club.
As for our NRLW women, we also say farewell to a couple of our senior players, Emma Verran and Caitlan Johnston-Green. Again, thank you and good luck for whatever the future brings.
We were also represented in the Women’s State of Origin in 2026, with Ellie Johnston and Tiana Penitani Gray playing key roles in the Blues series victory, while Chantay Kiria-Ratu made her Origin debut, playing all three games for Queensland. Penitani Gray, Dodd and Johnston all brought up their 50th NRLW games as well throughout the season.
And further congratulations to Madison Ashby, Marewa Samson, Milla Elaro, Olivia Herman and Koffi Brookfield, who made their NRLW debuts in 2026, with China Polata and Najvada George also playing their first NRLW games in Sharks colours.
Finally, good luck to those Sharks players set to compete in the men's and women's World Cup. Good luck, play well, and we will see you back in the black, white and blue in 2027.
Dino Mezzatesta
SHARKS GROUP CEO
