Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Women

Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Women
Club information
Full nameCronulla Sutherland
District Rugby League
Football Club Ltd
Nickname(s)Sharks, Sharkies
Colours  Sky blue
  White
  Black
Founded1963 as Cronulla-Caringbah
1967 in NSWRL Men’s
2023 Women’s NRLW
Websitesharks.com.au
Current details
Ground(s)
CoachTony Herman
CaptainTiana Penitani
CompetitionNational Rugby League
Current season
Uniforms
Home colours
Away colours
Records
Runners-up1 (2024)
Highest try scorer11 – Tiana Penitani
Highest points scorer98 – Tayla Preston

The Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Women are an Australian professional rugby league club based in Cronulla, in the Sutherland Shire, Southern Sydney, New South Wales. They compete in the National Rugby League Women's Premiership (NRLW), Australasia's premier rugby league competition for female players. The Sharks, as they are commonly known, were admitted to the NRLW in June 2022 to commence in the 2023 NRL Women's season.[1][2]

Seasons

Season Regular Season Finals Nines Ref
P W D L F A Pts Pos
2023 9 4 0 5 202 150 8 6th — — [3]
2024 9 6 0 3 146 122 12 4th Grand Finalists — [4][5][6]

Head-to-head records

Opponent First Meeting P W D L PF PA Win % Share
Raiders 23 Jul 2023 2 2 0 0 52 26 100.00% 66.67%
Tigers 30 Jul 2023 2 0 0 2 10 22 0.00% 31.25%
Titans 5 Aug 2023 2 1 0 1 30 16 50.00% 65.22%
Roosters 13 Aug 2023 3 0 0 3 40 108 0.00% 27.03%
Cowboys 19 Aug 2023 2 2 0 0 54 12 100.00% 81.82%
Knights 27 Aug 2023 2 1 0 1 28 34 50.00% 45.16%
Broncos 2 Sep 2023 3 1 0 2 58 52 33.33% 52.73%
Dragons 7 Sep 2023 2 2 0 0 44 12 100.00% 78.57%
Eels 17 Sep 2023 2 2 0 0 74 22 100.00% 77.08%
Totals 23 Jul 2023 20 11 0 9 390 304 55.00% 56.20%

Notes

  • Share % is the percentage of points For over the sum of points For and Against.
  • Clubs listed in the order than the Sharks Women first played them.
  • Last updated: 7 October 2024

Current squad

The team is coached by Tony Herman.[7]

Jersey numbers in the table reflect the Sharks' Grand Final Team List.
Table last updated on 7 October 2024.

J# Player Age Position(s) NRLW Seasons NRLW Stats Origin Tests All
Stars
2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 M T G Pts
1 Emma Tonegato 29 Fullback, Five-eighth — — — 7 6 9 9 31 8 0 32 8 9 1
2 Cassie Staples 31 Wing, Fullback — — — — 1 5 11 17 6 0 24 — 1 —
3 Tiana Penitani 28 Centre, Fullback — 4 2 5 5 9 11 36 18 0 72 8 1 1 —
4 Annessa Biddle 21 Centre, Wing — — — — — 8 11 19 6 0 24 — 3 1
5 Georgia Ravics 29 Wing — — — — — 5 11 16 10 0 40 — — —
6 Georgia Hannaway 23 Five-eighth — — — — — — 7 7 1 0 4 — — —
7 Tayla Preston 25 Halfback, Five-eighth — — — — 6 9 11 26 2 62 132 — — —
8 Ellie Johnston 23 Prop, Second-row — — 3 5 7 9 11 35 12 0 48 — — —
9 Quincy Dodd 24 Hooker — 1 4 7 6 9 11 38 11 0 44 5 — 6
17 Tegan Dymock 22 Prop, Lock — — — 3 3 8 11 25 2 0 8 — 2 —
11 Talei Holmes 24 Second-row — — 3 4 3 9 10 29 0 0 0 — 2 —
12 Rhiannon Byers 25 Second-row, Centre — — — — — 1 10 11 1 0 4 — — —
13 Brooke Anderson 28 Lock, Hooker — — — — 5 9 11 25 3 0 12 1 3 2
14 Filomina Hanisi 23 Prop — — 4 5 7 4 4 24 0 0 0 2 — —
15 Manilita Takapautolo 18 Prop — — — — — — 7 7 0 0 0 — — —
16 Vanessa Foliaki 31 Second-row 4 3 4 — 7 9 11 38 2 0 8 6 6 1 1
10 Holli Wheeler 34 Prop, Lock 3 4 — 7 6 7 10 37 2 2 12 3 5 —
19 Nakia Davis-Welsh 28 Wing, Fullback — — — — — 2 4 6 2 0 8 3 4 6
20 Chloe Saunders — Prop, Lock — — — — — 9 9 18 2 0 8 — — —
21 Dominique du Toit 27 Wing — — — — — — 1 1 0 0 0 — — —
22 Sharni Smale 36 Second-row, Centre — — — — — — 4 4 0 0 0 — — —
23 Leki Leilua 18 Prop — — — — — — — 0 0 0 0 — — —
– Pia Tapsell 26 Lock — — — — — — — 0 0 0 0 — — —
– Andie Robinson 22 Wing, Fullback — — — — 5 6 — 11 2 0 8 — — —
– Jaydika Tafua 18 Second-row — — — — — — — 0 0 0 0 — — —
IS Jada Taylor 21 Fullback, Centre — — — — 1 6 2 9 4 0 16 — — 1
IS Grace-Lee Weekes 20 Wing — — — — — — — 0 0 0 0 — — —

Notes:

  • The following players have been signed on a Development contract for 2024:
    • Joy Levy (Cronulla Sharks U19, 10 games in 2024)
    • Stephanie Faulkner (Cronulla Sharks U19, 8 games in 2024)
    • Jaydika Tafua (Cronulla Sharks U19, 10 games in 2024)
    • Tia-Jordyn Vasilovski (Cronulla Sharks U19, 9 games in 2024)
  • Following Round 2, the Cronulla Sharks announced that Jada Taylor (ACL) and Grace-Lee Weekes (fractured fibula on top of syndesmosis) had sustained injuries that were season-ending.[8]
  • On 13 August 2024, the Cronulla Sharks announced that Australian Rugby Sevens player, Sharni Smale, had signed with the club for the remainder on the 2024 season. Smale has recently returned from the Paris Olympics.[9]
  • On 20 August 2024, the Cronulla Sharks announced that Australian Rugby Sevens player, Dominique du Toit, had signed with the club for the remainder on the 2024 season. Du Toit has recently returned from the Paris Olympics.[10]
  • Rhiannon Byers is a former Rugby Sevens player for Australia, with 31 caps.[11] Byers sustained a wrist injury in Round 1 which ruled her out for the remainder of the 2023 season.
  • Georgia Hannaway is a former Rugby Sevens player for Australia. Hannaway played for Queensland in 2022.[12]

The Cronulla Sutherland Sharks announced player signings in several instalments from January 2024 to 8 July 2024.[13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20]


Club records

Player records

Lists and tables last updated: 7 October 2024.

Most Games for the Sharks

  • 6 players have played in all 20 matches.

Most Tries for the Sharks

Most Points for the Sharks (20+)

Player 2024 Club M T G FG Points
Tayla Preston 20 1 47 0 98
Tiana Penitani 20 11 0 0 44
Georgia Ravics 16 10 0 0 40
Ellie Johnston 20 10 0 0 40
Annessa Biddle 19 6 0 0 24
Cassie Staples 16 6 0 0 24
Quincy Dodd 20 6 0 0 24

Most Points in a Season (16+)

Player Season M T G FG Points
Tayla Preston 2023 9 1 25 0 54
Tayla Preston 2024 11 0 22 0 44
Tiana Penitani 2024 11 9 0 0 36
Ellie Johnston 2023 9 6 0 0 24
Georgia Ravics 2023 5 5 0 0 20
Georgia Ravics 2024 11 5 0 0 20
Cassie Staples 2024 11 4 0 0 16
Annessa Biddle 2024 11 4 0 0 16
Ellie Johnston 2024 11 4 0 0 16

Margins and streaks

Biggest winning margins

Margin Score Opponent Venue Date
50 56—6 Parramatta Eels GIO Stadium 17 Sep 2023
28 40—12 North Queensland Cowboys Queensland Country Bank Stadium 19 Aug 2023

Biggest losing margins

Margin Score Opponent Venue Date
40 0—40 Sydney Roosters PointsBet Stadium 8 Sep 2024
24 12—36 Sydney Roosters PointsBet Stadium 13 Aug 2023

Most consecutive wins

  • 8 — (7 September 2023 — 31 August 2024)

Most consecutive losses

  • 3 — (30 July 2023 — 13 August 2023)
  • 3 — (8 September 2024 — 19 September 2024)

History

In 2016, the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks and St. George Illawarra Dragons Women contested a Women's Nine's match, which served as a curtain-raiser to the NRL match between the Sharks and Sydney Roosters, at Southern Cross Group Stadium. The Sharks won the match 16–12.[21][22][23] Also in 2016, the feeder club Cronulla-Caringbah Sharks won the NSWRL Women’s Premiership.[24][25][26]

In March 2017, the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks played another Women's Nine's match, this time defeating the Canberra Raiders by 28–10.[27]

In 2018 the club entered teams as Cronulla-Sutherland in the NSWRL Women’s Premiership and the inaugural Tarsha Gale Cup for Under 18 players. The Sharks’ Under 18 team were undefeated premiers.[28]

In April 2022 the club submitted their application to enter the 2023 NRL Women’s Premiership.[29] In June 2022 the NRL announced that the Sharks were one of four clubs accepted into the NRLW for the 2023 season.[1][2]

Players

The following players have appeared in NRL Women's Premiership matches for the Sharks.
Table last updated: 7 October 2024.

Order Player Sharks First Appearance
M T G FG Pts Game Date Opponent
1 Jada Taylor 8 3 0 0 12 1 23 Jul 2023 Raiders
2 Annessa Biddle 19 6 0 0 24 1 23 Jul 2023 Raiders
3 Tiana Penitani 20 11 0 0 44 1 23 Jul 2023 Raiders
4 Kiana Takairangi 5 2 0 0 8 1 23 Jul 2023 Raiders
5 Andie Robinson 6 1 0 0 4 1 23 Jul 2023 Raiders
6 Emma Tonegato 18 3 0 0 12 1 23 Jul 2023 Raiders
7 Tayla Preston 20 1 47 0 98 1 23 Jul 2023 Raiders
8 Ellie Johnston 20 10 0 0 40 1 23 Jul 2023 Raiders
9 Quincy Dodd 20 6 0 0 24 1 23 Jul 2023 Raiders
10 Holli Wheeler 17 2 0 0 8 1 23 Jul 2023 Raiders
11 Talei Holmes 19 0 0 0 0 1 23 Jul 2023 Raiders
12 Vanessa Foliaki 20 1 0 0 4 1 23 Jul 2023 Raiders
13 Brooke Anderson 20 2 0 0 8 1 23 Jul 2023 Raiders
14 Rhiannon Byers 11 1 0 0 4 1 23 Jul 2023 Raiders
15 Jazmon Tupou-Witchman 2 0 0 0 0 1 23 Jul 2023 Raiders
16 Sereana Naitokatoka 9 2 0 0 8 1 23 Jul 2023 Raiders
17 Chloe Saunders 18 2 0 0 8 1 23 Jul 2023 Raiders
18 Cassie Staples 16 6 0 0 24 2 30 Jul 2023 Wests Tigers
19 Harata Butler 8 0 0 0 0 2 30 Jul 2023 Wests Tigers
20 Tegan Dymock 19 2 0 0 8 2 30 Jul 2023 Wests Tigers
21 Fiona Jahnke 1 0 0 0 0 3 5 Aug 2023 Titans
22 Maddie Studdon 1 0 0 0 0 4 13 Aug 2023 Roosters
23 Georgia Ravics 16 10 0 0 40 5 19 Aug 2023 Cowboys
24 Georgia Hannaway 7 1 0 0 4 10 27 Jul 2024 Cowboys
25 Manilita Takapautolo 7 0 0 0 0 11 4 Aug 2024 Eels
26 Nakia Davis-Welsh 4 2 0 0 8 12 10 Aug 2024 Raiders
27 Sharni Smale 4 0 0 0 0 13 18 Aug 2024 Knights
28 Dominique du Toit 1 0 0 0 0 16 8 Sep 2024 Roosters
29 Filomina Hanisi 4 0 0 0 0 17 14 Sep 2024 Broncos

Feeder team seasons

The Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks run women's pathways teams in the NSWRL Women's Premiership, the Tarsha Gale Cup, and the Lisa Fiaola Cup.

NSWRL Women's Premiership

Season Regular Season Finals Ref
P W D L B F A Pts Pos Top Placing
2018 9 4 0 5 2 208 162 12 5th 5 Semi-Finalist
2019 7 5 1 1 4 156 76 19 3rd 8 Semi-Finalist
2020 6 5 0 1 1 98 58 12 2nd 6 Preliminary Finalist [30]
2021 11 9 0 2 2 420 84 22 3rd 6 Abandoned
2022 8 5 0 3 1 123 68 12 3rd 4 Grand-Finalist [31]
2023 10 4 0 6 1 207 194 10 7th 4 —
2024 11 4 0 7 0 178 262 8 7th 4 —

Tarsha Gale Cup

For Under 18 players from 2018 to 2020. Since 2021, the Cup is for Under 19 players.

Season Regular Season Finals Ref
P W D L B F A Pts Pos Top Placing
2017 8 6 0 0 2 276 128 12 2nd 8 Preliminary Finalist [32]
2018 8 8 0 0 1 520 126 18 1st 8 Premiers [28]
2019 9 3 0 6 0 148 262 6 7th 8 Elimination Finalist
2020 5 4 0 1 0 106 96 8 2nd 8 —
2021 8 3 0 5 1 88 172 8 6th 6 Elimination Finalist
2022 8 2 1 5 1 68 126 7 9th 6 —
2023 8 3 1 4 1 84 172 9 8th 6 —
2024 8 4 1 3 1 174 148 11 6th 6 Semi-Finalist [33][34]

Lisa Fiaola Cup

For Under 17 players.

Season Regular Season Finals Ref
P W D L B F A Pts Pos Top Placing
2024 8 2 0 6 1 104 170 6 8th 6 —

References

  1. ^ a b "NRLW Announcement". NRL. 15 June 2022. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Sharks to enter NRLW competition in 2023". Cronulla Sharks. Sharks Media. 15 June 2022. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
  3. ^ Twemlow, Leo (17 September 2023). "Sharks score record victory to close out maiden campaign". NRL. Retrieved 18 September 2023.
  4. ^ "NRLW Telstra Women's Premiership 2024 Semi-Finals". NRL. NRL Media Release. 22 September 2024. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
  5. ^ Mee, Cameron (6 October 2024). "Roosters hold off Sharks to claim NRLW decider". NRL. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
  6. ^ Hollis, Kelly (6 October 2024). "Roosters hold off fast-finishing Sharks to claim NRLW title". NRL. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
  7. ^ Hogan, Kelsey (23 November 2022). "Sharks confirm NRLW coaching staff for 2023". National Rugby League. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
  8. ^ "NRLW Medical Update - Jada Taylor". Sharks.com.au. Sharks Media. 6 August 2024. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
  9. ^ "Three-time Olympian Sharni Smale joins the Sharks". Sharks.com.au. 13 August 2024. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
  10. ^ "Sevens superstar Dominique du Toit signs with the Sharks". Sharks.com.au. Sharks Media. 20 August 2024. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
  11. ^ "Rhiannon Byers". World Rugby. 15 May 2023. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
  12. ^ "Reds Women's 7s squad named for Next Gen Sevens Series opener". Qld Rugby. Reds Media Unit. 21 January 2022. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
  13. ^ "Tonegato inks long-term Sharks extension". Cronulla Sharks. Sharks Media. 16 January 2024. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  14. ^ "NRLW stars Biddle, Anderson re-sign". Cronulla Sharks. Sharks Media. 23 January 2024. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  15. ^ "Byers, Saunders staying at the Sharks". Cronulla Sharks. Sharks Media. 30 January 2024. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  16. ^ "Ex-Black Fern Pia Tapsell joins the Sharks". Cronulla Sharks. Sharks Media. 6 February 2024. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  17. ^ "Origin rep Hanisi to join the Sharks in 2024". Sharks.com.au. Sharks Media. 1 May 2024. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
  18. ^ "Sharks secure former sevens star Hannaway". Sharks.com.au. Sharks Media. 14 May 2024. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
  19. ^ "Davis-Welsh adds depth to Sharks NRLW squad". Sharks.com.au. Sharks Media. 5 June 2024. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
  20. ^ "Sharks promote from within to finalise '24 NRLW squad". Sharks.com.au. Sharks Media. 8 July 2024. Retrieved 10 July 2024.
  21. ^ Lulham, Amanda (29 August 2016). "Women's rugby league passes test with flying colours as Cronulla beat Dragons in historic nines match". The Daily Telegraph (Sydney). Retrieved 7 December 2017.
  22. ^ Carayannis, Michael (27 August 2016). "The Sharks have beaten the Dragons 16–12 in a historic NRL womens [sic] nines match". The Daily Telegraph (Sydney). Retrieved 7 December 2017.
  23. ^ "NRL Women's 9s Team List: Sharks v Dragons". Sharks. NRL Media. 23 August 2016. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
  24. ^ Masterton, Simon (12 September 2016). "Sharks Women victorious on Grand stage". Cronulla Sharks. NSWRL. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
  25. ^ Smith, James (12 September 2016). "Sharks Conquer Leichhardt Oval". Inside Sport. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
  26. ^ Parkinson, Andrew (14 September 2016). "Cronulla Caringbah Sharks win 2016 Sydney Metropolitan Women's Rugby League grand final". St George Sutherland Leader. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
  27. ^ Coman, James (11 March 2017). "Women's Nines: Sharks defeat Raiders". Raiders.com.au. Retrieved 7 December 2017.
  28. ^ a b Buxton, Matt (5 May 2018). "Sharks Hold off Knights to win Harvey Norman Tarsha Gale Cup". NSWRL. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
  29. ^ "Special delivery: Sharks confirm intent to join NRLW in 2023". NRL. 22 April 2022. Retrieved 23 April 2022.
  30. ^ "Results: 2020 NSWRL Harvey Norman Women's Premiership Finals Week 3". League Unlimited. 19 September 2020. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
  31. ^ "Tigers claim NSW Women's Premiership in epic Grand Final". NSWRL. 16 July 2022. Retrieved 16 July 2022.
  32. ^ "NSWRL Tarsha Gale Cup 2017 - Ladder". League Unlimited. 15 April 2017. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  33. ^ "Junior Reps Finals Week One: Sharks through to GF qualifiers". Sharks.com.au. Sharks Media. 15 April 2024. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  34. ^ Beatton, Joel (22 April 2024). "Dragons Pathways Wrap: Pair of squads punch Grand Final". Dragons.com.au. Retrieved 4 May 2024.