Will Kennedy was announced as the Sharks best while with the team in the NRL’s Queensland ‘bubble’ as the 2021 season came to an end, with the young fullback a standout for the Cronulla side last year.
While the speeches were made and the compliments handed out in their Brisbane hotel at an impromptu presentation event, one thing missing was the Porter-Gallen Medal, annually given to the Sharks best at season’s end.
Named after Monty Porter, the Sharks first captain from 1967, and Paul Gallen, the skipper to lift the Premiership trophy in 2016, the Porter-Gallen Medal was struck in 2020, won by Shaun Johnson, with Kennedy the second recipient of the Cronulla club’s most prestigious individual prize.
Taking the opportunity at the Club’s corporate launch, held at an open training session at PointsBet Stadium on Tuesday, the Porter-Gallen Medal was finally draped around the neck of the worthy winner, and with coaches, teammates and Sharks corporate partners watching on, Gallen, Nola Porter and Carolyn Raper, representing the Porter family, performed the honours.
For Kennedy it was further recognition of his outstanding 2021 season, one where he was nominated for Dally M Fullback of the Year alongside the likes or Tom Trbojevic and James Tedesco.
Also at the launch event, a very surprised Josh Hannay was named the Andrew Ettingshausen Club Person of the Year for his efforts in guiding the NRL squad through the Covid challenges of 2021.
Taking over an Interim Head Coach early in the season, Hannay galvanized the playing group and following a slow start, managed to get the Sharks within striking distance of a spot in the NRL Finals, only for a round 25 loss to the Storm, coupled with a Gold Coast win over the Warriors, knocking his team out of contention.
The Corporate Season Launch, attended by representatives from major partners Aramex, Zambrero, Ace Gutters, Southern Comfort, Madimack, Lloyds and Pilot, player sponsors and hospitality partners, as well as the Sharks Board of Directors, was hosted by Jessica Yates from Fox Sports, with Gallen and former teammate Luke Lewis talking the assembled crowd through the training session.
CEO Dino Mezzatesta conducted the event welcome in running through the highlights of 2021 while looking ahead to the 2022 season.
Head Coach Craig FItzgbbon addressed the crowd, from the sideline during training and then from the grandstand at the end of the session, where he was joined by new recruits Nicho Hynes and Dale Finucane, along with Club Captain Wade Graham.
The Sharks 2022 pre-season continues with their final trial match against the Bulldogs scheduled for a 7.00pm kick-off at PointsBet Stadium on Monday night.
