The Cronulla Sharks are delighted to announce that Tony Herman will coach the club’s NRLW team for its inaugural season in 2023.
A long history with the Cronulla club, most recently the head coach of the Sharks Harvey Norman Women’s Premiership team for the past two seasons, narrowly beaten in the 2022 Grand Final, Herman has played his part in driving equality and opening up greater opportunities for female rugby league players in the Sutherland Shire.
His passion for women’s rugby league has helped nurture and encourage the next crop of talented female players at the Sharks, while furthering the development of the senior players within his squads.
“I am extremely humbled to be the Inaugural Cronulla Sharks NRLW Coach. It is an honour to Coach at this Great Club and in the Women’s space that I am so passionate about is very special,” said Herman.
“The excitement around the Club that we now have an NRLW team is extraordinary. This year we ran 14s and 17s development teams and attracted around 30-40 girls in each with the plan to run 14s, 15s, 16s and 17s this coming season. The growth of the women’s game is phenomenal in the Shire and to be given the opportunity to play my part in that is very exciting.”
Having worked in both the male and female space, Herman is no stranger to taking on an inaugural side. Tony was the first coach of the Cronulla Sharks National Youth Competition, before moving on to coach the Sharks NSW Cup side, winning a Premiership in 2013.
Having coached the female Cronulla Sharks Touch Football Junior State Cup side over four years, the female Cronulla JRL League Tag competition over four years, as well as stints in the male representative arena coaching the NSW U16s and an assistant coach of the Junior Kangaroos, Tony’s wealth of knowledge and exposure will provide the perfect platform for the Sharks NRLW side to not only build from but hit the ground running in 2023.
Sharks CEO Dino Mezzatesta says Herman thoroughly deserves to be at the helm as the club enters a new era in the women’s space.
“Tony has shown a commitment to the women’s game here at Cronulla, and a genuine passion for nurturing and growing our women’s game,” said Mezztesta.
“We are thrilled that he will lead the Sharks into its inaugural NRLW season.”
The 2023 NRLW season will kick off in July.
