The Cronulla Sharks return to their ‘home away from home’ on the Coffs Coast in 2023 for a much-anticipated round 12 NRL clash.
After hosting the Gold Coast Titans in their two previous trips to Coffs Harbour, the Sharks this time tackle the Newcastle Knights in a game scheduled to be played on Saturday, May 20.
With a $200,000 NSW Government grant which will allow as many as 10,000 fans to once again enjoy the exciting atmosphere of elite sport in the region, the city of Coffs Harbour is ready to roll out the red carpet for another much-anticipated match-up.
“It’s great to have the Cronulla Sharks back in Coffs Harbour,” said Member for Coffs Harbour, Gurmesh Singh. “This match will not only bring a high-quality sporting event to our community, but also provide an economic boost to the local businesses in the area.
“This is another opportunity for our local community to come together and not only show support for the Sharks, but to showcase just how big this event is becoming due to the tremendous support of our community and the hard work by the entire team at City of Coffs Harbour each year.” Mr Singh added.
Mayor of the City of Coffs Harbour, Councillor Paul Amos, agrees that the return of the Sharks is a great boost for the local economy.
“We are thrilled to welcome the Sharks back to our city for the third time. The excitement and energy that this match brings to our community is truly unmatched.” Mr Amos said.
"It’s a fantastic opportunity for our local businesses to benefit from the influx of visitors, and for our residents to show their support for the Sharks and to further cement our position as the regional sporting capital of Australia."
Sharks CEO Dino Mezzatesta and a delegation from the Sharks, including NRL star Ronaldo Mulitalo, a member of the New Zealand squad at the recent World Cup and the winner of the Ken Stephen Medal in 2021, the NRL’s most prestigious community award, were in attendance at today’s launch.
As Mezzatesta expressed, the Sharks are eager to return in May and build on the close bond being forged with the NSW north coast region.
"The Sharks have a strong connection with the Coffs Coast and we are very much looking forward to again making it our home away from home, building on the success of the previous two years” Mezzatesta said.
“We’re not only keen to perform on the field in front of the passionate Coffs Coast fans, at a great facility like C.ex Coffs International Stadium, but we want to continue to grow what has become a solid supporter base and further develop our partnerships in community programs within the region.”
As for the appearance of Mulitalo at today’s launch, as one of the Sharks most committed contributors in the community space, he was the perfect fit to represent the Club from a community engagement perspective.
“Not only is Ronaldo a great player, he is also an outstanding ambassador for our club and the NRL in general in relation to his work in the community and like all our players will be heavily involved in community activities leading into the game,” Mezzatesta added.
With the game set to be embraced by fans of both teams, those looking to attend are encouraged to purchase tickets early to secure their spot in the stands. Tickets will go on sale late February.
For those fans eager to guarantee their spot today, you can sign up to become a Coffs Coast Member to receive all of the amazing benefits of a Sharks membership, including your ticket to the clash on the Coffs Coast in May.
Stay tuned to the Sharks website at www.sharks.com.au or the Coffs Harbour City Council website for further ticketing and match information.
