The Sharks have added another four talented players to their 2023 NRLW roster in announcing the signings of Tayla Preston, Cassie Staples, Brooke Anderson and Ellie Johnston.
The quartet all have history with the Sharks, with Preston a local junior returning to the Cronulla Club, while Staples, Anderson and Johnston were members of this years Harvey Norman Women’s Premiership squad.
And while the start of the NRLW season is still more than two months away, the four Sharks are set to be on show at Oki Jubilee Stadium on Thursday night after being selected to take part in the City v Country Origin match, a game which doubles as a selection trial for the upcoming Women’s State of Origin series.
Preston, Staples and Anderson will represent City, while Johnston will run out for the Country team.
Joining them will be Quincy Dodd (City), recently announced as the Sharks first NRLW signing, along with young gun Jada Taylor (Country) who was also unveiled last week as a significant addition to the Cronulla team for 2023.
Sharks marquee signing Emma Tonegato wasn’t required for the City v Country match but is expected to come into strong consideration for inclusion in the NSW Origin side.
As for the four latest additions to the Sharks squad, all bring a different skill set and will complement those already announced as coach Tony Herman continues to assemble a strong roster of players ahead NRLW season which gets underway in late July.
Preston, a strong ball-running half/five eighth returns after a successful stint at the Wests Tigers in the Harvey Norman Premiership, where she was a member of the team who broke Sharks hearts with their golden point Grand Final victory in 2022.
Preston also played all six games for an Eels team which won their way through to the NRLW Grand Final last year.
In Staples, an outside back with speed and agility, the Sharks have signed a player who has performed on the big stage as a teammate of Tonegato in the Australia Rugby Sevens squad, before then making the switch to rugby league.
Staples represented the Dragons in the NRLW competition in 2022.
A hooker with versatility that allows her to play other roles in the forward pack and another to have made the switch from rugby to rugby league in recent years, Anderson is known for her attitude, toughness and defensive capabilities.
Representing the Sharks in the Harvey Norman over the previous two seasons, Anderson also played hooker and as an interchange forward for the Eels in the 2022 NRLW.
Equally noteworthy is the signing of Johnston, a powerful ball-running front rower who can lay the platform for the Sharks skill players in giving Herman’s team toughness and power in the middle of the field.
Originally from Taree on the NSW north coast, Johnston has extensive NRLW experience, having played for the Dragons in 2020 then the Eels in 2021-2022.
The City v Country game is scheduled for a 7.15pm kick off at Kogarah on Thursday night and will be televised on Fox Sports, with the Sharks NRLW team to come together for the start of pre-season training on May 29.
