Faulkner the big winner at Sharks Women’s presentation night

Ahead of the start of the NRLW season next month, the Sharks celebrated the recently completed Harvey Norman Women’s Premiership (HNWP) and Tarsha Gale Cup seasons with their 2023 Women’s presentation event held at Sharks at Kareela last night.

Awards were presented to the best performers in each of the Sharks pathways teams, with first year Tarsha Gale lock Stephanie Faulkner taking away the major prize as the Sharks 2023 Female Pathways Player of the Year.

Currently playing for Cronulla Caringbah in the women’s under-18’s competition since the completion of her Sharks season, Faulkner, who has another year of Tarsha Gale eligibility remaining, also had her talent and potential recognised with inclusion in a NSW Sky Blues Academy squad.

In other awards on the night, middle forward Ellie Johnston was the HNWP Players Player, hooker Quincy Dodd the recipient of the Coaches Award, while hooker/lock Bianca Cutrupi was the Tarsha Players Player and Faulkner the Tarsha Gale Coaches Award winner.

Ruan Sims was coach of a Harvey Norman Sharks team which showed glimpses of their potential in finishing seventh position after a four-win, six loss season, while the Tarsha Sharks, coached by Neil Stanley, unearthed a number of talented prospects during a campaign highlighted by a gritty 10-4 win over semifinalists the Illawarra Steelers in their last round match.

As for the award winners, Johnston and Dodd were both members of the NSW squad during the recent two-game Women’s Origin series and have now turned their attention to the upcoming NRLW season, while Cutrupi continues her development with the Como team in the Women’s under 18’s.

Also recognised on the night was a long list of women to earn representative honours in 2023, while 21 players will move onto the NRLW later this year, 15 who are set to play for the Sharks in their first season in the NRL’s elite level women’s competition.  

See below the award winners and Sharks rep players

Sharks Women’s Pathways Award winners

2023 Female Pathways Player of the Year – Stephanie Faulkner

2023 Tarsha Gale Coaches Award – Stephanie Faulkner

2023 Tarsha Gale Players Player of the Year – Bianca Cutrupi

2023 HNWP Coaches Award – Quincy Dodd

2023 HNWP Players Player of the Year – Ellie Johnston

NSW Sky Blues
Brooke Anderson
Ellie Johnston
Quincy Dodd
Tiana Penitani

Indigenous All Stars
Jada Taylor
Quincy Dodd

Māori All Stars
Brooke Anderson
Zali Fay

NSW City Women’s
Brooke Anderson
Cassie Staples
Quincy Dodd
Zali Fay

NSW Country Women’s
Ellie Johnston
Jada Taylor
Macie Carlile

NSW Country 19’s
Mercydes Metcalf

NSW City 17’s
Mikayla Langer

NSW Sky Blues Academy   
Charlotte Boyle
Olivia Herman
Stephanie Faulkner