The younger age groups have finished their seasons, while the older junior grades and senior teams are in the middle of their respective Finals, with another positive year for junior league coming to an end.
And with their season winding down, a number of Sharks Have Heart inspired activities celebrated a successful year for junior league, both locally and further afield.
In 2023 a new concept was initiated with the Have Heart Awards encouraging Cronulla JRL clubs to nominate one boy and where possible one girl player from teams in the under 6’s to 12s to have shown ‘heart’ throughout the 2023 season.
“Examples of showing heart could be overcoming adversity, demonstrating leadership, excellence in sportsmanship, being a caring and empathetic teammate, always showing respect to match officials and assisting without being asked,” Sharks Have Heart Community Coordinator Emily Araullo explained.
The club nominees were presented with their award on field at a recent NRL game and as a reward have gained free entry into the popular Ungah Academy clinics, scheduled to run in early 2024.
Also at the Sharks v Titans NRL match last weekend, in celebrating the close relationship the Sharks enjoy with the local Sutherland Shire junior rugby league clubs, all 13 were invited, with their mascot, to take part in a pregame parade.
The colour and enthusiasm created by the walk around the playing field at PointsBet Stadium by the young junior league players, contributed to an electric atmosphere on the night.
While in an initiative extremely well received by the NRL playing group, the Sharks squad went through their final training preparations for the Titans game wearing the grassroots footy jerseys from their former junior clubs.
Jerseys were sent from as far away as the New Zealand, the Cook Islands, Western Australia, Queensland, all parts of NSW and from local clubs including Aquinas Colts and De La Salle, in recognising the journey the players have been on thus far, as well as the contribution grassroots make to the sport of rugby league.
The jerseys were signed by the Sharks NRL players and are in the process of being returned to the junior clubs for display or fundraising purposes.
The local Cronulla Junior League has two weekends remaining in their 2023 season.
