A pre-season camp has emerged as the foundation for the Cronulla Sharks' quest for an NRLW title as they prepare to commence their second season.
The entire squad descended on the idyllic South Coast town but this was no holiday as the players were put through their paces on the field and mapped out their vision for the season off it.
Having finished sixth in their inaugural campaign, the Sharks are determined to play finals football this year and veteran Quincy Dodd said the seeds for a successful season were sown during those two days in Kiama.
"We set our standards and values [at the camp]," Dodd told NRL.com. "We have four values that we set at the Sharks, which is something us girls look up to and can bounce back to during the season.
"We've got a lot of girls back from last year and means we have a core strong group that we brought the new girls into at the camp. We're really excited for the season, the girls have shown the great culture already throughout the pre-season so I can't wait to see what the season has for us."
Match: Sharks v Cowboys
Round 1 -
home Team
Sharks
2nd Position
away Team
Cowboys
9th Position
Venue: PointsBet Stadium, Sydney
Cronulla will commence their 2024 campaign when they host the Cowboys on Saturday afternoon at PointsBet Stadium. The Sharks enter the match on the back of a draw in a trial match against the Roosters earlier this month.
Coach Tony Herman built the Sharks NRLW program from the ground up prior to the start of their first season, recruiting Dodd as their No.1 signing before building a high-quality team around her.
The process involved establishing a recruitment strategy, designing training programs, formulating a playing style, attacking structures, defensive systems and establishing a club culture.
NRLW players to watch in 2024: Ellie Johnston
With representative stars Emma Tonegato and Tiana Penitani, and talented youngsters Jada Taylor and Ellie Johnston the Sharks experienced a tough opening month before building throughout the season.
Herman knew he was signing up for a mammoth task but looking back, he recognises it was even bigger than he initially anticipated.
"We learnt a lot, that's for sure," he told NRL.com. "You bring 24 girls into a new set up, you have to learn how to play together, attacking systems, defensive systems, culture, values. That led to a bit of inconsistency.
"There's a lot more to it than just rolling a footy team out. There is the whole cultural side of it, establishing our values, how we want to be seen in the community.
"There was a lot for the girls to take in the first year but we feel we've nailed the focus a bit more on the footy this year, which has been good."
While the Sharks didn't achieve instant success in 2023, they were not alone with all four of last year's expansion teams missing the finals.
After a tough start to their campaign, the side found their groove in the second half of the season, winning their last two games including a dominant 56-6 triumph over the Eels.
Eels v Sharks - Round 9, 2023
They were positive signs Herman has seen continue through to 2024 and with the bulk of the squad back for a second year he declared there are no excuses this season.
"We have a fresh aspect with the new girls coming in but we also have a starting point where we don't have to go back to the beginning," he said. "That continuity has strengthened the squad. Some of the girls are used to the way we want to play and they can help the other girls with a bit of mentoring.
"Every side wants to win the comp. We think we've got a really good roster, we've got a really good group of girls, we'd like to think we're a top-four side. Whether that eventuates or not, it's a short competition, you drop one game and you can get hurt.
"Last year we won our first game then dropped the next three so the first month is going to be critical."
While the Cronulla women are about to commence their second season, the Sharks have made a concerted effort to ensure the side receives the same opportunities to chase success as the men's team.
The ultimate goal, after all, remain the same for both the NRL and NRLW.
"The club often talks about the 2016 NRL grand final win," fullback Jada Taylor said. "We're hoping we can bring one home in the NRLW too."
