HNWP Sharks finish season on high

The Harvey Norman NSW Women's Premiership Sharks saved their best until last, signing off the season on Sunday with an emphatic 26-6 victory over the Sea Eagles to rise to seventh place.

Having entered the final round of an 11-game campaign in last position, Cronulla rocketed five spots up the ladder on the strength of a five-tries-to-one performance.

The Sharks entered a purple patch over the final fortnight of the season, piling on 56 points and conceding just 12 in an indication of their talent and tenacity.

Run alongside the NRLW season for the first time, the Harvey Norman NSW Women's Premiership (HNWP) essentially became a true reserve grade.

But injuries to Cronulla's NRLW squad had a flow-on effect for the HNWP team, impacting their depth particularly in the early stages of the competition.

After saluting in their opening fixture, the Sharks won just one of their next eight matches. However, they clearly found their stride under new coach Rob Capizzi as the season wore on, following up an encouragingly close defeat to the Bulldogs in Round 9 with scintillating displays against the Roosters and Manly.

Rugby sevens Olympians Sharni Smale and Dominique du Toit teamed up on Sunday to help the Sharks power past the Sea Eagles at 4 Pines Park.

Cronulla held Manly scoreless until the 67th minute of the one-sided contest.

The Sharks unfortunately left their run too late, with only the top four teams advancing to the HNWP finals, but will carry momentum into 2025.