For the first time in Cronulla history, the Sharks held a club-wide women's training session on Saturday morning with almost 100 players converging on the Sharks Academy fields.
It was a day to remember, with NRLW captain Tiana Penitani stating: "It is such an exciting milestone for us to hold a day like this."
Players from the NRLW, Harvey Norman NSW Women's Premiership, Tarsha Gale and Lisa Fiaola Cup squads took part in the momentous session, with the female Junior Representative teams having a bye on the weekend.
For the younger players, it was an invaluable experience, as they were able to step into the shoes of training like an NRLW player for a day. Penitani added: "As a young player, there is nothing better than actually mixing with the senior players and feeling like you are valued in the environment that you are giving so much to."
With representatives from pathways through to the NRLW attending the training session, it was a special day for the club that outlined the unity between junior and senior players.
"It is such a great opportunity to connect," Penitani said.
"We are looking at the future of our game," she continued, highlighting how the NRLW squad wanted to use the opportunity to prepare the younger generation for when they begin their first-grade journey.
Sharks NRLW coach Tony Herman spoke of how important the day was for not only the junior squads, but also the senior players.
"The NRLW girls need to learn to lead and to be mentors, and right down to the Lisa Fiaola girls, it is important for them to understand our philosophy," Herman said.
The hope for the younger squads is that they take the confidence, skills learnt, and passion found from this session into their season ahead. Penitani stated that "the sky is the limit" for all female teams at the club.
Players were separated into several groups, where they were put through a number of defensive and attacking drills, before finishing off with games of two-hand touch.
"The older girls are role models," Herman stated. "Seeing the excitement on their (juniors) faces, it is something we want to do every year."
To conclude the session, there was a group photo taken with all players, coaches, and staff, capturing a piece of history for the club. Afterward, junior players got photo opportunities with their favourite players, showing just how much this initiative meant to them.
