2016 premiership mural /

Located on the entire outer wall of Sharks Stadium adjacent to Gate 1, an iconic mural of Cronulla greats Paul Gallen and Andrew Ettingshausen pays tribute to the club's historic 2016 premiership.

The emotional on-field embrace between the pair, moments after Gallen led Cronulla to a maiden title 50 years in the making with a 14-12 win over the Storm at Stadium Australia, was initially captured by NRL photographer Grant Trouville.

The overwhelming elation and relief shared by Gallen and Ettingshausen – the former the long-serving captain at the time, the latter a retired Sharks Immortal who also skippered the club – mirrored the feelings of the patient Cronulla faithful.

Trouville's photo was first turned into a mural on the wall of a Cronulla shop by artist Sid Tapia in 2018. It became a Sutherland Shire landmark, with the community's reverence for what it represented apparent by the fact it was never vandalised.

The original artwork was demolished in November 2023 to make way for a development site, and while bricks from the wall were carefully preserved and sold as memorabilia, the club resolved to bring it back in a big way.

Thanks to the support of Shore Hire, Tapia was engaged to recreate his awe-inspiring mural on a larger scale. Officially launched on March 28, 2024, it now stands proudly at the home of the Sharks.

"The original Up Up Cronulla mural was a true Shire landmark, so it's fitting for a new version to live at Sharks Stadium," Sharks CEO Dino Mezzatesta said.

"The image of Gal and ET, the greatest Sharks players of their respective generations, coming together when we won the 2016 premiership after a 50-year wait is permanently etched into the minds of our die-hard fans. Now, it’s on display at our home.

"We're grateful for the support of Shore Hire and of course artist Sid Tapia, who worked extremely hard to bring this incredible project to life. The painting is an inspirational reminder of our finest moment as we strive for more glory."

Gallen reflected: "Probably, other than having kids, the greatest moment of my life. It's something that I'll never forget. It was a pinch-yourself moment.

"I signed to the club because of a guy like ET back in '99 and to share that moment with him was amazing."

Ettingshausen, who played 328 first-grade games in black, white and blue and skippered the club, recalled the emotion he felt as he ran onto the field when the Sharks clinched the premiership and he found Gallen.

"You can see it right there – tears of joy I call it," Ettingshausen said, gesturing to the mural upon its launch.

"Even though I wasn't playing the game, it was one of the greatest moments I've ever had with the Sharkies.

"Hopefully it stays up here for a long, long time."

Luke Geelan, Executive Chair, Shore Hire, added: "When the Sharks first approached us to let us know there was an opportunity to support this project and bring a special moment in our club's history back to life, we jumped at the chance.

"As a long-time supporter of the Sharks, it's an incredibly special opportunity to be part of bringing this iconic mural back home to the Shire."