Sharks Junior Reps Battle Hard in Round 1 Away to Knights

cronullajrl
13 hours ago
2 min read

The NSWRL Junior Representative season got underway in Maitland for Round 1, with the Sharks travelling north to take on a strong Newcastle Knights outfit across all four competitions. The Knights are renowned for their junior talent — especially within their girls pathways — and matched Cronulla in every grade on a tough day away from home.

It was a challenging opening weekend for the Sharks, who returned with one win from four hard-fought matches.

Harold Matthews Cup

The Sharks battled back from an 18-12 half-time deficit to level late, showcasing grit and determination. In a dramatic finish, Cronulla grabbed the lead with a minute remaining — only for Newcastle to execute a perfect restart play, regathering the kick and scoring with no time left on the clock to snatch a 34-32 victory.

SG Ball Cup

In another competitive contest, the Sharks led early and stayed within striking distance throughout. With momentum building late, the boys closed the gap to just two points before the Knights hit back to secure the 24-18 win. Courage and effort were high, and the close scoreline reflects the Sharks’ resolve.

Lisa Fiaola Cup

The Under 17 girls fought hard in their clash with Newcastle. Despite winning the second half 6-4, an unanswered 20 points in the first half proved too strong for the Sharks, who went down 24-6. Positives were evident in the girls’ resistance and improvement through the second stanza.

Tarsha Gale Cup

The day’s highlight came in the girls’ Tarsha Gale Cup match, with the Sharks producing an impressive performance to record the club’s sole victory of the round, winning 16-12.

Cronulla jumped to a 12-0 lead before weathering a Knights fightback to secure two competition points, led by experienced performers from last year’s Harvey Norman Women’s Premiership-winning squad.

Although the win column was small, there were many encouraging signs throughout the day.

Across all four grades, the Sharks showed commitment, skill growth and resilience against a strong Newcastle junior program.

Round 2: Sharks Ready for Eels Challenge

The Sharks now turn their attention to Round 2 this weekend as they host the Parramatta Eels. The girls take to the field on Saturday afternoon at Ocean Protect Stadium, while the boys kick off early in the day at Henson Park, serving as curtain-raisers to the Sharks’ first NRL trial of the year against the Eels as part of the Henson Park Beer & Food Festival.

Be there to show your support and help cheer on our junior Sharks as they keep building through the season. ⚫⚪🔵

Check out the links to full galleries from all 4 matches against the Newcastle Knights below thanks to Cronulla JRL Photographer - Adam Wrightson.

Remember to visit the official Sharks Website and to follow the Cronulla JRL website and social media channels for all the action and excitement from the 2026 NSWRL junior representative season.

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