Tony Herman appointed NRLW coach for inaugural season

sharksmedia — Tue, 22 Nov 2022 07:13:30 +0000

Tony Herman appointed NRLW coach for inaugural season

Author : Sharks Media

Tony Herman appointed NRLW coach for inaugural season

The Cronulla Sharks are delighted to announce that Tony Herman will coach the club’s NRLW team for its inaugural season in 2023.

A long history with the Cronulla club, most recently the head coach of the Sharks Harvey Norman Women’s Premiership team for the past two seasons, narrowly beaten in the 2022 Grand Final.

Herman has played his part in driving equality and opening up greater opportunities for female rugby league players in the Sutherland Shire.

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His passion for women’s rugby league has helped nurture and encourage the next crop of talented female players at the Sharks, while furthering the development of the senior players within his squads.

“I am extremely humbled to be the Inaugural Cronulla Sharks NRLW Coach.

It is an honour to Coach at this Great Club and in the Women’s space that I am so passionate about is very special,” said Herman.

“The excitement around the Club that we now have an NRLW team is extraordinary.

This year we ran 14s and 17s development teams and attracted around 30-40 girls in each with the plan to run 14s, 15s, 16s and 17s this coming season.

The growth of the women’s game is phenomenal in the Shire and to be given the opportunity to play my part in that is very exciting.”

Having worked in both the male and female space, Herman is no stranger to taking on an inaugural side.

Tony was the first coach of the Cronulla Sharks National Youth Competition, before moving on to coach the Sharks NSW Cup side, winning a Premiership in 2013.

Having coached the female Cronulla Sharks Touch Football Junior State Cup side over four years.

The female Cronulla JRL League Tag competition over four years, as well as stints in the male representative arena coaching the NSW U16s and an assistant coach of the Junior Kangaroos.

Tony’s wealth of knowledge and exposure will provide the perfect platform for the Sharks NRLW side to not only build from but hit the ground running in 2023.

Sharks CEO Dino Mezzatesta says Herman thoroughly deserves to be at the helm as the club enters a new era in the women’s space.

“Tony has shown a commitment to the women’s game here at Cronulla, and a genuine passion for nurturing and growing our women’s game,” said Mezztesta.

“We are thrilled that he will lead the Sharks into its inaugural NRLW season.”

The 2023 NRLW season will kick off in July.

Cronulla Sharks HNWP Player Awards

sharksmedia — Sat, 18 Sep 2021 01:02:26 +0000

Cronulla Sharks HNWP Player Awards – 2021

Author : Sharks Media

Cronulla Sharks HNWP Player Awards

The Harvey Norman Women’s NSWRL Premiership season was sadly cut short, with the Sharks positioned nicely and ready to challenge for the 2021 title.

In recording nine wins and just two losses, the second of which came in the last round while missing their six representative stars, the Sharks finished the regular season in third position.

Coach Tony Herman had his team primed for an assault on the Finals, however the remainder of the season was eventually canceled due to the COVID lockdown restrictions, leaving the Sharks to ponder what might have been.

Despite the disappointment of how their year ended, the Sharks still had plenty of celebrate, primarily in relation to the overall efforts of their team, and secondly in following some outstanding individual performances.

The efforts of NSW Captain Corban Baxter, outside back Tiana Penitani, the ultra consistent Talei Holmes, forward Kennedy Cherrington, hooker Quincy Dodd and halfback Maddie Studdon, among the major reasons behind the Sharks success.

Considering the form of the above mentioned, Herman and his coaching staff had a difficult job deciding the team’s best, with his two playmakers in Dodd and Studdon, singled out for the end of year accolades.

As with the junior reps, a presentation event wasn’t possible due to the current lockdown circumstances, with the 2021 Sharks Harvey Norman Women’s Premiership team award winners listed below.

Sharks HNWP Player of the Year – Quincy Dodd

Integral to the Sharks 2018 Tarsha Gale Cup Premiership, Quincy Dodd has since transitioned from talented young half back to scheming dummy half.

Such has been her development and improvement, Dodd was this year included in the NSW Women’s Origin team to play Queensland.

Back at the Sharks and as explained by her Cronulla coach, Dodd was a standout throughout the year and deserving of the award as the teams best in 2021.

“Quincy was a local junior who returned to us this year from Canterbury and such was her form throughout the season she was rewarded with selection in the NSW Women’s Origin team,” Herman explained.

“She plays with high energy, has good speed and great ruck recognition and is a tough defender, all the attributes of a quality dummy half.

“Quincy played to a consistently high level all year and while we had a number of good players throughout the season, she is a worthy winner of our Player of the Year award,” Herman added.

Sharks HNWP Coaches Award – Maddie Studdon

The on-field ‘general’ of the Sharks Women’s team over the past few seasons, Maddie Studdon again led the way for the Cronulla side in 2021.

Whether setting up tries or controlling the game with her clever kicking game, Studdon was always front and centre in leading her team around the field, with her efforts critical to the Sharks success throughout the year.

Her strong form obviously gained the attention of NSW selectors as she regained the half back position for the Women’s Blues, while her efforts certainly didn’t go unnoticed back at the Sharks, with Herman naming Studdon as his coaches award winner for the 2021 season.

“Maddie won her way back into the Origin team this year and was very good for us during the Harvey Norman Women’s season,” Herman said.

“A fierce competitor, Maddie is a great organiser, someone with a good passing game and excellent footwork and she was instrumental to our success in 2021.”

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Tony Herman appointed NRLW coach for inaugural season