As good as the nail-biting 9-8 win for Cronulla over Canterbury was, it was the half-time entertainment that almost stole the show on Saturday night.
More than 1900 children aged between three and 17-years-old performed during the break at Southern Cross Group Stadium as part of a large scale dance spectacular organised by JLD Entertainment.
The performance involved 39 dance schools – including five baton twirling schools – from the Sutherland Shire and beyond, with the furthest school coming all the way from Rockhampton.
Organisation began in February with the dancers performing a full on-field rehearsal at Shark Park last week. There were more than 170 teachers and assistants involved.
Jacqueline-Lee Elliott, the Cronulla Sharks Mermaids choreographer and coordinator, choreographed the performance and said she already couldn’t wait for next year’s event after the rousing success.
“[It was] one of the biggest events we have run this year, including all other game day entertainment for the club including DJs, promotional staff [and] three cheer squads on the field,” she said.
Last year 19 schools and about 900 kids took part. But this year’s effort went to a whole new level and there are plans for next year’s performance to be even bigger.
It was a big night for the Sharks on the field as well, with more than 20,000 fans packing into Southern Cross Group Stadium to watch Cronulla edge past the Bulldogs without their State of Origin stars.