Cronulla Sharks CEO Barry Russell and chairman Dino Mezzatesta will seek a meeting with NRL boss Todd Greenberg to clarify why the club has been left out of the inaugural NRL women’s competition.
The Sharks were told by the NRL’s head of football Brian Canavan and senior manager women’s elite program Tiffany Slater on Monday they would not be granted a licence for the first season of the NRL women’s premiership.
Only four teams – Brisbane, New Zealand, St George Illawarra and Sydney Roosters – were accepted from six bids.
The news comes as a major disappointment for Cronulla given their status as pioneers of the women’s game. The Sharks were the first to contract women’s players last year and built a women’s pathway in recent years through their league touch program and Tarsha Gale Cup team.
Cronulla’s support for the women’s game was highlighted by the club hosting the women’s rugby league World Cup at Southern Cross Group Stadium late last year. Entry into the inaugural NRLWP looked to be the perfect culmination to the club’s long-term strategy and support for the female game.
Russell said he was extremely disappointed and dumbfounded by the decision.
“We have sound experience and in-depth knowledge of women’s rugby league after launching the Cronulla Sharks women’s series team and hosting the women’s rugby league World Cup in 2017,” he said.
“The focus our club has given to the women’s pathway, from the Tarsha Gale team, to the introduction of league touch and the commitment to offer the same opportunities to women as we do men, which all makes this decision difficult to comprehend.
“We have already shown a commitment to make a women’s team and program work within an NRL club setting and have been pioneers in women’s rugby league.
“We have numerous key learnings from our experience in 2016 and 2017 and first-hand practical knowledge of what it takes to ensure a sustainable, financially sound, entertaining, and game changing NRLWP team, program and competition.
“Our fans and members want our club to be one they can believe in. They want us to do things that matter and align with our club’s vision and values. Having an NRLWP Team would have helped to complete us as a club, while adding to our purpose.”
Greenberg said geographical reasons were part of the final decision, with the Broncos and Roosters representing Brisbane and Sydney, with the Warriors to be made up of the bulk of the New Zealand Kiwi Ferns Test team.
South Sydney were the other unsuccessful bidding club.
