The NSWRL has declared that senior sport competitions, including the Harvey Norman NSW Women's Premiership, have been cleared to resume from July 1 after the state Government's latest back to sport announcement.
The Harvey Norman NSW Women's Premiership competition had not started and the Sharks team had been waiting patiently for the decision to be made by the NSW government with coach Glenn Brailey and his squad doing what they can to be ready for a restart potentially on the weekend of July 18.
Coach Brailey said It's great news for the women to hear that the NSW Harvey Norman Women's competition will be resuming come July, just as it is to hear that all senior rugby league has been approved to restart.
"The girls have never given up hope and have been really working hard both on their strength and conditioning over the isolation period, which is a real credit to them. It really shows just what rugby league means to them and the importance of the women's game.
"We have some real talent, a squad mixed with experience and youth in this year's squad and I believe we have the balance just right to play some exciting football," Brailey said
One game off a Grand Final in 2019, the Sharks Women's Premiership team are set to welcome back the majority of their squad, including a mixture of experienced players along with a group of exciting youngsters.
NSW Women's Origin reps Corban McGregor, Tiana Penitani and Maddie Studdon are set to return, as is Kiwi international Kiana Takairangi, with Talei Holmes and Tayla Preston now having played two seasons of senior rugby league .
Jamie Chapman and Tegan Dymock have also enjoyed a taste of the Harvey Norman Premiership last year after graduating from the Sharks Tarsha Gale side, and Brailey has a team once again determined to challenge the leading sides.
NSWRL Chief Executive David Trodden said the decision was welcome news for Rugby League and all winter sports across the state and would help the community continue to come back after strict measures were introduced to control the threat of coronavirus.
"This is another great result for Rugby League across the state of NSW and I thank the NSW Government for allowing us to resume," Trodden said.
Trodden said that training can begin as soon as clubs have complied with the NSWRL's COVID-19 regulations that have been developed in line with the Australian Government's 'Return to Sport' rules and a NSWRL women's competition draw, will be finalised in the coming weeks.