The Newtown Jets extend their rugby league partnership with the Cronulla Sharks

The Newtown Rugby League Football Club is pleased to announce that the Jets have entered into a three-year extension of their partnership with the Cronulla Sharks.

The Jets-Sharks partnership began in 2015 and will now be entering the third phase of the rugby league association between the two clubs. This new extension will take the partnership up to the 31st October 2026.

The Newtown Jets have enjoyed considerable on-field success since the partnership first began. Newtown have been preliminary finalists in 2016; grand finalists in 2018; NSW Cup Premiers and NRL State Championship winners in 2019; NSW Cup minor premiers and preliminary finalists in 2022; and they are currently competing keenly for a finals place in the 2023 NSW Cup competition.

A large number of the 2022 and 2023 Cronulla Sharks NRL squads are young players who had gained considerable experience in senior rugby league through their extended playing spells with Newtown in the second-tier NSW Cup competition.

“The Newtown Jets are absolutely delighted that our partnership with Cronulla is extending for another three years,” Jets CEO Stuart McCarthy began.

“We enjoy a terrific working relationship that has been successful on and off the field for both clubs and we look forward to helping the Sharks win another premiership and doing the same ourselves.

“Many thanks to everyone at the Sharks especially Dino Mezzatesta, Craig Fitzgibbon, Darren Mooney and the Cronulla board for their continued faith and support.”

Sharks NRL coach Craig Fitzgibbon also welcomed the partnership extension in expressing his appreciation for the support the Jets provide.

“On behalf my staff and the players, along with everyone at the Sharks, it’s really pleasing to be extending our partnership and continuing the relationship we have with the Jets,” Fitzgibbon said.

“Credit to current coach George Ndaira, long-time coach Greg Matterson, CEO Stuart McCarthy and everyone involved at Newtown for making it work as smoothly as it does. We know our players are in good hands when they play for the Jets.

“Then add to that, there’s nothing better than watching the Jets on a Saturday afternoon at Henson Park and we enjoy being a part of that,” Fitzgibbon added.

Sharks CEO Dino Mezzatesta, who was present for a photo opportunity with McCarthy and Sharks NRL squad members Will Kennedy and Ronaldo Mulitalo, both who played a part in the premiership success of 2019, as well as young guns Kade Dykes and Sam Stonestreet, the pair having also represented the Jets, echoed Cronulla’s coach’s sentiments.

“From the football perspective, the partnership with the Jets is seamless. Craig and his staff appreciate the support they receive from the Jets, while the players we send there to play are embraced by everyone at Newtown and enjoy putting on that famous blue jersey,” Mezzatesta said.

“Then as far as from an administrative point of view, nothing is a problem, Stuart and his team run a professional organisation and we look forward to another three successful seasons as a NSW Cup partner with the Jets,” he said. 

The Newtown RLFC looks forward to the continued success of the extended partnership with the Cronulla Sharks club.