Former NRL and Lebanon representative Michael Lichaa has been a huge inclusion for the Cronulla-Caringbah Sharks this season, proving a handful at hooker and playing skilfully off the back of some hard-working forwards like skipper Tokerau Raru and Mat Emery.
Lichaa’s Dad, Joe, is the assistant coach and has brought much of the team, who used to play as Sharks juniors, together while coach Steve Kelly is also a local junior and has contributed to the team’s success.
Kelly told nswrl.com.au during the regular season “It’s my junior club and I came through coaching and our other coach Joe Lichaa came through there as well so it’s nice to get the boys all back together.”
Despite Ryde-Eastwood Hawks and the Belrose Eagles sitting in first and second place respectively for the majority of the season, Cronulla snuck into second place at the death after recording six wins and two losses and a superior attacking record that surpassed Belrose’s by 58 points.
The Sharks have bragging rights over the Minor Premiers as last time they met in Round 4 they handed them their first and only loss of the season, downing them comfortably 28-8 on the Hawks’ home turf.
Cronulla have also posted some big wins during the season including a 44-16 win over Helensburgh Tigers in Round 1 and a 48-8 over the Wentworthville Magpies in Round 9.
