LeagueNews.co | Nick Loken
Local junior Sam Stonestreet is set to make his NRL debut for the Sharks this weekend, fulfilling a lifelong dream that has been years in the making.
Standing tall at 193cm, this towering winger has been earmarked for success from a young age and will finally get his chance to shine as Shark #560 when he takes on the Cowboys at PointsBet Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Hailing from the De La Salle Caringbah club, Stonestreet has honed his skills through the Sharks Academy, biding his time and waiting for his moment to come.
That moment has arrived thanks to a suspension to fellow teammate Sione Katoa, who will be sidelined for one match due to a high tackle incident.
Starting his journey in the under-16 Harold Matthews team, Stonestreet's talent quickly became apparent, leading to him being named the Sharks Junior Representative Player of the Year after a stellar SG Ball campaign in 2021.
He continued his progression through the ranks, impressing in the NSW Cup with feeder team Newtown and showcasing his scoring prowess with 19 tries in 26 reserve grade games.
With a strong pre-season under his belt and a promising start to the 2024 season with the Jets, Stonestreet has earned his spot in the NRL squad and is ready to make an impact on the big stage.
The young winger has been patient, putting in the hard yards and now he's ready to show what he's made of in the top flight.
As the saying goes, it's not about the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog - and Stonestreet is ready to bring that fighting spirit to the Sharks as he embarks on his NRL journey.
Aussie fans will be eagerly watching as this local talent takes his place among the rugby league elite, hoping to see him carve out a successful career in the sport he loves.