LeagueNews.co | Jess Malloy
The Cronulla Sharks have been applauded for their success at the prestigious Wellbeing and Education Academic Excellence Awards, with NRLW standouts Quincy Dodd and Tiana Penitani, along with NRL halfback Nicho Hynes, receiving well-deserved recognition.
Dodd, a proud Darug woman, and Hynes, a proud Wiradjuri man, were bestowed with the NRLW and NRL Indigenous Leadership and Excellence Awards respectively, while NRLW skipper Penitani earned a spot in the Academic Team of the Year.
The annual event acknowledges scholastic accomplishments, leadership qualities, and overall excellence within the NRL and NRLW competitions, with players recognized at a gala ceremony held during the National Wellbeing and Education Conference in Sydney.
This year, a total of 98 nominations poured in from the 17 NRL teams and 10 NRLW clubs, as a judging panel comprising NRL and RLPA representatives, alongside experts in each award category, determined the winners.
In addition to the accolades, each recipient was presented with a $5,000 education grant from the RLPA Individual Player Education Grants Program, intended to support their professional growth and career aspirations.
The Sharks trio exemplify exceptional leadership qualities, showcasing their commitment on and off the field to further their academic and personal development.