Great Whites Old Boys Day 2026 - Wade Graham, Alan Wilson, Ben Pomeroy and Sam Tagataese

[00:00:01] The Royal Motor Yacht Club Port Hacking is a hidden gem of the Shire, situated on the banks of the beautiful Port Hacking. It's a great place to catch up with friends, celebrate your birthday or any special occasion and they always show the NRL live on the big screens. The RMYC Port Hacking, proud sponsors of this podcast and big supporters of the Cronulla Sutherland Sharks. Check out their website rmycph.com.au

[00:00:26] They've got a Facebook page or you could go old school and call them on 029523 9300 And to all you people back in the Shire, turn your port slides off because we're coming over the trophy.

[00:01:06] Hey there, welcome to SharkCast Pod, a podcast dedicated to the greatest sporting club in the history of the world, the mighty Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks. My name is Sam Shinazzi, OG2015, heading into our 13th season of podcasting. Cannot thank you enough for all your wonderful support over the years, whether you're a newbie, an OG or somewhere in between. It's very much appreciated. Another big year coming up. It'll be our 13th season and lots of things planned.

[00:01:31] Hopefully most of it comes to fruition and lots of episodes and social media content. Don't really like using that word too much, but coming up over summer. So make sure you subscribe to wherever you listen or watch us. Also, or alternatively, but hopefully also the social media side of things. You can subscribe for free on all those devices and platforms. This episode is pretty special.

[00:02:01] It's one we thought wouldn't come to fruition just because we had some tech issues and tech issues for us is pretty rare. Thankfully due to we have pretty good tech and we also have a good knowledge of what we're doing. So it's a handful of times that things have gone wrong. And this was one of them initially on the worst day possible. It was the great whites reunion old boys day on the 5th of September.

[00:02:30] Just a few months ago, it was around 27 against Melbourne, if you remember. And we set up at the old boys day, blessed to be allowed to do so first and foremost. Thank you to everyone involved. And we didn't want to make this about us obviously at all, not even 1%. So we went out the back, it was a bit noisy and we grabbed a few people to talk to. But unfortunately the mics were, I don't know, affected in a different kind of way.

[00:02:59] And unfortunately the audio wasn't as crisp as usual. So we didn't know what to do with it. And then I've had some time recently to clean it up a little bit and to sort of do some things. And we've got it to a point where it's, it's fine. It's listenable. It's not smooth and clear like this recording, but you can hear what these legends are talking about. And when I say legends, I'm talking about the 1987 Rookie of the Year New South Wales Rep Alan Wilson. I'm talking about Premiership winners Sam Tangatisi and Wade Graham.

[00:03:28] And I'm talking about Colt Figure who we haven't heard from for a long time. And as a spoiler, you're going to be hearing from him in a long form interview this summer. And that is Ben Pomeroy. So it was important we got these videos and audio if you're listening to our beautiful listenership and audience. But just keep in mind, it's not perfect like it kind of normally is. But we've cleaned it up enough that we're happy enough for you to hear it.

[00:03:56] And love your opinions of what you hear and the people you hear from. We don't need to hear about the audio quality, but we'd just love to hear what you've thought about these people and who else you want to hear from. So completely appreciate the guys that gave up their time on the day. And again, just being in the presence of all those amazing former players was a real honor. And one that we don't take for granted even slightly real honor. So much more coming up on the show over spring and summer.

[00:04:26] We've got the Leeds Club opening this weekend, which is super exciting. So can't wait to say hello to everyone down there. And we did promote a Steve Mace interview coming up, the chairman of the Sharks. It's still coming up. It's just going to be delayed by a month or so. A bunch of reasons, mainly my unavailability when he was available. We send out our respect to Steve.

[00:04:53] He's been great communicating with us over his tenure really, but especially the last sort of five or so years. He and I have been messaging regularly and talking regularly. And he's a really, I really like Steve Mace. And we're going to get to know him a little bit later in the month, probably early December, actually. Um, we do want to give a shout out to our friends at the ET stand who interviewed him a week or two ago.

[00:05:20] And if you can't wait to get your Mace fix, then that's the place to go for now. But of course, come back because we're going to have, um, a bit more of a personal insight into Steve and his journey as well as current matters. Of course, we'll do a completely different interview. So, don't think we're going to double up. That's not our style. It's not anyone's style. It's not what we're here to do. And if you have any questions for Steve, let me know via usual communications and I'll try and put them through the interview as well.

[00:05:50] I've already got a few, which is awesome, but can't wait to catch up with him and a whole bunch more episodes planned. It's a great time. The World Cup's still going. As I said, the club's opening up soon and it's business as usual for us. We'll keep the episodes coming. We've got another Ben Harlem episode planned for round 17, 2016 recap. We're going to get to that grand final before you know it.

[00:06:16] And subscribe wherever you listen to us. Subscribe wherever you watch us. And we're on all the major social media platforms as well. So, coming up, we've got in some sort of order, Ben Pomeroy. Wow. We've got Wade O'Graham. We've got Sam Tangatisi. And we have Al Wilson.

[00:06:40] Four very different, but as legendary legends as you'll find at our club. And hope you enjoy the chats and the videos. Thanks to my good buddy, Ash Taylor, the Sharks historian for his assistance on this episode. Until we speak to you again soon, which hopefully will be real soon. Up up, Cronulla. Enjoy your time. Enjoy these videos. Drop at me a line anytime you want for any kind of communication. And shout out to any sponsors out there.

[00:07:10] We've got some amazing sponsors for next year, but we want more. I need more. I need more. So, jump on. Have a chat with me about your business. And we'll promote you to thousands and thousands of people. That's no exaggeration. And we'll get your business out there in the SharkCast community. Up up, Cronulla. Talk to you all soon. All right. We're going to get a great day. I'm going to get a great day. I'm going to get a great day. I'm going to get a great day. What a great day it's going to be. We heard the great life reunion. What does it mean to you this whole reunion? Great white sharpness.

[00:07:40] Well, listen, it's also in the Cattah. Certainly, we're going to go to the policy I've played with. But even though, I want to say it's playing the way for us. More of those moves. It's good to get everyone back on the same run together at one stage. We're going to have a SharkCast community. It's a good way to reconnect and hear some old stories. It's all going to be fun. Now, how about you, mate? You've got this whole side hustle going with championship rings and seven lucky winners. It's going to be fun for you tonight at the game.

[00:08:09] Are you ready to be punished by the most monochrome shot of the day? No, no. It's a great thing that they're all put together. I've seen the rings. They're really impressive. It was a big moment for the club when we won the first Bema shoot and it means it led to a lot of fans. Now, some lucky winners will get to have their own ring and submit the ring and they'll be able to check for them.

[00:08:35] So, I'm looking forward to being able to present my ring to the winner and they'll be able to spend some time with us. Jack Bird right here? Playing in England. Is he a messenger? What's he doing? Is he all over it? Well, there's been a lot of banner on the Nets app chat this week. And Bernie, unfortunately, would love to be able to still play over in England. But we're getting 14 of the team who played in the fall and even Joe Puro just a similar player who was a part of our extended club.

[00:09:04] They're down here as well. I'll say, is it going to turn out? Where do I think it's going to turn out? Where do I think it's going to turn out? Where do I think it's going to turn out? All right. Here's Alan Wilson, club legend, great white himself. Huge part of great white's history. What does it mean for you with everyone here in the one space? Don't a shark issue or it doesn't mean to you though? Well, it's absolutely awesome. It's the simplest way to describe it. You know, you regularly see the players that you played with, you still live in the Shire,

[00:09:32] but you don't regularly see the greats of the 70s that played in grand finals and really provided the history of the club. So I'll make it a point of going around and introducing myself and meeting him. My father was an ex-shark. He was shark number 31. So a lot of them know my dad. So it's good to reconnect with him as well. The Famouship winning team is here. That must be special for selling for everyone. I know, but that's it. Yeah, that's good to have done, Al. A couple of years ago, that's good to have done.

[00:10:02] We did, yeah. 88 is probably the year that everyone talks about. We just fell at the second-to-last hurdles, to be honest. The 2016 that we've been here is fantastic and it's lifted our numbers for the year. But also, it means a lot to the rest of us because the day after the grand final in 2016, we all agreed to meet up here and we filled this bar with ex-Cronola players.

[00:10:31] Probably more than they're here today. We packed the joint and we watched the game again on TV. And when it was full-time, we sang the song. That made me lift the bar from the joints. That was fantastic. It was fantastic. It was a current day shot. Who should you tell me your current day 2026 player? How do you really love, Richard? That's a good question. Being a junior coach, I love seeing kids come through and progress and stuff. Jesse Kaufman has been outstanding for us.

[00:11:02] I've got to say, I think Billy Burns is having a great season and stuff. So, well, personally, I'm the biggest fan of Craig Fitzgibbon. I have a lot of faking Craig and everyone's sort of saying at the moment we're just maybe not hitting our straps. But I have faking Craig. He knows what he's doing. And if anyone's going to lead us somewhere, it's going to be him. So, yeah, I don't really want, because on any given way, Kennedy at the back can be brilliant.

[00:11:32] Yeah, I mean, we've got two powerhouse winners that can get them all over the line. I've been really impressed with Craig and Hero over the last couple of seasons, mate. I just think he's fantastic. And then, of course, you've got Nick Allen and Blayden Trindle and stuff. Yeah, I just thought, like, fix his men. If they need us somewhere and have to follow him, we'll be right. Before I let you go,

[00:11:58] who was the funniest guy that you played with in the top grade? The funniest guy? Well... Funniest? I mean, it's not just character. Yeah, okay, so... Not everybody made player is funny because of their cheer-mock. It's because of their lack of intelligence, by everyone. So, I thought that... They were also with how they're shaping. He was an absolute character.

[00:12:28] Probably... I'll nominate Baz. He just had a way of lighting the situation. I think every time you've got to have one. Because when you're going through the same period that Noah is now, you've got that one bloke in the dressing chair that can just lift up. When it's time to lighten it. But no, when it's not. Yeah. And so, I'll probably go with going to go. All right. Thanks for your time, Al. I'm listening. Club legend. Hey, Matt. Thank you, Ben.

[00:12:57] Ben Pomeroy. Sharks legend. Welcome to the Great Lights Function. Um... Headless, Ben Roy, but known for your Crinoa time. What does it mean for you, your Sharks history and legacy? Yeah, well, hey, like you said, from Penhead, I've spent probably, what, 90% of my career at Crinoa. So, you know, I love Crinoa. You know, when you spend, you know, a lot of time at one place

[00:13:25] and, you know, you put a lot of pride in yourself and you wear that jersey and, yeah, like, I'm your Crinoa. I'm not living here anymore and, uh, every part of me wants to come back. We're very happy. You look happy with a former teammate. Um, but it's a night like tonight when you need to catch up with old friends, meet some new friends that had the same experience as you do. Yeah, no, it's always good when, uh, you know, someone that played with you, you know, a lot of times you come to these things

[00:13:53] and there's not always a lot of guys from your era. Mm-hmm. You know, we're just fine, but, uh, I mean, Luke Cavel reached out and said he was coming and he's not local. He's not in Queensland, but I was definitely coming to catch up with Cobb because he's probably one of my favorite players and, uh... Now, was he outside you on the other side? Yeah, mate. He saved me many times in defense. He, uh, but yeah, he was, he was an awesome player. I love playing with Cobb. Yeah. I don't think I've seen him since he left in a while. Oh, okay. But, yeah. We're not lost.

[00:14:23] All right. Now, you still watch the game on the rugby league? The game of rugby league? You still a fan? I love rugby league, but to be honest, I don't get a lot of time. Okay. Um, I'm pretty busy at the minute, but, uh, yeah, whenever I get a chance, put his on. But, uh, uh, 2016 Grand Final. Where were you? I was in Canet Blige, the south of France. Okay. How'd it get? Codd County. Oh! Yeah, I remember what I had.

[00:14:52] Um, I was actually late to training because, uh, the Grand Final was on. I should have said. And, uh, yeah, that, no, sorry, it might've even been, I was late to a game. Oh, wow. Yeah. No, I was definitely late to a game. But, my Grand Final was on, and it was, you know, it was, it was quite close right to the end, so I couldn't leave. Amazing. Wow. Yeah. We had two former Grand Sharks. We were watching it in the south of France. That's when you finished your career. Yeah. Uh, tell us about your time in France. Unbelievable.

[00:15:22] Yeah. Um, you know, when I left, I really, really didn't want to go. Like, I did not want to leave Cronulla. Yeah. Just the way things worked out, and, uh, it was one of the best experiences I've ever had. Uh, you know, when you, when you hear your, uh, your kid speaking to you in a language, you don't understand much, and it's, it's amazing. Yeah. So, no, I love every second of France.

[00:15:48] I think I spent six years there in the end, and I'd, I'd move back there in a heartbeat. Wow. Yeah. Well, tonight we're, uh, gonna be at the Ocean Protect Stadium facility. You're gonna be doing a lap of honor with the old boys, and you better get your selfie face ready, because there's gonna be, I dare say hundreds of fans who want your selfie, Ben for more. You ready to that? I'd love that. All right. All right. I will do a towel at the end of the night with a chat.

[00:16:18] I reckon it'll be, what do you reckon, Ash over Umber? 75? Over? Well, I'm not. Yeah. 50 of mine, mate, John, that's a cool decision. I'd take one. You know? Nah. That'd be awesome. So, for people listening, Ben is a very humble man. I've learned this in your presence in 10 minutes. Doesn't make the legacies left. Um, some outstanding tries, memorable tries. Uh, but yeah, great chat. Thanks for your time, man. All right. Any time, man. Thanks, Benny. All right.

[00:16:47] We're here with Premiership winner, Sam Tangatisi. Long time, my friend. Long time, long time. Great to see you. How are you looking, Mel? Uh, let's fast forward to right now. You work for another team, dude. Ha ha. Yes, I do. I actually work for the elephants. Gosh, um, obviously, uh, dolphins, NRL. Um, the Hockey Delfins, we'll say, Mike. Ha ha. That's, um, no. Up there in Queensland. Um, when I finished down there, I moved up there.

[00:17:13] Um, got, uh, St. Morris, um, who had seen me around the community. Um, every elephant goes out and you want to work for us. And I was like, yeah, hello. You know, that's a good community, guys. I'm doing good things for good people. Um, tell us about the time of the Sharks. We'll get to the grand final. That doesn't mean on nights that tonight you're with your teammates, other sharks will go way before you, some after you. What does an event like tonight mean to you?

[00:17:42] Um, to be honest, I was telling you, I was thinking to myself, I've never, I played a few NRL clubs. Mm-hmm. Uh, never even gone to any NRL reunions. Yeah. All those reunions. You know, just, sir? Ten years. Yeah. You know, like, um, I think, uh, go to myself. Might be good to attend this event. Um, and here I am. Um, and we're not saying to acknowledge a lot of the old players that were here, you

[00:18:11] know, past and present. And I think it's just great to come, but then to see 2016 score as well. And some of the players that have been, um, I played with the fire to a championship. Yeah. Yeah. It was just, I think it's great. It's good for me as well. Uh, Luke Lewis has got his, uh, side hustle and championship wins. And he'll be presenting a fan, a lucky fan to win later on at the game. Um, but ten years, man, the crowd is gonna go nuts tonight. Are you ready for the reaction? Definitely ready for the reaction.

[00:18:41] No, um, the tweening. Oh yeah. The crowd will be there. I'm worried about that. Yeah, we'll still be there, but, um, no. It's always great to get back out, boys, young buck. You know, like, uh, some, down through the trenches down there, play them there. But to be an art of this occasion and to, at for me, plus, obviously he's a bit of a hustler. Yes. Um, to offer that to someone who's been a shark supporter, um, and they, you know, put money towards it and, and won it.

[00:19:11] You know, it's always a big thing, you know? Because these are for the fans, you know? We play a good, great game, my fuck man. And the supporters are the ones that drive it as well. Now, 2016, you played in the grand final off the bench, destructive as usual. You were injured for seven weeks before that. Was it a bit heavy there? Were you a bit like, I'm not gonna be part of this? Oh, it was. It was. Um, I think there was a few things out there, so, uh, uh, too capable of absolutely amazing

[00:19:40] during the first, um, primals. So you have, uh, that, that, that, man. This is, I could miss it. You know? Um, luckily, I had to support some of the senior players. Yeah. Uh, you know, come the final week, I did my testings. Um, to pass, to make myself available. I know. And, uh, and St. Flannigan, uh, after going to start testing, came to the table and said, we're gonna play ya. Yeah. Okay.

[00:20:06] I think, um, I think Dan would've, um, done his chats with, um, the senior players and, you know, but, you know, play from round one to, uh, round 22 or 23 when I got injured. Uh, you know, I just thought, man, I'm gonna be in there. I don't know. Let me ask this, Dan. Why did you always, when you started throughout the year, when you did start, why did you not wear number 10? You had your reserve jumper. Is that a map plan thing? You never had like the eight or ten on.

[00:20:35] You never started in it. Even when you start a game. So there were problems with a real watch. Is that what it's? Science? So did the real? No, no. Throughout the year. So you were playing round four and you're starting. Yeah. So I think I'm going to take it. During sixth year or something. Well, I don't know if this is true and all right. So, uh, uh, let's say, I think I remember that topic to either, next year, someone at

[00:20:59] Flammer actually, as this, because I played in their number, like, cause I, there was a number 10 in the, in the starting position during that time. Really? And he actually changed the roster for one of the games. Yeah. And I started off the bench and first started. And because it must have worked. Your superstitions are changing. So then he just kept that going throughout. Why not? The season. Should I fancy everything, man?

[00:21:29] Oh, I, I, I think you and I, like, players have superstitions. Uh, uh, and my coaches know and everything. That's what I think, um, I don't know. I'm looking for what we ask him tonight. And, um, to see what that was. That was definitely wasn't the size matter because. Yes. It's N-I-L-P-M. There'd be different sizes for all J's. Your size is the biggest. All right, Sam. Thanks for your time. Appreciate it. Enjoy tonight, man. I mean, the dinner you go evening, mob, silkies, the work. So appreciate your time. See you, bud.

[00:21:59] I'm just fine. I'm not down, either. Bye. Bye. I'm a long Sharks fan and supporter of this podcast. If you're looking to buy or sell in the region, the person you need to be talking to is Jason Hawes from Crips and Crips Real Estate. Call him on 0410 417 450.

[00:22:28] That's 0410 417 450. Jason Hawes, Crips and Crips Real Estate. SHARKIES! SHARKIES! SHARKIES! Back in the Shire. Turn your porch lights off because we're coming home with a trophy. SHARKIES! SHARKIES!