Fiji has expressed interest in accommodating Cronulla after the club floated the prospect of shifting some of its home games to the Pacific nations due to the prohibitive costs of playing at Shark Park.
The Sharks have been mooted as a franchise under threat if the NRL decides to relocate teams in order to expand its national footprint. Cronulla officials are adamant they aren’t going anywhere, pointing to a $40 million windfall from the property development in the club's precinct.
Regardless, the Sharks are looking at taking matches out of the Shire after posting a loss at every single home game last season. A crowd of 16,500 is required just to break even at a time when last season’s highest attendance was just 14,800.
Sharks chairman Dino Mezzatesta said last weekend the club is exploring the feasibility of taking some fixtures to more lucrative venues, earmarking Fiji and Tonga as potential destinations. That development has been welcomed by Fijian National Rugby League chairman Peni Musunamasi, who is also keen to explore the opportunity.
"Of course, it would be great for us," Musunamasi said. "We are very interested, if they contact us we can go and work with them if that is what they would like to do, see what we need to prepare to make it possible."
Fiji’s ANZ Stadium in Suva has a capacity 15,000 although any venture would likely need to be underwritten by sponsors or government to ensure it was financially worthwhile for all parties. Musunamasi said there was a chance to try to strike a deal for 2020, although his preference was for a long-term partnership rather than a one-off.
"It would need some long-term planning and marketing so we can get a lot of people in and we can get our return for the games and the people of Fiji," he said. "Especially when we’re trying to put a NSW Cup team in, it is an opportunity to show Australia and all rugby league clubs that we are able to build crowds, fill up the seats of whichever stadium we are going to use."
The Sharks, who own their own stadium, are the only Sydney club that doesn’t currently take at least one home game away to another region. They are keen to expand their membership and brand in a bid to finally get into the black.
"We just need to find an area where we can grow our brand and support the Sharks," Mezzatesta said last week. "I’d love to explore the Pacific Islands. Having said that, I know what sort of cost it is.
"That would have to be heavily subsidised but we’d look at that. If the Fijian or Tongan rugby league community (were keen), it would be unreal. We would need support from both countries for a subsidy for that to happen."
Fiji is currently attempting to meet an August deadline to provide the NSWRL with a bank guarantee that would enable them to field a NSW Cup side next year. The Pacific nation will also host the Prime Minister’s XIII side later this year.
"It would be good exposure for Fiji and our rugby league players, men and women," Musunamasi said
