'I rep the Sharks now': How Cronulla won over Katy Perry in Vegas
Author
Brad WalterNRL Senior ReporterTimestampWed 5 Mar 2025, 02:11 PM
The Sharks may have returned home from Las Vegas without any competition points, but they can now boast global mega-star Katy Perry as a fan.
"I guess I rep the Sharks in Sydney now," Perry told stars Nicho Hynes and Kayal Iro after meeting the pair on the eve of Cronulla’s gripping 28-22 loss to the Panthers at Allegiant Stadium.
After being presented with a signed Sharks jersey, Perry even suggested one of the players could be invited to dance on stage in the ‘Left Shark’ costume during her on-stage Teenage Dream performance when she tours Australia.
Katy Perry meets Sharks stars
Hynes and Iro met Perry, who has 384 million followers on social media, after being invited into the studio of SiriusXM Hits 1 during an exclusive interview with the music superstar for the radio station’s top rating Morning Mashup breakfast show.
“You are the Sharks that I want to see”, Perry said after being introduced to Hynes and Iro during her interview with high profile radio hosts Nicole Ryan, Stanley T and Ryan Sampson.
Perry, who has toured Australia numerous times, also showed her awareness of rugby league when she asked Hynes about an incident involving former NSW centre Michaael De Vere during State of Origin.
"There was a gentleman who I think had his stapled and then went and played again," she said. "He is an icon."
Morning Mashup is the No.1 breakfast radio show in the United States and is streamed to a monthly audience of 150 million listeners. The show was broadcasting live in Vegas in partnership with the NRL’s Rugby League in Las Vegas festival.
“They chatted about rugby league and also about the fact that Katy had Shark dancers perform in her recent concert,” Sharks CEO Dino Mezzatesta said.
“Katy said ‘I guess I’ll see you in Australia’, asking them if they would like to come and see her Sydney show and even suggested she could put one of the boys in the ‘left shark’ costume.”
Super model Elle McPherson remains a life-long Sharks fan after reuniting with club great Andrew Ettingshausen in Vegas. ©Grant Trouville/NRL Photos
The meet and greet with Perry was made possible through Cronulla’s ongoing collaboration with Morning Mashup Producer Ben Harlum, and Hynes and Iro also recorded an interview that will be aired nationally in the US this week.
The club’s delegation, which included Hynes, Iro, chairman Steve Mace, GM marketing, brand & digital Melinda Madigan and football operations manager Mark Noakes, left the meeting with Perry excited by her declaration that she was now be Sharks fan.
“She was kind enough to give us the time and to chat with us about the Sharks,” Mezzatesta added. “Katy said she will have to cheer for the Sharks now.”
The Sharks also had the backing of home-grown supermodel Elle Macpherson in Las Vegas after she reunited with Cronulla great Andrew Ettingshausen to re-enact their iconic photo 32 years ago.
Two of the Sutherland Shire's most famous products were memorably snapped together in 1993 when Macpherson – the daughter of ex-Sharks president Peter Gow – was invited to present Ettingshausen with a golden boot in recognition of his 200th game for the club.
With Macpherson now based in the US, the Sharks' historic trip to Vegas to face the Panthers in the season-opening NRL blockbuster at Allegiant Stadium provided an opportunity for the pair to renew acquaintances and relive old times.
The Sharks may have returned home from Las Vegas without any competition points, but they can now boast global mega-star Katy Perry as a fan.
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