In what could be described as fate, Tiana Penitani Gray and Quincy Dodd’s 50th NRLW games will fall on the same day, and at Magic Round in Wagga Wagga tomorrow.
They’re the captain and vice-captain of Cronulla, and the heart and soul of the team, and both were showered with love and admiration by their teammates, coaches, and families at their jersey presentation today.
“It’s been a long journey. I’ve seen the ups and downs of it all,” Dodd shared.
“It’s crazy to think that this will be my 50th game in 9 years of playing NRLW.
“I’m so happy that the Sharks community has done so much for me and hopefully we can give back to them and the club as well.”
“I love this club, all the girls, and the coaching staff,” Penitani Gray expressed.
"What we have here is so special. There’s no place I’d rather be. This club is my home, these girls are my family, and I can’t wait to run out tomorrow and give my all for them.”
Both have been on incredible journeys to the top, and they couldn’t have done it without the special people in their lives.
“I am deeply in awe of my girl,” Tiana’s mum, Renee, said.
“I’m so very proud of the person she is and who she represents. There are moments where I sit back, and I think, wow, she’s my daughter, and I raised her.”
Quincy's dad Colin, her ex-Tarsha Gale coach, is beyond proud of the person his daughter has become.
“She’s always been a team player, which I really respect, and from that, she gets the respect back from the others like coaches and players,” her father said.
“I probably never thought it was going to get to this point (female rugby league), but all the hard work behind the scenes that doesn’t get talked about has got it to where it is today.”
Since winning the 2018 Tarsha Gale grand final with her dad, Dodd has soared to the highest points of the game, representing the Jillaroos, Indigenous All Stars, and NSW Blues, captaining the 2026 All Stars, and Cronulla on numerous occasions.
Now she'll bring up the special milestone, running out in the colours of the club she grew up supporting.
“I played my first competitive competition at Cronulla-Caringbah (JRLFC), and that's kind of where my journey began,” Dodd added.
“It means a lot that I get to play my 50th game in the black, white and blue; I'm a proud Shark, and I wouldn’t want to have it any other way.”
Penitani Gray spent her teens playing Rugby Union, due to the lack of pathways in League, but returned to the code in 2019, where she made her NRLW debut at the Dragons.
The Sharks Captain has played in every State of Origin series since her debut season, and is a dual international, having represented both her Tongan and Australian Heritage.
Since coming in as Cronulla's inaugural captain, Penitani Gray has picked up player of the year awards in 2023 and 2024, proving a testament to her hard work on and off the field.
“I’m in my 8th season of rugby league now, and I can’t get enough,” the Sharks skipper said.
“I feel like every single year I’m learning more and more about the game, but what I love more are the connections you make.
“From when I walked through the door to play rugby league, I felt embraced, welcome, and included.”
The Sharks are hoping to snatch their second win of the season, and what better way to do it than with two milestones at Magic Round.
