Cameron McInnes returns from an eight-month ACL recovery. Photo: Dan Himbrechts/AAP PHOTOS

Inspirational Cronulla Sharks co-captain Cameron McInnes returns from an eight-month layoff with an ACL injury in Friday night's clash with the Cowboys in Townsville.

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McInnes, 32, who has named on the bench, is back well ahead of schedule.

In another change to the that went down to the Roosters before having a bye last week, Mawene Hiroti will shift to the wing in place of Sione Katoa, who is listed as a reserve.

Sifa Talakai will move from the bench to start at centre.

Kick-off is at 6pm.

Grace Gosby competes in the inaugural Cronulla Women's Challenge Series on Sunday. Picture by John Veage

By John Veage

Grace Gosby showed why she is the number one ranked female surfer in Surfing Sutherland Shire's region with a dominant victory in the inaugural Cronulla Women's Challenge Series on Sunday.

The Cronulla Sharks Boardriders member won the event at her North Cronulla Beach home break after earlier also becoming the first female surfer to win four Cronulla Open titles.

She took Sunday's final win over her sister Jasmine, April Davey and Zara Hyland in the event which was instigated by the Elouera Boardriders club and supported by Surfing Sutherland Shire.

Grace Gosby competes in the inaugural Cronulla Women's Challenge Series on Sunday. Picture by John Veage

Gosby also won her fourth Cronulla Open Women's title late last month over Elouera's April Davey and said it's always a fun contest.

"I'm stoked to have won the Cronulla title for four years in a row and every year I feel like I'm getting pushed harder by all the girls which is incredible," she said.

Sandshoes Boardriders' Harrison Martin won the men's title and the local surf coach showed he can practice what he preaches, beating Cronulla Sharks champion and last year's winner Hayden Blair in the 3-4 foot waves.

Harlan Tanko won the U18 boys with Mia Martin the victor in the girls while Phoenix Black and Havana Anderson took the U16 titles.

Sonny Leong was crowned U14 male champion and Harvey Richards the U12s top dog whilst the combined girls U14/12s was claimed by Alice Vine.

Surfing Sutherland Shire runs the local event with Surfing NSW to act as a selection pathway for the upcoming NSW titles and has selected an Open Champion since the 1970s.

Surfing Sutherland Shire director Finbar O'Leary said conditions were great for the junior selection event and he was very happy that Surfing Sutherland Shire and Surfing NSW are there to provide support for what is the very beginning of the Olympic pathway.

"Infrastructure and volunteers, which were supplied by Sandshoes Boardriders and assisted by the Cronulla Boardriders clubs, gave an important community vibe to the day.

"In the blue ribbon U18 boys final Harlan Tanko posted a 7.5 out of a possible 10 on a single wave to eclipse his opposition," he said

"Sonny Leong is a name we will see on podiums of the future scoring two waves in the excellent range in the U14 boys final, putting his competitors in a position where they all needed two more scores to beat him. The girls winners, Mia Martin in the U18s and Alice Vine in the U14s, showed the ongoing development in Cronulla representative women's surfing which has quality leaders like opens winner Grace Gosby for our more junior girls to emulate."

SHIRE RUN CARNIVAL

The community event caters for recreational participants through to the elite. Picture by Martin Cansell

The 2026 Shire Run Carnival, featuring the Shire 10K and Shire Aquathlon (1km Swim/4km Run) will be held on Saturday, May 9.

The community event, catering for recreational participants through to the elite, takes place along the stunning, flat and fast Kurnell Foreshore, with the start/finish area located at Bonna Point Reserve. Participants can choose from the Shire 10K, Shire Aquathlon, Triple Challenge, 6km Run/Walk, 3km run/walk or the 1500m Kids Dash (10 yrs/under).

Families, work colleagues, PT/gym group and friends are encouraged to join in the Most Miles Together Challenge, where the aim is to see how much distance can be cumulatively achieve as a group, with prizes for the most distance and team spirit.

The event supports the Love Mercy Foundation, by helping fund clean water projects in Northern Uganda.

The Schools Challenge is open to all primary and secondary schools in Sutherland Shire, St George and Canterbury-Bankstown.

New to this year's event will be the NSW Athletics Dual Relay Championships, which will take place straight after the fun runs from 11am. This is two-person relay, open to all those registered with an athletics club with State Championship titles up for grabs.

Partners in the event are Love Mercy Foundation, Kurnell Rec Club, Runnulla, Tailwind Nutrition, Cronulla Tri Club and Cronulla SLSC.

Event director Nathan Breen said, "We can't wait to welcome everyone to the beautiful race destination of Kurnell. Perfect for first timers through to PB seekers, all while contributing to a great cause."