NewsBite

Katy Perry declares herself a Cronulla Sharks fan in Las Vegas

The NRL’s Las Vegas extravaganza delivered plenty of fireworks, notably for the Cronulla Sharks who secured global music megastar Katy Perry as their newest supporter. WATCH THE VIDEO.

Katy Perry meets Sharks stars in Vegas
News Sport Network

The Sharks may have missed out on two competition points in Las Vegas after going down to the Panthers.

But they haven’t come home completely empty-handed.

Global megastar Katy Perry has announced herself as a fan of the Cronulla Sharks after meeting with players Nicho Hynes and Kayal Iro, while in the US.

“I guess I rep the Sharks in Sydney now,’’ Perry said during the meet-and-greet with Hynes and Iro at the Las Vegas studios of the Morning Mashup on SiriusXM Hits 1.

“Can I say, rugby is very primal. There was a gentleman who had his head stapled and played again.

“He’s an icon.

Music megastar Katy Perry alongside Nicho Hynes and Kayal Iro. Picture: Denise Truscello/Getty Images
Music megastar Katy Perry alongside Nicho Hynes and Kayal Iro. Picture: Denise Truscello/Getty Images

“You guys are badasses.

“You are the Sharks that I want to see.

Hynes and Iro presented Perry with a Sharks jersey signed by the entire Sharks NRL squad, leading the pop sensation, who boasts over 384 million followers on Instagram, Facebook, X (Twitter) and TikTok, to declare: “Oh my god.

“I’m playing in Sydney so many times (in June this year), so I want you to come and see the show guys.

“Would it be weird if I put one of you in the left shark (Perry’s famous dance routine) costume.’’

Hynes and Iro experienced the once-in-a-lifetime encounter with Perry on the eve of the 2025 NRL season launch in Las Vegas.

Sharks vs Panthers Wrap: Panthers Prevail in Hard-Fought Vegas Battle

The meeting was kept secret from the huge amount of travelling rugby league media.

The Sharks meet and greet was made possible through the Sharks’ ongoing collaboration with Morning Mashup Producer Ben Harlum, with Hynes and Iro invited into the studio during an exclusive interview with Perry being conducted by high profiled show hosts Nicole Ryan, Stanley T and Ryan Sampson.

The radio station is the number one breakfast radio show in the US, which is streamed to a monthly audience of 150 million listeners.

The show was broadcast live in Vegas in partnership with the NRL in 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.

Inside the Sharks' Vegas Journey – Exclusive Access with David Riccio

“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’,” referencing the internet sensation dancing Sharks who feature in her on-stage

Teenage Dream performance.

The Sharks delegation, which included Hynes, Iro, Chairman Steve Mace, General Manager of Marketing Melinda Madigan and Football Operations Manager Mark Noakes, left the meeting excited by Katy’s declaration that she would now be a fan of the Cronulla Sharks.

“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.”

Katy Perry is one of the biggest selling music artists in history, boasting over 384 million followers on Instagram, Facebook, X (Twitter) and TikTok.

The Morning Mashup hosts also took the opportunity to chat to Hynes and Iro on the eve of big Las Vegas match up against the Panthers, with the interview to be aired nationally in the US this week.

David Riccio
David RiccioChief Sports Writer

David Riccio is The Sunday Telegraph and CODE Sports chief sports writer with a career in journalism that includes 20 years at News Limited. A former sports editor of The Sunday Telegraph, David is an award-winning reporter who thrives on breaking news and writing in-depth profiles. Regarded as one of rugby league's leading reporters, having covered grand finals State of Origin and World Cups, David was also a member of our 2016 Rio Olympic Games team and is the author of Alex McKinnon's book Unbroken.

Add your comment to this story

To join the conversation, please Don't have an account? Register

Join the conversation, you are commenting as Logout

Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/nrl/katy-perry-links-up-with-cronulla-sharks-in-las-vegas/news-story/a696b512defbb81334c6133ffc4ffac0