In 2017, the Sharks struck it lucky.

Then-NSW sports minister Stuart Ayres granted the club $8 million in taxpayer funds for a centre of excellence at a crumbling Shark Park, as part of a $50 million round of handouts to seven NRL clubs and other sports.

The Sharks were delighted – in fact, they thought all their Christmases had come at once.

“In some exciting news, the Cronulla Sharks have been allocated an $8 million grant from the state government as a contribution towards the development of a centre of excellence,” an official club press release, issued on December 19, 2017, read.

“Planned as a multipurpose facility, the Sharks’ proposed centre of excellence is set to benefit the community and allow the club’s social contribution and impact to grow.”

Despite the undeniable fact the club was awarded money, chief executive Dino Mezzatesta appeared on NRL 360 on Fox League last week to cry poor.

It was an appearance that deeply angered the Minns government, landing his club at the bottom of the goodwill pile.

Mezzatesta was responding to this masthead’s story a fortnight ago that exposed the appalling condition of Shark Park, showing it was the worst professional sporting ground in the country.

On NRL 360, he said: “We are the only Sydney club that haven’t received any funding, and this is both from federal or state [governments].

“If you look at our code, there........

© The Sydney Morning Herald