Tigers hungry for Shark

Now that the Tigers have pulled out of the race to sign Latrell Mitchell, they have ramped up their bid to sign Cronulla utility Matt Moylan. The Sharks are reportedly happy to let Moylan go after an injury-plaguedseason that saw him play just 11 games in 2019. The Tigers have money to spend following Ryan Matterson's departure and see Moylan as a valuable player given his ability to play almost anywhere in the backline.

Contenders to replace Shane Flanagan as Cronulla coach

John Morris: Morris was named interim coach when the club returned from their Christmas break.

Steve Price: One of the few options the Sharks have with NRL experience. The former Dragons coach was sacked from his role in 2014 after two and a half years in the job, although he had a tough job to follow Wayne Bennett at the club. Previously, he had spent more than a decade working with the under-20s and as an NRL assistant.

Trent Barrett: The former Sharks star and Manly coach seems a logical long-term replacement for Flanagan — although it’s worth noting that Barrett resigned from the Sea Eagles citing a lack of resources and Cronulla are in a similarly desperate situation. Sensationally sacked by Penrith a month before the finals in 2018, the former Broncos and Panthers mentor is without a gig after being accused of being “old school”.

Jim Dymock: Following Des Hasler’s dramatic exit from the Bulldogs in 2017, long-time assistant Dymock was considered among the candidates to replace him. He was said to be ‘shattered’ when he was overlooked for the job, and left the club after more than a decade to join Cronulla in 2018.

Adam O’Brien: The Roosters assistant coach spent 11 seasons with Melbourne before moving to Sydney in 2018. Highly respected and well-liked, O’Brien is an NRL coach in waiting — in the same mould as Anthony Seibold before finally getting his chance at the Rabbitohs.

Cameron Ciraldo: The Panthers assistant took over as head coach in enormously difficult circumstances this season after Anthony Griffin was sacked a month from the finals. He took it all in his stride.

Cronulla Sharks hunt next coach as Shane Flanagan quits

Cronulla face a hasty process to settle on a new coach before the NRL season, with interim John Morris no certainty to take over following Shane Flanagan's resignation on Monday. A month after being provisionally deregistered by the NRL for continued contact with the club during his 2014 ban, Flanagan conceded his nine-year reign was over. Five weeks before the Sharks' first trial match and seven weeks out from the season start, Flanagan said he was standing down in the club's best interests but still intends to respond to the NRL's show-cause notice before the January 31 deadline. Morris declared last week he wanted the job long-term if Flanagan didn't return, but the club said on Monday it would make an announcement on the role "in coming weeks". They should have no shortage of potential candidates to guide a seasoned squad capable of challenging for the title following last year's preliminary-finals exit. Despite his controversial stint at Manly, Trent Barrett would likely be among the favourites if Cronulla look outside, but Morris is well liked and was chosen ahead of fellow assistant Jim Dymock as interim earlier this month. Anthony Griffin is also available after being sacked by Penrith last year, while Adam O'Brien at the Sydney Roosters and Jason Demetriou at Souths are considered the next assistants in line for a head coaching role. Flanagan admitted his second heavy sanction from the NRL had been hard to deal with.

Cronulla Sharks need to replace backline quartet

The biggest challenge for Cronulla leading into the 2019 Telstra Premiership season is unlikely to come down to a lone statistic, but rather how the club plans to replace departed stars Valentine Holmes, Jesse Ramien, Edrick Lee and Ricky Leutele in the backline. Holmes, Lee and Ramien were the side's biggest attacking weapons in 2018, finishing as the top three try scorers at the club. They also made an impact in several key areas with the ball in hand.
Along with Leutele, the departing quartet accumulated 52% of Cronulla's 87 tries over the 25 rounds of the Telstra Premiership. Holmes, arguably the biggest loss for the Sharks, made up a large portion of the club's overall success in attack, while also taking over the goal-kicking duties late in the season. Replacing Homles shapes as the biggest task of all. Interim coach John Morris is likely to give the role to Matt Moylan as the arrival of Shaun Johnson gives the Sharks another option in the halves.

Shaun Johnson can lead the Sharks around the park, says Andrew Fifita

Shaun Johnson's leadership and experience can spark the Sharks in this year's NRL campaign, says Cronulla enforcer Andrew Fifita. Fifita said it would take time for Johnson to settle in at Cronulla, just as it took Matt Moylan about two months to get comfortable last year. ​The Tongan frontrower said the arrival of Johnson was a huge boost for Cronulla, even though he was "the worst roomie ever". "He's been living with my family and my kids love him," Fifita said.

"As a leader himself, he's the former captain of his team [New Zealand Warriors], he's an international half, he brings that experience to this team and with this team being so raw, we will all learn from his experience. "To lose Val [Holmes] and gain Shaun, it's a win win. We support Val with his [NFL] dream, but we get the bonus of Shaun. I'm stoked and can't wait to play with him." Don't let the mullet fool you, Fifita has emerged as one of Cronulla's key leaders during one of the most uncertain times in the club's history.Interim Cronulla coach John Morris might not be sure if he will replace Shane Flanagan on a full-time basis, but he is certain Fifita is having the right sort of impact on Cronulla's next generation.

Sharks plan Moylan move to bring out his natural talent

Matt Moylan will return to his “natural” position of fullback in 2019, with interim Cronulla coach John Morris confident that’s where the 27-year-old plays his best football. Moylan hasn’t played fullback on a full-time basis since the first half of 2017, but a return to the role in 2019 is now certain following Valentine Holmes’ departure to American football and Shaun Johnson’s arrival from the Warriors. A fullback when he first came into the NRL in 2013, Moylan moved to
the halves two seasons ago at a time when he was considered a NSW State of Origin five-eighth option. But an analysis of his career shows he averages more tries, try-assists, linebreaks, linebreak-assists, metres and tackle busts at the back, while he is also more reliable in defence. “Matty is a natural fullback for mine, he likes the unstructured style of footy and last year was a challenge fitting him into halves,” Morris said. “He was going a bit between fullback and halves, and Valentine was on the wing for a bit, so we never had that continuity in that position until halfway through the year.

Jayden and Blayke ready to hook in with Sharks

The Brailey brothers, Jayden and Blayke, look set to join the ranks of siblings to have played in the same NRL team. Interim Sharks head coach John Morris is planning on promoting 20-year-old Blayke to first grade this season as the interchange hooker alongside Cronulla's starting rake,
22-year-old Jayden. The Sharks let journeyman James Segeyaro go over the off-season, creating a utility spot on the bench. Morris says Cronulla fans can expect to see a lot more NRL games featuring 20-year-old Flanagan in the 2019 Telstra Premiership season.

 

John Morris’s message to players after taking over at Sharks

John Morris doesn’t know how long he’ll be head coach of Cronulla but, for the good of the NRL club, the interim mentor knows he has to act as if it’ll be for the season. Appointed earlier this month as the interim boss after the provisional deregistration of Shane Flanagan, Morris is between the proverbial rock and a hard place. The outcome of Flanagan’s ban for fraternising with the Sharks during his 2014 suspension over the peptides scandal won’t be known
for at least several weeks. Responses from both Flanagan and the Sharks are due by January 31, and it’s understood the club will at least challenge the severity of the $800,000 fine handed to them. What direction the Sharks go after Flanagan’s response is unknown, but no coaching decision will be made until the case is finalised. All the while, the Sharks’ opening-round game against Newcastle is just two months away.

I have tremendous belief in the club

Cronulla co-captain Wade Graham will finally put pen to paper, re-signing with the Sharks until the end of 2022. Despite previously admitting he was in no rush to re-sign while there was instability around the club, the 28-year-old state and Australia star will ink a three-year extension with the Sharks on Tuesday to secure his and the club’s
future. “I have tremendous belief in the club and in our playing group and I’m looking forward to the next four years and to the next chapter of my career,” he said in a statement released by the Sharks. Graham will spend the first half of the season on the sidelines as he recovers from an ACL injury that hampered his progress last year.

Graham to ink three-year Sharks extension

Cronulla have locked in the long-term leadership of their NRL team, with co-captain Wade Graham to sign a deal to stay until the end of 2022. Already the Sharks' co-captain, Graham is seen as the successor to Paul Gallen as the club's No.1 leader both on and off the field. The 28-year-old, who despite an injury-ravaged 2018, has already played 219 NRL games and represented NSW and Australia.

His extension comes at a crucial time for Cronulla, who have appointed John Morris interim coach with Shane Flanagan provisionally deregistered by the NRL for communicating with the club during his 12-month ban linked to the Sharks' peptides scandal. Gallen is also 37 and 2019 will almost certainly be his final season. Graham is meanwhile hopeful of returning to the field before the midway point of this years' campaign, as he recovers from knee surgery to repair an injury suffered in the 2018 finals.

Spots up for grabs after pre-season turmoil

The opening rounds of the competition are set to test Cronulla in 2019. Not only do they have an interim coach in John Morris following Shane Flanagan’s ban, but they’ll also have to adapt to new combinations in a new-look line-up. Valentine Holmes (NFL), Luke Lewis (retired), Ricky Leutele (Toronto), Edrick Lee and Jesse Ramien (both Newcastle) and James Segeyaro (released), who were regulars in the top 17, have all moved on. They’ll also be without gun backrower Wade Graham for up to 12 games as he recovers from an anterior cruciate ligament injury. Following Holmes’ shock departure, the club moved quickly
on Shaun Johnson, signing him to a three-year deal. The 28-year-old is likely to play five-eighth at the Sharks alongside former Warriors teammate Chad Townsend, with Matt Moylan moving to fullback.Veteran centre Josh Morris also comes into the side and will add plenty of experience to the backline. In the back row, Jayson Bukuya, Kurt Capewell, Scott Sorensen and Jack Williams will battle it out for starting spots, however some may find a place on the interchange bench as a consolation until Graham returns. The club also have a plethora of young talent like playmaker Kyle Flanagan, who will push for a spot in the 17, along with the likes of centre Bronson Xerri and hooker Blayke Brailey, the younger brother of Jayden. Despite the upheaval, the club still has a roster that will challenge the top sides.

Clean Up, Up Cronulla

Enjoying Cronulla’s ocean and beaches is an integral part of why people live in the Sutherland Shire, and the Sharks want to do their part to help ensure the beaches are a clean place to people to enjoy. Sharks like to swim in a clean ocean so the footballing Cronulla Sharks and Surfrider Foundation Cronulla are teaming up to bring  attention to the state of our marine environment  and surrounds.

Great time out at the inaugural ‘Clean Up, Up Cronulla’ event held at North Cronulla Beach today, aimed at raising awareness about ocean litter, as we look to do our part to help ensure the beaches are a clean place for everyone to enjoy

NRL 2019 Pre-Season: SHARKS Squad

NRL 2019 Pre-season: SHARKS Squad: Jason Bukuya, Blayke Brailey, Jayden Brailey, Kurt Capewell, Josh Dugan, Sosaia Feki, Andrew Fifita, Kyle Flanagan, Paul Gallen, Wade Graham, Aaron Gray, Sione Katoa, William Kennedy, Isaac Lumelume,
Billy Magoulias, Josh Morris, Matt Moylan, Briton Nikora, Matt Prior, Ava Seumanufagai, Scott Sorensen, Cruz Topai-Aveai, Chad Townsend, Braden Uele, Jack Williams, Aaron Woods, Bronson Xerri. Coach: John Morris

Trials: February 23, 7.30pm - v Sea Eagles at Lottoland

March 2, 5.30pm - v Knights at Maitland

Round 1: March 15, 6pm - v Knights at McDonald Jones Stadium

Morris can't wait to 'rip in' as Cronulla coach

John Morris has taken to social media to proclaim he is ready to step up in banned coach Shane Flanagan's absence to guide Cronulla in the 2019 Telstra Premiership. The former Shark, who finished with 300 first-grade games in his career which also included stints with Newcastle, Parramatta and the Wests Tigers, posted a photo from his final
match in 2014 in his Instagram post. "This was the last time I pulled on a jumper for my beloved Cronulla Sharks," he wrote. "To say I am proud and honoured to be given this opportunity is an understatement. Thanks for everyone's msgs of support over the last 24 hours. "I can not wait to rip into our preparation for the 2019 season and lead a fine group of players and staff #UpUpCronulla."

Cronulla have appointed John Morris as interim coach

Cronulla have begun to look at life without Shane Flanagan after installing John Morris as the lone interim coach of the NRL side. Morris and fellow assistant Jim Dymock were appointed caretakers when Flanagan was sensationally de-registered by the NRL for dealing with the club while suspended in 2014. It remains unclear whether
Flanagan will appeal the ban, however the Sharks opted to give Morris the nod before the pre-season recommences on Monday. Sharks chief executive Barry Russell and the club board began discussions on handing the reins to Morris prior to Christmas, before informing senior players on Thursday.

Cronulla Sharks set to receive $9 million windfall before 2019 NRL season

Cronulla chairman Dino Mezzatesta has defiantly declared the Sharks are ‘not going anywhere’ despite enduring one of the worst weeks in the club’s history.The Sharks were this week whacked with an $800,000 fine while coach Shane Flanagan is set to be deregistered by the NRL for allegedly violating the terms of his 2014 peptides ban.But as reported by Sporting News Australia’s NRL Leaks the Sharks submitted solvency paperwork to the NRL on Friday to prove their short-term financial stability.The NRL has accepted the Sharks’ financial model, quelling fears the embattled 2016 premiers could be forced to
relocate to Perth.And in further positive news for Sharks fans News Limited on Sunday reported Cronulla are set to receive a cash injection of $9 million before the start of the 2019 NRL campaign.The much-needed funds will come from the multi-million dollar property development on land adjacent to Shark Park.According to reports Cronulla recorded a loss in excess of $3 million in 2018.After a series of off-field controversies, including remarks made by Andrew Fifita and Josh Dugan during a mid-season podcast, the Sharks are yet to secure any sponsors for 2019.

The Cronulla Sharks are in serious danger of being taken over by the NRL

If the Sharks are crippled financially the NRL would take immediate control of the cash-strapped club, according to reports.Fines totalling $800,000 were dished out to the club over the Shane Flanagan saga on Thursday, and further penalties are expected once the salary cap breach investigation is completed in January.These significant hits to Cronulla’s coffers would throw the club’s immediate future into doubt, with the Daily Telegraph reporting the NRL’s considering the relocation of the one-time premiers.Veteran league writer Dean Ritchie claims the NRL have held “private talks at the highest level” because the governing
body cannot afford for Cronulla to dive into bankruptcy without having a contingency plan.Ritchie says the option of relocating the Sharks to either Brisbane or Perth has been raised.Of course, the Sharks — who endured a $3 million loss in 2018 and are currently without jersey sponsors — are confident they can avoid such a scenario, and have reportedly guaranteed two financial injections to keep them afloat in the short-term.News Corp also understands the next stage of the Woolooware Bay development — based next to Shark Park — will result in another financial boon.The NRL recently announced it would spend 12 months working on a relocation and expansion strategy.

Cronulla Sharks NRL captain Paul Gallen faces off against former NRL player John Hopoate

Cronulla star Paul Gallen has confirmed he will return to the boxing ring to fight infamous retired NRL player John Hopoate.Just weeks after code-hopping superstar Sonny Bill Williams laughed off Gallen’s public calls for the pair to trade fists in the ring, it was announced Thursday that Gallen has had to settle for a fight with the 44-year-old former Manly star.Hopoate fired the first shot after the announcement of their fight came the day after Gallen’s coach at Cronulla, Shane Flanagan, was deregistered by the NRL.“I’ll end his sporting career, he can sit in retirement with his coach,” Hopoate said. Hopoate and Gallen
will throw down at a Star of the Ring Charity Fight Night at the Hordern Pavilion in Sydney on February 8. The event will be be broadcast on Main Event.Gallen has not fought since his unanimous decision victory over Puna Rasaubale in 2017. The former Sharks captain recently knocked back a chance to fight Hopoate in November, after committing to a rehabilitation program with the Sharks for a shoulder injury he carried through the end of the 2018 NRL season.Gallen’s ducking saw Hopoate come out and publicly slam the former NSW State of Origin captain.Hopoate told The Sunday Telegraph last month Gallen is a “coward”.“He talks up a big show, he accepted the fight and now they’re telling me he won’t sign the contract,” Hopoate said.

'Emotional' Johnson's classy outlook on Warriors exit

Unwanted by the Warriors and now the first Golden Boot winner to ever commit to Cronulla, Shaun Johnson insists he has nothing to prove when he debuts for the Sharks next NRL season. Johnson signed a lucrative three-year deal with the Sharks last month after the Warriors deemed the superstar half not worth his million-dollar-a-season price tag. "They can say what they want. I think both parties are happy with how it's ended and I've got nothing bad to say about the club," Johnson said on Thursday. "I had eight years there where I got to live out a dream that I had ever since I was a kid. "They're a club that want to do well. They're a club that are trying to win a premiership. If they don't see me as being worthy of whatever they offered to pay me in the first place, then that's up to them and that's fine.

"I'm here to play footy and I want to win a comp too and that's why I've come here. I believe this club can win another comp and I want to be a part of it." Bagged by Warriors boss Cameron George for his inconsistency, Johnson helped pilot the erratic Kiwis to the 2011 grand final and New Zealand to Four Nations final glory before being crowned the 2014 world player of the year. But the dynamic No.7 says he'd trade all his silverware or any individual accolade for an elusive NRL premiership. "I think that would be the most important thing to any player playing in this game. I'm no different," Johnson said.

Cronulla Sharks NRL 2019 Draw

Teams they play twice: Titans, Cowboys, Eels, Panthers, Broncos, Storm, Dragons, Raiders, Warriors.

Teams they play once: Knights, Roosters, Sea Eagles, Bulldogs, Rabbitohs, Wests Tigers.

Day-by-day breakdown: Thursday - Four, Friday - Four, Saturday - Nine, Sunday – Seven.

Five-day turnarounds: 2 (Rd 6, Rd 14).

Kick-off: After falling one game short of the grand final in 2018, Cronulla have, on paper, a relatively easy start to the Telstra Premiership with all four matches against teams which missed out on last season’s playoffs. However, they have just one game at home in the first month of the season.