Cronulla NRL coach Shane Flanagan started sowing the first seeds of the Sharks’ new culture, as he returned to work and his players shut the door on the doping drama that engulfed the club last year.
Flanagan took charge of the club’s first pre-season training session on Monday, after the NRL last Friday ended his ban.
He was stood down for a year from last December by the NRL, during their anti-doping investigation, but was eligible to come back early after he met criteria related to completing education and training courses.
Among those absent from Monday’s session were captain Paul Gallen, Anthony Tupou, Wade Graham and Nathan Gardner, who are under doping bans until November 21.
Flanagan, who was defiant in rejecting any blame during the investigation, talked in a Sharks statement last Friday about leading a cultural change at the club.
Veteran forward Chris Heighington said Flanagan had touched on that on his first day back.
“A little bit, he did touch on it. I’m sure he’ll touch on it more over there next few weeks,” Heighington told AAP.
“He was pretty enthusiastic at training today, it was good to see him.
“He’s really ready to go.”
For their part, the players stressed now the investigation was over it could no longer be used as an excuse for poor on-field form, after the Sharks finished six points adrift at the bottom of the 2014 ladder.
They won just five games, after making the semi-finals in 2013 and a qualifying final the year before.
“It was hard last year with everything going on … that’s gone now,” Heighington said.
“That’s not an excuse any more, we’ve talked about that.
“Hopefully it’s all better for the Sharks next year. Everyone was really confident today and hopefully can build into Christmas.
“We talked about there’s only one way – up.
“Every area, we’ve probably got to improve on, so it’s going to be a long, hard pre-season.
“I’m pretty confident if we can keep everyone on the field and bring a few new recruits in, that we can do a real good job.”
Among the new recruits showing their faces at Sharks training for the first time on Monday were former Bulldogs stars Michael Ennis and Mitchell Brown.
“It’s a pretty special day coming down here and meeting all the players and obviously having Shane back on board,” hooker and former Bulldogs captain Ennis told Sharks TV.
“All the guys have been really welcoming and there’s a lot of new staff on board so the club is heading in a really good direction and I’m just glad to be a part of it.”
Ennis and back Brown won’t be required to start training until November 24, because their 2014 season with the Bulldogs lasted a few weeks longer than the Sharks campaign.
Jay C
Roar Guru
All good points. I guess my one point is. They need a major corporate sponsor. It is a bad look not having a jersey sponsor. But to do that they need an mage over haul. And this was the perfect opportunity to get that. But they have failed. IMO. The coach was the centrepiece and maybe Gallen.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Sponsorship Sharks 2014 $5.6m from their smaller and mid size sponsors ,grant from NRL guessing near $7m.Add in merchandise sales,game day takings. Obviously the sponsorship is at the lower end of NRL sponsorships,but it is still achieved without a major jumper sponsor. The club would have at worst, been on a break even in 2014 ,however the ongoing ASADA issue has killed that off and a loss is pending. The club has not had to go cap in hand to the NRL asking for financial assistance to pay their players.Two other NRL clubs have had to do this.And I wont name names ,just to create a war. As to your last question.the club would be looking at est $800,000 to $1m for the major jumper sponsorship,and the sponsors who have become involved with the club ,do not have that kind of bread ,one suggests. One thing you have to remember the Shire(a middle class area) has many residents who own small businesses or professional firms,some operating within the area,many outside. Thus you have a better chance of securing a higher number of smaller sponsors.More so as the club has become synonymous with the area,since the days of Steve Rogers,Et and Tommy Bishop .Despite coming stone motherless last, the club still averaged around 13,000.
Jay C
Roar Guru
I don't mean to be so negative either. But I do think they, like a few clubs, will have to pay overs for a real quality star half. Which makes the rest hard.' You've mentioned that sponsor thing before, to which I would argue the salary cap alone is 7. I'm not sure how 5 compares with other clubs or not but why if they are getting record sponsorship, did none of the sponsors say "Well put me on your shirt then"
fishes
Guest
Right. We have a chance at a.reynolds, barba, Maloney. Sorry to be so negative, just upset Toddy got kicked out. Need a signing soon
Muzz
Guest
A Reynolds is currently on $220k.If you were on that sort of coin Jay and were offered $750k a-year to play for the Sharks, would you go? Once players win a premiership, their priorities generally change as they've ticked that box.They start to think about setting themselves/family up for life.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
I guess you mean insinuation, whatever.The so called tainted brand raked in $5.6m in 2014 sponsorship,record club membership also.Heaven help what the club will rake in when the brand has been "cleansed"ala Dogs/Storm.
Jay C
Roar Guru
Michael Ennis. Well done answering your own incinuation.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Michael Ennis has an opposing view to yours Jay C.
Jay C
Roar Guru
What self respecting player would go there. Honestly their best chance is of someone decent fs up like how they got Carney. Their whole brand is tainted.
fishes
Guest
I agree they have an absolutely pathetic halves combination. And will be lucky to avoid the wooden spoon, let alone make the top 8.
Muzz
Guest
They have their eye's on A Reynolds and Maloney.Can't see Reynolds leaving Redfern though.He bleeds those funny colours. Not a bad looking Combo.that. How gross is the Bronco's new strip? : )
Jay C
Roar Guru
Do they have halves do they? Or do they still have Robson running around with a7 on his back. They need a clean out and to spend big money on a young clean skin you can build a team around. Someone like but not necessarily DCE OR EVEN Brooks
Jay C
Roar Guru
Do they have halves do they? Or do they still have Robson running around with a7 on his back. They need a clean out and to spend big money on a young clean skin you can build a team around. Someone like but not necessarily DCE OR EVEN Brooks
Jay C
Roar Guru
Do they have halves do they? Or do they still have Robson running around with a7 on his back. They need a clean out and to spend big money on a young clean skin you can build a team around. Someone like but not necessarily DCE OR EVEN Brooks
fishes
Guest
Cronullas halves are their biggest problem. The Sharks are in a real danger of not making the finals for the next 5 years, and this would be almost unbearable for fans after what they've been through. Sacking Todd carney without a backup plan was ridiculously short-sighted.
fishes
Guest
I hope so but can we make the finals in 2015 with the weakest halves in the league?
Squidward
Roar Rookie
The bloke took them to 5th place with an average roster. He must stay. Sharks for finals 2015
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
The club is working on both. The club without a major jumper sponsor still secured in 2014 a record $5.6m in sponsorship. The money continues (in addition to the expected $40-50m profit on residential sales)in the form of rental income of $1m pa on retail.plus a refurbished leagues club plus owning a rent free ground.The money will not have gone. The very reason the club is looking for a CEO who will overseer the whole shebang.The former Wanderer's CEO is in their sights.
Crashy
Guest
A CEO and major sponsor might help. I mean call me old fashioned n' all. When the money from selling the family silver has gone, as it will soon be after the lawyers get lift their snouts out of the trough, what next? paying overs for hasbeens like the Raiders...
Parrafan
Guest
In Flannos mind he hasn't done anything wrong. It was all Dank and Elkin and Flanno was some innocent bystander who didn't have any sort of duty to his players or staff. Very bad step for the Sharks.