John Morris is reportedly set to be appointed as Cronulla’s NRL coach in the wake of Shane Flanagan’s sacking.
Morris will be unveiled as the club’s new full-time coach after being endorsed by Sharks board, News Corp reported.
Penrith assistant Cameron Ciraldo was also interviewed for the role while St Helens’ Justin Holbrook was also mentioned as a contender.
Morris took over in an interim role after Flanagan was deregistered by the NRL for flouting a 2014 ban for his part in the club’s peptides scandal.
Flanagan had been given until Thursday to respond to the NRL’s charges, however he has been given another week to consider his next move.
The NRL remained tight-lipped about any possible sanctions given Flanagan is entitled to a right of reply and any submission will be taken into account when determining any punishment.
Under one option open to NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg, Flanagan could be banned for a finite length of time.
Or he could banish Flanagan indefinitely, in which case the premiership-winning coach would have to apply to the
NRL should he wish to re-enter the game down the track.
It’s expected any determination will take several weeks to be handed down.
Flanagan was banned, and the Sharks were fined $800,000, after it was found that he contravened his 12-month ban by communicating via email with club officials.
Tim Carter
Roar Pro
Strange candidate list. Not a full season of NRL coaching between them. They may be the best candidates, and you gotta start somewhere, but you'd think they'd interview at least one coach with experience.
Peter Piper
Guest
And your evidence the board did this? You have none, because you don't know. Morris has shown great potential in the lower grades, as Elite Academy and Development coach the Sharks won Premierships in the U16's and U18's, then he won Coach of the Year in the U20's competition. He was an assistant coach for the first grade squad last year and knows the clubs players and systems, he was given the job on merit not because a player who is retiring in eight months said so. I also wouldn't say Gallen and Flanagan were unhealthy for the Sharks either, they delivered the club a Premiership and have a 100% winning record in Grand Finals against my beloved Melbourne Storm (I'm still getting therapy for that day).
Ronald M
Guest
Peter, There is a very big difference between a captain being consulted for his opinion and for a board to make its decision based on "What Gal thinks". We have seen one stand in head coach put to the sword by Gal once before. I strongly believe that Flanagan and Gallen have run a virtual dictatorship at the sharks for years and that has been very unhealthy for the club
Peter Piper
Guest
That's got to be one of your dumbest comments ever. If Craig Bellamy retired last year you're kidding yourself if you think that Cameron Smith wouldn't be consulted about who the next coach is, as would any captain of any team in the competition. By the same logic Smith also has an unhealthy influence at the Storm. Why would any club appoint a coach who didn't have the support of the playing group?
Ronald M
Guest
I like Morris, he seems like a good bloke and I congratulate him on his elevation to the Head Coaching ranks. I would like to see him do well. However his statement is very telling and goes back to something I have said for a long time. He said that he has the support of the senior group and that is why he was appointed. Now tell me that Paul Gallen doesn't have an unhealthy influence at the sharks !