"What we want to do is implement it before the end of the season - it might be the final four or five rounds - and we'd sort of go down there once a week just to get it in," Brown said. "And after the initial shock of it being implemented, maybe just once a month. It's a discipline thing that once incorporated people must abide by, and the culture of the club will strengthen around that. If we find that everything is squeaky clean, you don't need to be down there every day." However, Cronulla were reminded by the NRL on Monday that clubs were not allowed to conduct their own testing for illicit drugs, a League Central policy that places the Sharks' new partnership in jeopardy less than a fortnight after it was announced. The NRL's testing is done by Laverty Pathology, who are now also monitoring whether there is an issue with the abuse of prescription drugs by players. "Clubs are prohibited from conducting their own in-house testing for illicit drugs," an NRL spokesman said. "The NRL contracts a major pathology company to conduct uniform tests across all clubs. This ensures there is consistency for every player and every club. "That arrangement is in place for the next one to two years however that's not to say that other companies won't be invited to tender for such work in the future."

Labour Health joined as major sponsors for the rest of the season following Carney's sacking with the intention of drawing up a new drug and alcohol policy and undertaking random screening of players. Their connection with the Sharks beyond this season would appear to be in doubt if they can't showcase their services as they desire. "We had an informal discussion during the process of the negotiation that was around coming in and updating their drug and alcohol policy and putting our best foot forward to show corporate Australia about what we can do," Brown said. "If we can't actually put our best foot forward it makes it not as attractive. That was the reason we got on board, that's all I can say. "I want my company out there as the leading drug and alcohol testing company for businesses and organisations in Australia, not just to be the Sharkies' No.1 supporter. As much as I love them, I'm not in the business of giving my money away because I'm in love with the Sharks."

Brown has ambitions to have his company conduct illicit drug and alcohol testing at more than one club. He identified the Sharks, having cut ties with Carney over an alcohol-related incident, as the launching pad. "The Sharks have suffered from the exposure of its personnel who are affected by drugs and alcohol," he says on his Linkedin page. Brown added on Monday: "Footy clubs are all about the families and the supporters and the kids as well as the sponsors and the sponsors don't want to have their names all over the press for the wrong reasons. That was why the Sharks struggled having sponsors." Cronulla have been simultaneously waiting to hear from the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority for an update on its long-running investigation into their 2011 supplements program.

"We're excited about the new corporate partners that have come on board in challenging times," Cronulla chief executive Steve Noyce said. "Obviously these people have a strong desire and passion to help the club out, not just financially in terms of the sponsorship, but to help us build a strong culture. "But at the same time the club are aware of NRL rules regarding certain aspects of testing. We need to work with the NRL and hopefully there might be opportunities for our corporate partners to be part of the solution for the game."