CRONULLA coach Shane Flanagan has reportedly approached Cooper Cronk to try to arrange a face-to-face meeting in the coming days.

Channel Seven has reported Flanagan is trying to organise the sit-down with the superstar halfback as the Sharks ramp up their pursuit of his signature.

Cronk is yet to decide whether he will play on in 2018, but has committed to leaving Melbourne to move to Sydney.

If he does join Cronulla it will push James Maloney out, and he will likely end up at the Warriors or the Knights.

“Jimmy’s got a contract here and if something happens over the coming weeks then we’ll talk about it,” Flanagan told media on Thursday.

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“We’ve chatted with Jimmy and his focus is to have a good last seven weeks and get us into the semi finals.

“Nothing will be decided before the end of the year I wouldn’t think.”

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DCE’S CRACK AT MANLY STAFF

Manly captain Daly Cherry-Evans has taken a dig at the club’s staff for letting players answer questions about the NRL’s ongoing investigation.

With allegations of secret payments to players outside the salary cap being looked into by the governing body, the questions have come thick and fast for the Sea Eagles from the media.

Cherry-Evans used his press conference on Thursday to virtually accuse the club staff of letting players take the rap.

“It’s a shame because as far as I’ve been told we’re innocent, so this sort of speculation can really drag a club through the dirt,” Cherry-Evans said.

“If in the end we are proven to be innocent then the damage is already done.

“We’ll continue to do our job as players and try to win football games, and front office are going to make sure they do everything they can to get this club’s name cleared again.

“I guess as a club we probably make the same mistakes by having our players here having to talk about it ... I understand the allegations probably directly effect the players, but really I don’t think we should be standing here talking about it to be fair.

“I think people from the front office should be dealing with this in front of the cameras.”

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MINI’S BIG RAP FOR WATSON

Roosters legend Anthony Minichello has endorsed young gun Connor Watson to don the jersey Mini once wore.

Watson will play fullback for the Bondi boys in the absence of injured veteran Michael Gordon.

“He’s a guy that’s sort of a natural fullback,” Minichello told NRL Tonight.

“He’s been absolutely killing it in that position. He’s not that tall so we’ll see under the high ball tomorrow night.

“You’ve seen when he gets on the field, he’s got a lot of energy. His support play is fantastic, he can chime in in the backline and again in defence he probably has to concentrate a bit more.

“I think he’ll do really well.”

RAIDERS BANNER GOES MISSING

Canberra has appealed for the return of a banner after it was stolen from GIO Stadium.

The club took to Facebook to plea with the thief to return the club banner.