SHANE Flanagan has penned an emotional open letter to Cronulla’s fanbase apologising for his press conference outburst following the Sharks’ elimination at the hands of the Cowboys.

The NRL hit Flanagan with a $30,000 fine for his extraordinary attack on the officiating, with the premiership coach taking in a piece of paper specifically questioning seven decisions that went against his side that he blamed for their elimination in extra-time.

It was a staggering display and earned Flanagan — along with Manly coach Trent Barrett, who was also filthy with the officiating in Manly’s loss to Penrith — a stern rebuke from NRL boss Todd Greenberg who warned the pair and their coaching colleagues to “grow up” and stop shifting blame after losses in big games.

That message initially fell on deaf ears in the Shire, with Flanagan doubling down on his defiant stance against NRL House, vowing to fight the fine and describing the sanction as “ridiculous”.

“I’ve got to stand up for this club and the game,” Flanagan told 9 News last week.

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“My sponsors, my supporters of this club want me to stand up, and my playing group.

“We just question the decisions and I think I’ve got the right to do that.

“Does that damage grassroots? Is that disrespecting referees? Not in my view.”

After cooling off for the best part of a week, Flanagan changed his tune in the open letter published on Cronulla’s website and directed at the club’s fans.

“We all know what happened after the loss to the Cowboys. In the post-match press conference, I was asked about the performance of the match officials,” Flanagan wrote.

“As it stands, our club has been hit with a $30,000 breach notice for my response.

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“I owe you an apology. I owe the game an apology. I’m sorry for the way I reacted.

“I’m writing this note to you because I reckon if you support this great club, you’d know the type of person I am.

“If I believe in something, I very rarely keep that belief secret.

“My answers in that press conference were born out of honesty and the disappointment of a shattered dressing room.

“Again, if only I had a camera in our dressing room after that loss. I promise you that cold silence of defeat will drive us over summer.

“And so I guess, I took all that emotion into that press conference. I know that doesn’t make it right though, does it.

“In 157 games as head coach of Cronulla, I’ve never been hit with a breach notice by the NRL for disrespecting our referees.

“Our club prides itself on working extremely hard in all areas of rugby league, including grassroots and particularly with match officials.

“I would like to think one of the major reasons why our club was named Club Champions this year, was because of the decision by our club several years ago to invest in grassroots.

“What I need to do is learn from my mistake to ensure it doesn’t happen again.”

As well as admitting to an error in judgement in the way he conducted himself in that press conference, Flanagan also conceded his side had lost its chance of back-to-back premierships for other reasons that had nothing to do with the officiating.

Citing “discipline and attention to detail” as key failings, Flanagan said he understood his side hadn’t been good enough often enough.

“Lifting the 2016 NRL premiership trophy delivered you and our club its greatest memories,” Flanagan wrote.

“As a professional sporting organisation, I’ll defy anyone who suggests our 2017 squad lacked the desire, to experience rugby league’s greatest-high again.

“But desire is only one contributing factor towards success.

“And you know it as much as I do, discipline and attention to detail, is equally as important.

“And in 2017, we were nowhere near the standard required to be challenging for this year’s premiership.

“In the end, that’s what cruelled us against the Cowboys.

“Our discipline and errors — particularly in possession — wasn’t good enough and in the biggest game of the season, we were found wanting.”

To read Flanagan’s open letter in full, click here.