JOHN Morris has aspirations of becoming an NRL coach.

But not even the injured Cronulla hooker would have imagined it could happen so soon.

Cronulla’s embattled season has degenerated into a unimaginable case of last man standing with Morris forced to take over coaching a spare-parts playing group after interim coach James Shepherd was unable to front training yesterday.

A virus, which swept through the club 48-hours prior to last Sunday’s narrow loss to New Zealand and resulted in captain Paul Gallen pulling out on the morning of the match after he lost 3kgs, resulted in both Shepherd and centre Ricky Leutele missing yesterday’s session.

media_camera John Morris helps James Shepherd at Cronulla Sharks training at Remondis Stadium. Pic Mark Evans

While both hope to back on deck today, the sight of Morris leading a Sharks squad made up of teenage rookies and part-time footballers through yesterday’s video session summed up the injury crisis that has rocked the wooden-spoon favourites.

SHARKS CRISIS Players Luke Lewis - season

Wade Graham - season

John Morris - season

Andrew Fifita - season

David Fifita - season

Soisaia Vave - season

Beau Ryan - season

Sam Tagataese - season (pending judiciary)

Bryce Gibbs - season

Eric Grothe Jr - season

Jacob Gagan - season

Todd Carney - sacked

Anthony Tupou - hamstring R24

Ricky Leutele - virus R24

Isaac De Gois - mid season to Parramatta

Nathan Stapleton - mid season to Roosters Coaches Shane Flanagan - suspended

Peter Sharp - quit

James Shepherd - virus

The Sharks will field one of the most inexperienced team’s in NRL history when they face Melbourne at AAMI Park on Saturday.

In total, 15 of the Sharks squad that began the 2014 season are unavailabe for selection.

11 of them, including representative forwards Luke Lewis, Andrew Fifita and Wade Graham, have been ruled out for the season with injury.

Joining them in the season-ending casualty ward are the likes of Morris, Beau Ryan, Bryce Gibbs, Jacob Gagan, Sosaia Vave, David Fifita and Eric Grothe Jr.

Sam Tagataese is also gone after he accepted a four-week suspension yesterday from a dangerous throw charge.

With Todd Carney sacked, rookie five-eighth Fa’amanu Brown has been thrust into the hot seat despite still being eligible for the under-20s.

Tim Robinson, who was playing off the bench in the NSW Cup a month ago, is now Cronulla’s first-choice front-rower.

Little-known forward Junior Roqica, who with Brown were also hit with the virus prior to playing the Warriors, only joined the full-time squad last month with this Saturday marking his third NRL match.

With Morris out of action and Isaac De Gois switching to Parramatta mid-season, hookers Pat Politoni and Michael Lichaa, who have played a total of 19 NRL matches combined, are now responsible for challenging Test and Storm captain Cameron Smith.

One saving grace for the Sharks is the return of Gallen, who resumed training yesterday for the first time since falling ill last Friday.

Sharks chief executive Steve Noyce said that despite the adversity facing the club, they weren’t about to wave the white flag.

media_camera James Shepherd, Interim Sharks Coach has been struck down with a virus

“The opposition (Melbourne) have no disposition towards feeling sorry for us or anything,’’ Noyce said.

“They’ll have 17 players wanting to win and we will too.

“It’s a case of one door closing and one door opening with some young men getting the opportunity and relishing the opportunity.

“You always want to win, but there was no disappointment with that effort (against the Warriors) and we need to build on that for the rest of this year to put some respectability back.’’