IT’S not quite Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory but several Cronulla stars are poised to receive Shane Flanagan’s golden ticket.

In a bid to score more points and reignite the Sharks’ attack following the departure of Ben Barba last year and James Maloney this season, the new recruits will be given the opportunity to redefine their roles.

When Josh Dugan was signed on a lucrative $750,000 a season deal, it was without a specific position in mind.

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Round 19

Flanagan wasn’t signing a fullback or a centre. They were signing a world class footballer.

The same can be said for their latest recruit Matt Moylan.

On a deal worth around $900,000 a year and Moylan has been brought in to be a match winner.

The reality is both men are classy fullbacks but what about the incumbent Valentine Holmes?

Matt Moylan during Cronulla training. Source: News Corp Australia

While he ran riot on the wing for Australia during the World Cup, he wants to wear the No.1 and his pay slip matches his desire.

So how do you fit three fullbacks into your starting side?

That’s the question Shane Flanagan will answer in a few weeks when Cronulla start trialling in preparation for the new season.

“Val’s got the first crack at it,” Flanagan told foxsports.com.au.

“He’s been training there but both Josh Dugan and Matt Moylan can play there. It’s like every position in our squad, nothing is guaranteed.

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“But he’ll get first crack at it.”

After declaring Holmes will start the season in the custodians role, Dugan will start the year in the centres with Matt Moylan playing five-eighth but all three men will be given the freedom to roam the field.

What number Moylan wears was never an issue as it was for Dugan who hated the notion of being pidgin holed as any one position.

The former Red V star will tell you, the pitch from Flanagan was the reason he signed with the Sharks.

“I’ve gone (to the Sharks) as a world-class player,” Dugan revealed in May last year.

“That’s what Flanno’s told me. That’s all I wanted at the start — to be branded as that rather than a certain position.”

Should he be listed at centre on the team sheet, it’s little more than a number on the paper.

At least, that’s the plan.

In a strategy to help generate more points, the Sharks will let Moylan and Dugan roam the field in a bid to cause the opposition plenty of headaches.

Jayden Brailey and Josh Dugan at training. Source: News Corp Australia

“(Dugan) and Matt Moylan won’t be just slotting into a left or right edge,” Flanagan said.

“We need to get them right across the field and use their skill set. I don’t want them as a right centre or a left half.

“We want them to make sure we play both sides of the field and that’s the challenge I’ve got to happen in the off season and progress into the season.”

While the challenge of fitting three fullbacks into the side is one Flanagan has welcomed, it’s a necessity based on last season.

After Barba departed, their numbers dipped with Holmes in the No.1.

Barba had 10 more tries, 13 more try-assists and eight more line-breaks in their premiership season than Holmes did last year but his ball playing is something he’s working on.

Valentine Holmes makes a break. Source: News Corp Australia

“He’s shown some good signs and trying hard,” Flanagan said.

“He’s a young kid who knows if he’s got a weakness, he’ll work on it.”

“Everyone is different. We’re not trying to make Val into Ben Barba, that’s for sure. They’re completely different athletes. Benny Barba, to his credit, would never bring the ball back like Val does. Val brings it back and wants to run over people. We’re not trying to compare them.

“We’re just trying to develop Val who has a great skill set already, we’re trying to enhance that in some areas.”