Dec 17th, 2018

Dec 17th, 2018

The mail is that Shane Flanagan has coached his last game at Cronulla - if the NRL board suspend him when they meet today.

A disillusioned Flanagan said on the weekend that he is thinking of walking away from the game - but Wide World Of Sports is hearing the decision will be out of his hands.

Even if Flanagan is only given a 12-month ban from the game’s governing body, I’m being told that the Sharks are ready to cut ties with their premiership winning coach.

Flanagan managed to survive the peptides scandal that engulfed the club a few years back, but now faces charges that he communicated with club officials during his ban from the game at the time.

It was a clear flouting of the conditions of his suspension, and Sharks officials feel that it’s now time to look in a different direction, especially with the salary cap scandal also a dark cloud over their heads.

A host of names have been linked with the job, including St Helens coach Justin Holbrook and former Sharks utility John Morris, currently an assistant coach at the club.

The Cronulla Sharks won't back Shane Flanagan through a second ban. (AAP)

BIDDING STARTS FOR WIDDOP

Huddersfield’s Aussie coach Simon Woolford has fired the first salvo in the battle to sign Dragons superstar Gareth Widdop.

WWOS broke the story earlier this month that English-born Widdop is keen to finish his career in the UK.

Widdop has pledged his allegiance to the Dragons for next season - but is expected to pull up stumps and return home after that.

A frantic bidding war is certain to result, with Woolford and Huddersfield’s millionaire owner Ken Davy getting in early.

“We want him,” Woolford told WWOS.

“Gareth is a world-class player and we can pay him what he is worth. We will be making a move at the appropriate time.”

Super League clubs are chasing Dragons star Gareth Widdop. (AAP)

POMS UPSET AUSSIE SCHOOLBOYS

For much of their lifetime since they were formed in 1972, the Australian Schoolboys have been virtually unbeatable.

It took 10 years for them to lose their first match and in over four decades, they have beaten all comers.

The system produced some of the game’s biggest names including Greg Inglis, Brad Fittler, Greg Alexander, Craig Young, Danny Buderus, Les Boyd and Steve Menzies to name a few.

But in a major shock, England completed a 2-0 series win over the Australian Schoolboys in Leeds over the weekend.

Aussie scouts were at the game and there is already interest from NRL clubs in Wigan half Harry Smith and St Helens utility Jack Welsby, who scored two tries in the 18-6 win on Saturday.

LEAGUE'S FASTEST MAN EYES COMEBACK

The fastest man in league won’t be playing the game in 2019 - but look out when he does pull on the boots again - probably in 2020.

Speedster Sam Ross - younger brother of Knights star Nathan ‘The Rossdog’ - was in the Storm system two years ago but decided to concentrate on surf lifesaving.

He shone for Kurrawa Surf Club in the recent World Lifesaving Championships, starring as the beach relay team won the world title.

The 21-year-old winger makes Nathan look like a slouch and will look to return to league in the next 18 months or so.