Key members of Shane Flanagan’s 2016 premiership-winning squad have confirmed the former Cronulla Sharks head coach has been doing it tough since his deregistration by the NRL, but insist he can claw his way back to the top.

Michael Ennis and club captain Paul Gallen have been checking in with their former mentor since he was rubbed out of the game in December — pending a response to the NRL’s show-clause notice — and Ennis said his official resignation statement on Monday was reflective of the private conversations he’s had with those close to him.

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Round 19

In his joint statement with the Sharks, Flanagan said he and his family had been struggling mentally and emotionally, and he needed to step away to allow the club to move forward.

But Ennis doubts it will be the last the NRL sees of Cronulla’s long-time clipboard-holder.

“Knowing Shane, and being in contact with him over the last few months, it certainly was exactly on point what he said in his statement today — that it has taken a huge toll on him, both mentally and physically, and also on his family,” he told Fox Sports News.

“I’d imagine that he’d take some time away from the game, but I don’t think… if Shane Flanagan is allowed to coach again, then I would imagine we’ll see him back at some stage in the future.”

He added it would be a huge loss for the game if he was banned for good.

“I thought it was a really brave decision by Flanno... while he’s certainly parted ways with the Cronulla Sharks I dare say he’s not finished with the NRL,” he continued.

“I get the feeling that behind the scenes there’s going to be a lot of discussion between Shane Flanagan and this ruling with the NRL and in particular Todd Greenberg — so I think that will unfold in the coming months.

“I think that passion that he has as a coach, he was a wonderful coach... I think that will reignite at some stage and I think that the ability that he has to coach will be too wasted if he doesn’t come back and become a coach at some stage down the track.”

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After speaking with Flanagan on Monday, Gallen told Triple M he’d “fallen on his sword” to allow interim coach John Morris and the squad to enjoy a distraction-free run up to the start of the 2019 season.

Gallen has also thrown his support behind Morris to be promoted to head coach, as speculation about Flanagan’s long-term replacement heats up.

“That’s going to be a decision — and I suppose it’ll be spoken about pretty regularly for the next couple weeks — and obviously the board will make a decision on that going forward,” he said.

“But I’ve got to give ‘Bomber’ [Morris] a lot of credit so far, he’s been really, really good. He hasn’t missed a beat at training. The attitude of the players has been really good and the attitude of Johnny Morris has been great.”

Ennis also threw up current Warrington head coach Steve Price and Panthers discard Anthony Griffin as potential replacements.