Barrett is on the top of a shortlist that also includes St Helens mentor Justin Holbrook and another Australian plying his trade in the Super League, former Dragons head coach Steve Price. Price has previously coached at the Sharks as an assistant, while Holbrook has made an impression here and overseas after also transitioning from the playing to coaching ranks. Loading However, Barrett is considered the early favourite if Flanagan is prevented from seeing out the last year of his contract. The former NSW and Australian five-eighth spent two seasons in the Sutherland Shire, making 36 of his 295 NRL appearances in the black, white and blue. The 41-year-old is managed by Wayne Beavis, the same agent who looks after Flanagan. Former premiership-winning Shark Luke Lewis backed John Morris to take over if a new coach is required. Morris took the Sharks NYC team to the minor premiership in 2017 before he came on board as a Flanagan assistant last year. While a big fan of established assistant Jim Dymock, as well Price, Lewis declared Morris more than ready. "He knows the game like the back of his hand, he's very smart and he knows the boys really well,'' Lewis told the Herald.

"He knows the values we're about, he knows the game plan, he'd be the perfect man for the job.

"He also has a good working relationship with Jim Dymock. "He's ready for it. He's been in the Under-20s system, he's been in the first-grade system, he's played first grade, he knows what it takes to be at your best, he loves footy and understands the boys.

"If the opportunity came he's take it with both hands and shine." Shane Flanagan is awaiting the verdict of the ARL Commission. Credit:John Veage Another Cronulla favourite, Bryce Gibbs, backed Morris and said on social media: "Flanagan gone? Bring in John Morris for the yr, the bloke is a super coach in the future!" Flanagan was only allowed to return to the game on the proviso he didn’t breach the terms of his suspension over the supplements scandal. However, the NRL integrity unit, during the course of its probe into salary cap irregularities, has allegedly found evidence of him making contact with club officials over matters such as recruitment and retention.

Loading It means the Sharks face the prospect of coughing up the $400,000 that was suspended from their original $1 million fine. Russell refused to buy into speculation over Flanagan’s future, saying he would continue in the role. “What I can say is that Shane Flanagan is our coach, he is contracted for 2019, he’s done a wonderful job and he will continue to coach the team,” Russell said. “It will be training and business as usual for us.