Shane Flanagan re-signs with Cronulla Sharks
# EXCLUSIVE by David Riccio
# From: The Sunday Telegraph
# March 12, 2011 11:00PM
THE coaching merry-go-round will miss Cronulla this year, with rookie coach Shane Flanagan scoring a contract extension before the Sharks have kicked a ball in anger.
In a major boost to the club ahead of their opening round match against the Canberra Raiders in the national capital today, Flanagan has signed on for next season.
He originally accepted a one-year deal when he took over from Ricky Stuart, who quit the Cronulla Sharks with six weeks remaining last season.
Despite winning only two of those six matches, the Sharks board believes it saw enough in the NSW assistant during the off-season to extend his tenure despite the fact there could be as many as seven coaches off contract this year.
"I see it as a privilege to coach the Cronulla Sharks and I'm glad the board have shown some faith in me," Flanagan said. "It will allow me and the entire coaching staff to not only work with a clear focus this season, but plan for 2012 as well."
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Cronulla chairman Damian Irvine confirmed the club's decision to support Flanagan long-term, claiming the contract extension was pivotal to the club's bid to provide stability on and off the field.
"Shane came on under pretty tumultuous circumstances and the board felt that they would wait until the rest of last year just to let things settle down and to do some due diligence," Irvine said.
"We've done that and we're going to back him, and that is unanimous. No coach deserves all that speculation.
"The players need to know their coach is going to be there, so we thought 'let's get it out of the way now' so we can provide that stability.
"What we want to do is create solidarity and security among our playing group, our staff. The coach deserves to plan for the future and not worry that he may be gone after six weeks. It's a totally wrong way to do business."
The coaching situation is the biggest talking point in rugby league, with premiership-winning coaches Wayne Bennett and Tim Sheens leading a list of mentors who will be on the open market this season.
Bennett met with Dragons CEO Peter Doust last week, but he is said to be no closer to a decision on his future despite speculation he will join either the Broncos or South Sydney.
One coach under contract but facing pressure to save his job is Neil Henry at the Cowboys. However, he answered his critics in the best possible fashion on Friday night when North Queensland upset the Brisbane Broncos 16-14.
