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Craig Fitzgibbon has all-but agreed to coach the Cronulla Sharks in 2022, waiting on a commitment from the club in regards to his coaching staff for next season.
The Herald understands Fitzgibbon notified the Sydney Roosters of his intention to take up the role with Cronulla from next season and will sign a three-year deal worth between $1.5m -$1.8m.
Craig Fitzgibbon is set to coach the Sharks in 2022.CREDIT:NRL PHOTOS
Sharks coach John Morris has had several approaches for an extension knocked back by the club, who look set to move in a different direction at the end of the year and potentially earlier if some at the club get their way.
Fitzgibbon, a Roosters life member, turned down approaches from the New Zealand Warriors and St George Illawarra Dragons last year after promising Trent Robinson and Nick Politis that he would not leave his role as the club’s assistant coach before the end of the 2022 season.
Fitzgibbon, who lives in Gerringong on NSW’s south coast, now wants a commitment from the Sharks that he will be given complete autonomy over the make up of his staff before putting pen to paper. He also wants to meet face-to-face with Sharks officials before inking the deal.
Fitzgibbon’s manager David Riolo has been in discussions with the Sharks for the past four months. Fitzgibbon notified senior Roosters officials of his desire to sign with Cronulla over the past 48 hours.
The former Dragons and Roosters backrower has been doing his homework on the club in recent months, including the systems around the club’s junior pathways and lower grade talent and believes it is the right job to start his career as a head coach.
It had been reported that the Sharks have given Morris until round eight or nine before determining his future, however it appears the club has known for months that it will not extend the coach’s tenure despite back-to-back finals appearances in his first two seasons as an NRL coach.
Had the Sharks informed Morris that they would not be extending his contract, they would have had to pay him out and find another coach for 12 months if he pulled the pin.
Some at the club hope Morris will continue until the end of the season to avoid a messy break-up as they look to bounce back from a heart-breaking loss to the Roosters at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Saturday night. However there are also others who believe the club should consider parting ways with Morris immediately.
Morris is the lowest paid coach in the NRL on a deal worth around $350,000 a season, with Fitzgibbon paid around $300,000 as the highest paid assistant coach in the NRL for his role at the Roosters.
The Sharks have refused to enter talks with a number of off-contract players, including Shaun Johnson, Aaron Woods, Matt Moylan and Josh Dugan as they decide on who will lead the club over the next few seasons.
Fitzgibbon is regarded alongside Penrith assistant coach Cameron Ciraldo as the best young assistants in the game, proving themselves as the defensive coaches of the Sydney Roosters and Penrith Panthers respectively.
https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/cr...o-coach-cronulla-in-2022-20210411-p57i82.html
