Sharks face salary cap squeeze but refuse to release Morris
Sam Phillips
February 20, 2020 — 4.44pm
Josh Morris was told by Cronulla to "explore his options" along with Matt Prior and Josh Dugan last year as the Sharks try to sneak under the salary cap before June 30.
As it stands, the Sharks are salary cap compliant. But they are yet to complete their 30-man roster for the June 30 deadline, leaving them no choice but to sign a player in slots 27-30 on a deal worth $75,000 or a player in slots 1-26, which will require a deal worth at least $110,000.
When that player puts pen to paper on the bargain basement deal, Cronulla will tip over their cap - which has been reduced by
$350,000 for breaching the cap as far back as 2013.
That has left the club with no choice but to either shed a player or find a suitable trade before signing another.
It is also the reason Morris' agent David Riolo described his client's
release request being blocked as a "slap in the face".
"They have to move a player no matter what," Riolo said. "It was the Sharks that told us to have a look around at the same time they said that to Matty Prior and a couple of other boys the same thing.
"Then they turn around and deny it. It's a bit of a slap in the face."
While Morris will continue pushing for a release, when contacted on Thursday Riolo had not heard from Sharks management in the previous 48 hours.
The Sharks' reasoning behind their denial of Morris' request is two fold.
Firstly, he is on one of the best contracts in the NRL.
The veteran centre was consistently among Cronulla's best players in what was a disappointing season at the Sutherland Shire last year on a deal worth considerably less than Josh Dugan, whose future at the club remains murky due to a knee complaint. Dugan is believed to be on a deal near the $900,000 mark. That dwarfs the contract Morris is currently on.
Secondly, Dugan's knee injury and Matt Moylan's continual hamstring issues have left coach John Morris with little wiggle room in the outside backs.
With Dugan and Moylan sidelined Morris could start the season at fullback - a position he has not played since his debut season with the Dragons in 2007.
If he was to be released, Cronulla would be left scrambling to replace Dugan and Moylan.
While the Sharks hold firm on their desire to keep Morris for the season ahead, the NSW Origin representative has not waivered in his desire for a release from the Sharks in the days since returning from the NRL Nines in Perth.
The Roosters have been pushing to have Morris join the club before the start of the season but hope is beginning to fade, particularly while Moylan is sidelined.
