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CRONULLA coach Shane Flanagan by his own admission has rarely lost a player he has wanted to keep.
But that changed when Jack Bird dropped the bombshell he was defecting to Brisbane.
The Sharks are in a precarious long-term position with their premiership-winning team already on the verge of being torn apart, less than 12 months after their grand final win over Melbourne.
Just seven players from the club’s historic victory are contracted at the club for next season.
LOCKYER: Bird is Broncos-type player
LEADER: Why Cordner must captain Blues
Bird joins the likes of Ben Barba and Michael Ennis out the door while the likes of Chad Townsend, Paul Gallen, Luke Lewis and Chris Heighington face uncertain futures.
On Townsend, Flanagan is confident the local junior will commit to the club after tabling a multi-year deal recently but the ageing forwards add another dynamic to Cronulla’s make-up for next season and beyond.
The Sharks premiership squad is starting to be carved up.
Lewis, 33, has indicated he wants to play on while Gallen, 35, and Heighington, 34, are tossing up their futures.
Flanagan won’t put a deadline on the trio — adamant Gallen could commit to the club as late as November and he would find space for their skipper.
“They won’t make a decision until the end of the year,” Flanagan said. “I know their emotions and feelings about playing again next year will change all over the year. They will have moments like they have right now where they are feeling really good, fit and healthy and we’re winning.
“There are times in the middle of winter that things aren’t as rosy and they’ve got bumps and bruises. We’ll wait until the end of season.
“They are not demanding they were previously so we’ll be able to look after them.”
The Sharks staved off rivals to re-sign Valentine Holmes, Matt Prior and Wade Graham earlier this year while representative stars James Maloney and Andrew Fifita are off contract at the end of next year and demand upgrades.
Gerard Beale and Sam Tagataese are the other off-contract players from last year’s premiership success.
“I’m trying to get that grand final side done,” Flanagan said. “We’re very close. There is an offer out there for Chad and I’d like to think we’d get that done. Those numbers (of seven grand final players on the books) are swayed a little bit because we’ve got some senior players there that will make a decisions at the end of the year. That goes from seven to 10 real quickly.
“Winning a competition creates some issues around the salary cap. All the players are worth more on the open market.”
Flanagan said the Sharks had “pencilled” Bird to be part of their side beyond this year. Bird’s defection was a rare loss for Flanagan who has prided himself on attracting and keeping players.
“It’s disappointing but life goes on,” Flanagan said. “In the end it’s probably about money. It’s a decision Jack struggled with. It didn’t go our way but we will move on as a club.
Bird had a significant role in the Sharks future plans.
“He is still here this year and an important part of our club, played a big part of our club winning the first grand final. There is that bond we have with that type of player.
“We put a really good contract to him but we couldn’t match the Broncos deal. It’s been a relief for Jack to get it over and done with.
“Even some tension around the group — some jokes and stuff around what he was doing. That’s all stopped now. We can just focus on the year ahead.”
Flanagan will meet his recruitment staff this week after taking some time to digest Bird’s defection. An edge back-rower and a strike outside back are on Flanagan’s shopping list, provided Townsend re-signs.
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...d/news-story/9a41a282e47f9d1841f5879668a5de0f
But that changed when Jack Bird dropped the bombshell he was defecting to Brisbane.
The Sharks are in a precarious long-term position with their premiership-winning team already on the verge of being torn apart, less than 12 months after their grand final win over Melbourne.
Just seven players from the club’s historic victory are contracted at the club for next season.
LOCKYER: Bird is Broncos-type player
LEADER: Why Cordner must captain Blues
Bird joins the likes of Ben Barba and Michael Ennis out the door while the likes of Chad Townsend, Paul Gallen, Luke Lewis and Chris Heighington face uncertain futures.
On Townsend, Flanagan is confident the local junior will commit to the club after tabling a multi-year deal recently but the ageing forwards add another dynamic to Cronulla’s make-up for next season and beyond.
The Sharks premiership squad is starting to be carved up.
Lewis, 33, has indicated he wants to play on while Gallen, 35, and Heighington, 34, are tossing up their futures.
Flanagan won’t put a deadline on the trio — adamant Gallen could commit to the club as late as November and he would find space for their skipper.
“They won’t make a decision until the end of the year,” Flanagan said. “I know their emotions and feelings about playing again next year will change all over the year. They will have moments like they have right now where they are feeling really good, fit and healthy and we’re winning.
“There are times in the middle of winter that things aren’t as rosy and they’ve got bumps and bruises. We’ll wait until the end of season.
“They are not demanding they were previously so we’ll be able to look after them.”
The Sharks staved off rivals to re-sign Valentine Holmes, Matt Prior and Wade Graham earlier this year while representative stars James Maloney and Andrew Fifita are off contract at the end of next year and demand upgrades.
Gerard Beale and Sam Tagataese are the other off-contract players from last year’s premiership success.
“I’m trying to get that grand final side done,” Flanagan said. “We’re very close. There is an offer out there for Chad and I’d like to think we’d get that done. Those numbers (of seven grand final players on the books) are swayed a little bit because we’ve got some senior players there that will make a decisions at the end of the year. That goes from seven to 10 real quickly.
“Winning a competition creates some issues around the salary cap. All the players are worth more on the open market.”
Flanagan said the Sharks had “pencilled” Bird to be part of their side beyond this year. Bird’s defection was a rare loss for Flanagan who has prided himself on attracting and keeping players.
“It’s disappointing but life goes on,” Flanagan said. “In the end it’s probably about money. It’s a decision Jack struggled with. It didn’t go our way but we will move on as a club.
Bird had a significant role in the Sharks future plans.
“He is still here this year and an important part of our club, played a big part of our club winning the first grand final. There is that bond we have with that type of player.
“We put a really good contract to him but we couldn’t match the Broncos deal. It’s been a relief for Jack to get it over and done with.
“Even some tension around the group — some jokes and stuff around what he was doing. That’s all stopped now. We can just focus on the year ahead.”
Flanagan will meet his recruitment staff this week after taking some time to digest Bird’s defection. An edge back-rower and a strike outside back are on Flanagan’s shopping list, provided Townsend re-signs.
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...d/news-story/9a41a282e47f9d1841f5879668a5de0f
