Smith will stay a Shark: Flanagan
Cronulla coach Shane Flanagan has a simple message for St George Illawarra boss Peter Doust - youre not getting Jeremy Smith back in the Red V.
Flanagan yesterday cleared up any uncertainty over the future of gun forward Smith, admitting Id have rocks in my head to release the Kiwi international.
Recent speculation has suggested the Sharks were keen to offload Smith to his former club in a bid to squeeze Penriths Luke Lewis into their 2013 line-up.
But Flanagan confirmed to the Mercury he has plans to facilitate room for both players.
One hundred per cent - Jeremy Smith will not be going to the Dragons, Flanagan said.
Consistently, hes been our best player, hes on contract until next year - Id have to have rocks in my head.
Its absolutely ludicrous that we would let him go.
Smith, through the Sharks media department, declined an interview request yesterday.
The Sharks are one of 13 clubs chasing Lewis services next year - a list which at this stage does not include the Dragons - after the Test and Origin star sought an early release from Penrith.
Smith turns 33 next week, and is said to be tired with his daily commute from Wollongong, where he still lives.
But Flanagan rejected suggestions he would be sacrificed for Lewis.
Its about having quality players in your roster and my goal is to get to six representative players in our squad, Flanagan said.
Weve got three at the moment - Jeremy Smith, Paul Gallen and Todd Carney - my goal, preferably, is to get another three ... to really be a force for the next couple of years.
Theres no designated number - just over the next six to 12 months Id like to have at least six rep players in my squad.
Flanagans ambitious plan raises doubt over whether the Sharks will have enough space in their salary cap to accommodate Lewis and their present fleet of marquee names.
The cap will be extended from $4.3 million to at least $5 million next year under the windfall of an anticipated $1 billion-plus broadcast deal.
Even so, Lewis comes with a price tag of $500,000 a season, while the Sharks have to keep in mind Smiths contract (around $300,000 a season), Paul Gallen, re-signed forward Wade Graham, Michael Gordon and Anthony Tupou.
Reformed five-eighth Todd Carney is also due for a $300,000 increase on his annual earnings, after Cronulla picked him up at the end of last year on a lowly incentive-based contract of $200,000.
Lewis manager, Greg Willett, said the Sharks and the Tigers were among those in the race for the Test and Origin regular, but neither was yet to formally table an offer.
The situation still remains the same - the only clubs Im yet to hear from are the Dragons, the Broncos and the Cowboys, he said.
No-ones done anything more because I havent been around and I dont want to be under-dealing [Penrith boss] Phil Gould or anyone else - theyve all been really good about this.
All of that will begin to happen when I sit down with Luke again.
Despite his interest, Flanagan was reticent to spell out how Lewis would feature in the Sharks pack.
I havent even gone down that path yet, he said.Gals going towards the front row and if we were to go towards Lewis, its not for Jeremy, its just to add depth to my squad.
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