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NRL 2020: Under-fire Cronulla coach John Morris gets backing from senior Sharks
With just one win from five games this season, Cronulla’s John Morris has been forced to defend his position - but he certainly hasn’t lost the support of the playing group.
David Riccio, The Sunday Telegraph
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June 17, 2020 1:59pm
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Sharks leaders Chad Townsend and Andrew Fifita have moved to scupper any pressure on John Morris by declaring the head coach has the playing group’s full support.
In the midst of a turbulent 18-months to start his career as a head coach, Morris’ Sharks are currently 13th on the NRL ladder and facing a must-win clash with 15th-placed Canterbury on Sunday at Bankwest Stadium.
With just one win from five games this season, Morris has been forced to defend his position amid speculation over his future and with Cronulla’s finals hopes on the verge of slipping away.
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Sharks coach John Morris is feeling the heat at Cronulla. Picture: Getty
But premiership-players Townsend and Fifita said the onus and pressure fell back onto the entire playing group and that the only way to silence the speculation surrounding their coach was by beating the Bulldogs.
“Bomber (Morris) is doing a great job with some of the adversity that he’s faced in his first year and a half as coach,’’ Townsend said on Wednesday.
“I speak as a senior player here at the Sharks, we fully support Bomber and what he’s been doing and the things that he’s been implementing.
“He’s not the one out there playing the game. He’s given us every chance to play well and is preparing us really well, so we support him 100 per cent.”
Morris has had to endure a rocky period which included the Bronson Xerri drugs scandal. Photographer: Adam Yip
Asked if Townsend felt the players had extra motivation to ease the pressure on their coach, the Sharks halfback said: “We need to take the pressure off everyone, we’re all under pressure at the moment.
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“We’re not getting the results that we need too and I truly believe we’re doing it to ourselves.
“We’re the most ill-disciplined team in the competition.
“We have the lowest completion rate in the competition and those two areas are what we’re doing to ourselves.’’
Despite the noticeable dent the loss of Matt Prior (UK), Josh Morris (Roosters) and Bronson Xerri (suspension) has had on the Sharks, Fifita said he believed the squad was capable of performing under Morris.
“I know we’ve got the squad to do what we can and we stand by Bomber (Morris) no matter what,’’ Fifita said.
“For us down here, we’re tight-knit, we’re all-in-all.
“We know the only way we can help the club out in general is just win.’’
