Cronulla Shark Faces May Cost Club Adam Reynolds

Cronulla were in the box seat to sign Adam Reynolds a month ago - but the club's woeful fall from grace since sacking coach John Morris has all but cost them the star halfback. Reynolds wants to stay in Sydney and the Sharks, who have already lost Chad Townsend (Cowboys) and may also lose Shaun Johnson, seemed the perfect fit. But in the four games since management inexplicably sent Morris packing, they have conceded 126 points, losing all four. The club is now out of finals contention, morale is shot to pieces and the administration of the Sharks in shambles. A source close to Reynolds tells me all this has put him off the club, with the Broncos now hot favourites to gain his services.

Sharks Dodgy Deception in Morris Axing

Among the many lies the Sharks told John Morris when he met the board last Monday was that they hadn't even spoken to any other prospective coaches. Morris left the meeting with his tyres pumped up, with the board saying he had given an excellent presentation and was well placed to take up the third year of his contract. Yet within 24 hours, he was out the door - with Roosters assistant Craig Fitzgibbon handed the reins for 2021. It's Cronulla's right to sack their coach - but the underhanded way they did it was appalling and I've heard of several loyal fans handing back their memberships in disgust.

John Morris opens up on Sharks sacking

John Morris has fought tears while speaking publicly for the first time since being sacked as the Cronulla Sharks coach. Morris' future was officially confirmed on Tuesday after Cronulla ended a protracted coaching saga by signing Roosters assistant Craig Fitzgibbon to a three-year deal to lead the team from next season onward. But the Sharks' decision to part way with Morris was met with a wave of criticism from many pundits, including club legend Paul Gallen, who admitted Cronulla made a "harsh" decision to not allow Morris to see out the season. While he was clearly crestfallen by the Sharks' cut-throat call himself, Morris admitted it's his family that has been affected most by his sacking. "They're (Morris' family) the ones who do it tougher than me," he told Nine News Sydney. "It's hard to come through the doors and tell my boys I'm no longer the Sharks' coach. "It's quite devastating, to be honest. It's surreal, I didn't think I would be in this position. "It's tough to take. I love this club, I've given the past 10 years of my life to the club. I had big plans for the club." "The door was left open [after the meeting]," he added. "I don't want to question the club on what happened. Within 24 hours of that, I was terminated." "I'm certainly not a quitter, I wasn't going to quit on this playing group and I said as such to the boys on Monday morning that I'm here for the long haul." However, Morris revealed he wasn't informed exactly why the club decided to move on from him despite even asking questions surrounding their decision. "It's not too clear with me at the moment," the former Sharks coach revealed. "I asked questions around it, but I felt the decision was made."

Morris' mum hits out at Sharks treatment

Sacked Cronulla coach John Morris' mum has hit out at the club, claiming her son doesn't understand why he can't coach out the NRL season. Morris' axing on Tuesday was one of the most callous in years, after the club opted for Craig Fitzgibbon despite Morris making the finals in both his seasons at the helm. The 40-year-old's exit came with immediate effect, with assistant Josh Hannay to take over as a caretaker when players return to training on Thursday. But after Morris' players were only told of the news via text message on Tuesday night, his mother Sharyn launched a brutal Facebook post against management. "My heart breaks for my son, the coach. So dedicated, so loyal. So disgusted that he was treated so badly by the board," Sharyn Morris wrote. "Even though he knew they weren't re-signing him, he wanted to finish out his contract. "He loves his players and staff. His only question - why? They couldn't answer him." Morris' mother also called for members to vote out the board at the club's next election, calling for former chief executive Barry Russell's return. "Fans get to know your board. They are deceitful liars. 24 hours they said 'no deal has been done'. "You have the power but must be financial members for three years before you can vote. "Vote them out and bring back Barry Russell, a true loyal Sharks man."

Sharks' big-team battle not mental: Morris

John Morris insists Cronulla have not lost the confidence to beat the big teams despite the Sharks' late capitulation to the Sydney Roosters. Cronulla's record against top-eight sides is well publicised, having not claimed a big scalp since August 2019 even while making last year's finals. The Sharks led 18-4 against the Roosters on Saturday night before falling over, in a cruel hit to Morris as he fights to earn another contract at the club. "We don't talk about it at all. You guys only talk about the (Sharks' record against) bigger teams," Morris said. "There are a lots of other teams in the competition who have struggles beating the teams at the top. "The Roosters are a quality outfit, they have quality players right through that team. "I don't think it's a mental game with how we played at the back of that game. "I know they had players out but we had more adversity today, we lost Wade Graham and Josh Dugan (to concussions)." "We just can't get through a game of footy without losing anyone," Morris said. "But that's 2021, you have to be good at adjusting and adapting ... "(Wade) seemed okay with how he was talking to the team then. But he copped a fair whack. "Duges was assessed at halftime and was struggling as well. It's not great on that front, we'll have to see how they go during the week."

Sharks Chair wants 'High-Profile' Coach

So what is behind Cronulla's continued reluctance to re-sign coach John Morris? The Sharks have been playing good footy - and that's despite missing their main man Shaun Johnson and plenty of other players. Their roster is hardly star packed - yet Morris has guided them to the finals two years running and is on track to make it three from three. I'm hearing the problem is chairman Steven Mace - he wants a high-profile coach to boost the club's ability to sign big names. Morris is the lowest paid coach in the NRL but what Mace fails to realise is that he has no problem attracting star power - Johnson being one example - because players from rival clubs talk to one another. Sharks players have told rival stars that Morris is a good man who will go into bat for them - and that's something any prospective employee wants to hear.