From Fox Sports (Hooper)
"No, it’s not Groundhog Day at the Cronulla Sharks. But here we are talking about the possible return of suspended head coach Shane Flanagan. Again.
We’ve said it before and we’ll reiterate it once more, the chances of the Sharks rolling out the red carpet for the return of Flanagan as head coach in 2022 are 100/1 and drifting.
The annual push for Flanagan to have his NRL head coaching ban reduced has been in full swing this week as the coach who ended the Sharks 50-year premiership drought ramps up the charm offensive for a return to the NRL.
We’ve heard Sharks powerbroker Steve Mace has given Flanagan a both barrels spray about driving the PR campaign.
We’ve also heard Mace personally telephoned current Sharks coach John Morris to tell “Bomber” the reports are way off.
This year will mark the third season Flanagan has been banned from holding a head coaching position in the NRL.
For all the accolades he’s earned for helping the Sharks turn the premiership porch lights off, there’s an argument he’s created just as many problems.
From the peptides to the salary cap punishments, it’s not great reading.
The NRL is still in possession of a list of suspicious payments outside of the Sharks salary cap which was personally sent to Flanagan’s work email.
Some of them were from 2016 – the year the Sharks beat Melbourne in the decider – but the NRL has ruled Cronulla was “salary cap compliant” on grand final day.
Even if Flanagan does decide to go down the road of lodging the paperwork to try and have his ban reduced the best he can expect is a couple of months shaved off. Maybe.
What Flanagan does enjoy is some seriously high profile support with the likes of Prime Minister Scott Morrison, NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller and media king pin Alan Jones all strongly pushing his case.
The most pressing question is which NRL club will be prepared to give him another crack?"
So you could say Flanno has Alan Jones behind him