Official Craig Fitzgibbon

bort

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https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nr...WCj0gtaspxZ8M8LFebJLepxQ6EOqjQvFytpqP2oCjdZww

It’s official – Craig Fitzgibbon has put pen to paper on a three-year deal with the Cronulla Sharks and will join the Shire-based club once his commitments with the Sydney Roosters finish this season.
Fitzgibbon, who has been part of the Roosters past three premierships as the club’s assistant coach in 2013, 2018 and 2019, will link with the club where his father Allan coached from 1988 to 1991.

The deal is believed to be worth around the $1.5 million mark over the three season.

The next step for the Sharks will be resolving the immediate future of current head coach John Morris.

Cronulla CEO Dino Mezzatesta is currently in a meeting with Morris to inform the Sharks coach of the development and figure out the plan for the remainder of this season.

The Sharks have held emergency talks with Morris in the last 48 hours as the club attempts to resolve its current position.

Morris is furious at the way he’s been overlooked to continue coaching the side next season despite finishing inside the top eight in 2019 and 2020.

But the decision-makers at Cronulla are adamant they want to turn the club into a top four, genuine premiership-threat on a consistent year-in-year-out basis and as a result have decided to go in a different direction.

There have also been suggestions Morris has sent mixed messages between the NRL playing roster and Cronulla’s Football Committee which is responsible for handling the club’s top 30 NRL roster.

Aside from landing Fitzgibbon’s signature, the Sharks are also heavily in discussions with Penrith Panthers assistant coach Cameron Ciraldo to join the club as an assistant coach for next year.

Fitzgibbon won a premiership as a player with the Roosters in 2002 when he also collected the Clive Churchill Medal.

The champion backrower also played 19 Test matches for Australia and 11 State of Origin games for NSW.

During Trent Robinson’s first season as head coach at the Sydney Roosters in 2013, Fitzgibbon was responsible for the club’s famous “Great Wall of Bondi” defence.

The (current) worst kept secret in the NRL is apparently now confirmed with Fox reported Craig is signed. A risk to move to another rookie HC when Bomber has been at least solid, but hopefully a smart move!
 
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Chad ?
Is this correct ? ;)

I don't know anything anymore. Nothing is done officially these days and it's just open slather.
I'm old school and I just cringe when media outlets announce something before the clubs do.
I just don't think it's proper.

But like I said. What do I know?
 

Cage

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I don't know anything anymore. Nothing is done officially these days and it's just open slather.
I'm old school and I just cringe when media outlets announce something before the clubs do.
I just don't think it's proper.

But like I said. What do I know?

I'm with you Chad. How the hell can a media orginisation announce this before the club do?
It's just wrong.
 

Cage

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If this is actually true, the announcement has been very poorly handled by the club. Surely this news should have come from the club first. If it has come from Fitzgibbon or his management that is really disappointing. Who wants a coach that can't follow acceptable protocol.
 

bort

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If this is actually true, the announcement has been very poorly handled by the club. Surely this news should have come from the club first. If it has come from Fitzgibbon or his management that is really disappointing. Who wants a coach that can't follow acceptable protocol.

For all we know leaked by same Cronulla staffer as the McInnes and Bellamy stories, not blaming Craig just yet.

Could still wind up to be incorrect and we just delete thread but Fox are calling as done in a pretty convincing way so I went with it. More convincing than earlier efforts like "Cronulla are believed to have confirmed... may be an announcement confirming at in the future..."
 
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For all we know leaked by same Cronulla staffer as the McInnes and Bellamy stories, not blaming Craig just yet.

Could still wind up to be incorrect and we just delete thread but Fox are calling as done in a pretty convincing way so I went with it. More convincing than earlier efforts like "Cronulla are believed to have confirmed... may be an announcement confirming at in the future..."

What Cronulla Staffer leaked the McInnes and Bellamy stories. Pretty confident they didn't come out from us.
 
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If this is actually true, the announcement has been very poorly handled by the club. Surely this news should have come from the club first. If it has come from Fitzgibbon or his management that is really disappointing. Who wants a coach that can't follow acceptable protocol.

It's basically impossible to keep these things under wrap, particularly once it involves other clubs and the NRL registering the contract.
 
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We are what they have in common, who do you think leaked them?

Bellamy rumour was Bellamy confirming it wasn't it, then the club got ahead of it and confirmed it.

McInnes was because we had to submit the contract to the NRL, and McInnes no doubt told his Dragons team mates etc. Also that came out the same day.
 

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It’s a bit of a media beat up this whole thing. It’s not as bad as the way it is being portrayed. We haven’t sacked Morris, we just haven’t extended him. The board have every right to assess all options for next season and that’s what they have done.

You could argue Morris has been hard done by, however we don’t see everything the board probably see. They are doing what they think will set us up for sustained success and aiming high, nothing wrong with that.
 
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