[FONT="][h=1]Tim Sheens won’t be Cronulla Sharks next general manager[/h][COLOR=var(--emphasis-color)][FONT=var(--sub-font-family)]DAVID RICCIOTHE DAILY TELEGRAPH[/FONT] [FONT=var(--sub-font-family)]APRIL 17, 2019[/FONT][/FONT][/COLOR]
Tim Sheens has missed out on an interview with the Cronulla Sharks as they look to appoint the “final piece” of their leadership makeover.
Commencing interviews for a new general manager of football this week, the Sharks had been linked to Sheens, the former four-time premiership-winning coach.
However, [COLOR=var(--emphasis-color)]The Daily Telegraph[/COLOR] has learned Sheens has failed to make the short-list of candidates with the club focused on appointing an experienced head of football similar to that of Frank Ponissi at the Melbourne Storm, Peter Parr at the North Queensland Cowboys or Shane Richardson at South Sydney.
The role includes a vast understanding of salary cap and contracts, recruitment and retention, elite pathway programs, player discipline and who can offer support to Cronulla head coach John Morris.
Gold Coast Titans head of football Phil Moss, NSWRL chief operations officer Stuart Clark and RLPA operations manager Paul Massey have all been linked to the Sharks.
The appointment of a new head of football for Cronulla is paramount to the club’s necessary governance overhaul in the wake of a disastrous 2018 which included mass-salary cap fines, sponsorship upheaval and the resignation of grand final winning coach Shane Flanagan
Following the appointment of Morris in January, the Sharks have elected a new board of directors, accrued long-term sponsors, while last week the club appointed Richard Munro as CEO, replacing Barry Russell.
Morris described the appointment of the new head of football as critical to the club’s success.
“The way I view that head of football role is that there’s a cohesive relationship with the head coach and the club’s board and administration,’’ Morris said.
“It’s a vast role that oversees a lot of key areas of the football department which then allows me to go out and coach the NRL team with an acute focus.
“I look forward to working with who the board believes is the right person for the job.’’
While the Sharks are slowly getting their house in order off the field, it’s at PointsBet Stadium against Penrith which becomes the immediate focus.
Both the Sharks and Panthers are desperate for victories after inconsistent starts to the 2019 season.
Penrith are attempting to avoid back-to-back losses, while Cronulla will need to snap a two-game losing run.
John Morris knows Penrith are just as desperate as his own side. Image: Toby Zerna
In a major boost for the Sharks, experienced forward leaders Andrew Fifita (hamstring) and captain Paul Gallen (ribs) are expected to play.
“He (Fifita) got through most of the session,” Sharks coach John Morris said.
“We’re pretty confident he’ll take the field, we just need to make an educated call in the morning.
“Both teams obviously want to get these two points on offer.
“These games between Sharks and Panthers are always big games and for some reason they always go down to the wire.
[FONT="]“I want an 80-minute effort from the boys and I’m confident Sharks fans will get that.’’[/FONT]
