How rookie Morris will handle Sharks' biggest egos

Rookie Cronulla coach John Morris holds no fears about keeping the club's biggest personalities in check as the Sharks continue to navigate off-field issues without a front-of-jersey sponsor.

Under-fire CEO Barry Russell prefaced Morris's unveiling as Cronulla's long-term head coach on Friday with "it's wonderful to be sitting here with some positive news finally", referencing the raft of controversies the club has endured in recent months.

As conjecture continues over Russell's own future, the Sharks are still awaiting findings from the NRL's salary cap probe that prompted a wider investigation of its finances, in turn leading to an $800,000 fine and Shane Flanagan's deregistration for breaching the terms of his 2014 ban from coaching.

With Opal Solar not renewing its option as front of jersey sponsor in 2019, Cronulla's major sponsorship properties remain unsold just six weeks out from season's kick-off.

Off-field incidents such as the expletive-laden podcast involving stars Andrew Fifita and Josh Dugan in August have been highlighted as unwanted contributors to the club's financial woes, with 38-year-old Morris vowing to get the best out of his squad on and off the paddock.

Morris, who played with several senior Sharks figures before he retired in 2014, conceded that his relationship with players would inevitably change as he transitions from assistant to head coach.

But having personally sought out premiership-winning skipper Paul Gallen to discuss where he stands with the playing group, Morris is confident he can pull the club's biggest names into line if needed.

"I go back to our values and who they are as people and I think they're professional and I've got that respect from them," Morris said.

"I've got strong and respectful relationships with them and I'll be open and honest with them.

"I think for me there will come times when I've got to make some tough decisions and as long as I'm always putting the team and the club first that's the way it will go.

"There's strong personalities in any team. But I think having that honest and open relationship helps in those situations.

"I spoke to Gal early on in the piece and I said 'if I've got 100 per cent support from the playing group, I've got no dramas doing it'."

Morris said he had received a congratulatory message from predecessor Flanagan, but has not spoken directly with him.

He also confirmed that one-time Bulldogs premiership winner and interim coach Jim Dymock would remain as assistant at Cronulla, with another potential offsider to be discussed with Russell in coming weeks.

Key on the new coach's agenda is ensuring the Sharks retain their brightest crop of juniors in years, with Morris having mentored Kyle Flanagan, Bronson Xerri, Jayden and Blayke Brailey through Cronulla's junior ranks.

While the Sharks have spent big in luring Shaun Johnson, Aaron Woods, Josh Morris, Matt Moylan and Dugan in the last two years, they have also seen the likes of Curtis Scott, Jesse Ramien, Jaeman Salmon and Jamayne Isaako find success after leaving The Shire.

"I'm really passionate about the kids we're bringing through. For me liking we lost a few too many last year," Morris said.

"The Jesse Ramiens and Edrick Lees, players like that but I understand it's a pretty volatile market out there too. Other clubs are coming pretty hard.

"But we have lost a lot of good young players that have come through our system. I think that's a reflection of the programs we've got in place.

"We've had some success with our junior elite pathways and we can't keep them all - Curtis Scott, Jamayne Isaako, Tyson Frizell, Tyrone Peachey - these players really excelled here and then other clubs have signed them.

"I'd love to keep them all and I'll be doing everything I can to make sure we retain our good locally produced talent."