NRL grand final 2016: Sharks coach Shane Flanagan steeled by ASADA ban

CRONULLA coach Shane Flanagan claims the pain of the ASADA doping scandal only steeled his desire to bring success to the Sharks.

CRONULLA coach Shane Flanagan claims the pain of the ASADA doping scandal only steeled his desire to bring success to the Sharks.

Flanagan must outsmart Storm rival Craig Bellamy on Sunday night, but that challenge is far less daunting than the trauma of his temporary banishment from the NRL.

The Sharks mentor was slapped with a 12-month ban in 2014 after the NRL claimed he failed to protect Sharks players from the infamous peptide regimen three years earlier.

Flanagan was not allowed near Shark Park, the club’s gymnasium or other facilities.

During his time in NRL exile, assistants Peter Sharp and James Shepherd took control of the Sharks for the 2014 season.

There were fears Flanagan would not coach in the NRL again but the 50-year-old said he was motivated by one of rugby league’s biggest scandals.

Sharks coach Shane Flanagan was motivated by his ASADA ban. Picture: Gregg Porteous

“I knew I could do it, I knew I could rebuild the club again,” Flanagan said.

“To be honest, I didn’t ever want to be in the dark place I was and we all know what happened a few years ago (the ASADA affair).

“But I had to move on eventually and prove to everyone what I was about as a coach. I knew this Cronulla club is a great club.

“We stuff up every now and again, like any football club, but there is a good heart at this club. It doesn’t always get reported but we do some amazing things on and off the field for community and sick kids.’’

Flanagan, the former Dragons, Wests and Eels hooker, has almost two decades of coaching experience after starting with Parramatta’s SG Ball side in 1997.

He coached the Australian Schoolboys and was an assistant to Bellamy as NSW Origin coach between 2007-10.

Shane Flanagan runs the show at Sharks training. Picture: Gregg Porteous

“I have been lucky to win some lower grade titles at Parramatta and the Roosters but as an NRL coach this is what you get up every morning for,” Flanagan said.

“When they blew the hooter (after Friday’s preliminary final defeat of the Cowboys), I went a little bit numb. A lot of things went through my mind about getting the week right.

“I have outstanding physical performance staff and the club is in great shape.”

Sharks skipper Paul Gallen praised Flanagan’s character and passion for the club during his 12-month suspension.

“He was obviously out for a long time as well, longer than us,” Gallen said.

“The way that he came back and put a good squad together at the start of last year, and coached us and has been there for a lot of us, he’s done a really, really good job.

‘‘He’s got some good people around him to help him and he’s done a great job in assembling the squad.’’