Cronulla Sharks snare Jonathan Wright from the Bulldogs

CRONULLA have snared promising Bulldogs outside back Jonathan Wright to replace retiring veteran Colin Best next year.

CRONULLA have snared promising Bulldogs outside back Jonathan Wright to replace retiring veteran Colin Best next year.

Snatching a spot on the wing for the Bulldogs this year, Wright has been signed by the Sharks following a series of impressive performances for the minor premiership-bound Bulldogs.

The Sharks have been on the hunt for outside backs and held talks with fellow Bulldog Bryson Goodwin and sacked South Sydney fullback James Roberts before snatching Wright.

Wright, who played with Parramatta before joining the Bulldogs, told his teammates that this season would be his last at the Bulldogs on Friday.

Cronulla are hoping to send Best out with a finals blast but must continue the form they showed last week - against Newcastle today - to keep their top-four hopes kicking.

The Sharks broke a losing streak with a 45-4 demolition of the Warriors in Auckland last Sunday. Flanagan said it was not so much a pressure-relieving victory as it was one which the Sharks simply had to win given their poor form leading into it.

"It had to happen, it was one of those games we had to win," he said. "We've got a few more of those in the next couple of weeks.

"To be able to go there under the pressure we were under, to bounce back from a couple of losses, was really important.

Forwards Bryce Gibbs (shoulder) and Wade Graham (sternum) could return from injury against the Knights. The coach is expecting to face a tough test in the middle with former Shark Kade Snowden leading the way. "We're not going to single Snowy out ... we'll show him due respect," Flanagan said.