‘It’s not clear’: Axed NRL coach John Morris tears up over Sharks farewell

Sacked NRL coach John Morris has broken down in tears hours after walking away from Sharks players with an emotional final speech.

John Morris still has some questions.

Former Sharks coach John Morris is still searching for answers after his shock axing from Cronulla, saying he’s still not clear on why he was sacked.

It was a question many fans have been asking after the coach was handed his marching orders on Tuesday night.

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Morris was stood down from the role as the side signed Roosters and NSW assistant coach Craig Fitzgibbon on a three-year deal.

Josh Hannay will become the Sharks’ caretaker coach.

Sharks players were reportedly informed of the news via text message.

But The Daily Telegraph revealed that Morris addressed the team one more time on Thursday, with Hannay reportedly inviting the former coach to speak to the players before they boarded a bus for Newcastle ahead of Friday’s game against the Knights.

“John got very emotional and so did a few of the players,” an official in the room told The Daily Telegraph. “Not necessarily about the manner in which he was sacked but the fact he was so attached to the younger players.

“He spoke beautifully and said he’d be cheering for them for the remainder of the season.”

But Morris broke his silence on the topic with Channel 9 News, with his voice cracking during the interview.

John Morris has plenty of questions after his sacking.

Morris said his family had taken it harder than he had.

“It is hard to come through the door and tell my boys I’m no longer the Sharks coach,” Morris said.

Morris previously worked as a player development and under-20s coach at the club before being promoted to the top job and helped develop many of the players who came through the system under his two-year tenure as the club’s head coach.

Morris said the shock sacking was brutal getting emotional when speaking about the club that let him go.

“It is quite devastating to be honest. It is quite surreal I didn’t think I would be in this position,” Morris said. “It is tough to take.

“I love this club and I have given the last 10 years of my life to the club and I had big plans for the club.”

When the news broke about Fitzgibbon and the Sharks last weekend, fans, players and even Morris’ mum expressed their shock over Morris’ treatment, particularly as he led the side to back-to-back finals campaigns under his mentorship and was praised for his management of a roster featuring players considered difficult personalities.

He also took over at the club after premiership coach Shane Flanagan was banned, having to manage with money off the salary cap.

On Sunday night, halfback Shaun Johnson said Morris “hasn’t had any control over the roster, he’s been in a situation where our cap has been shot the last couple of years and he’s made do with what he’s got”.

Morris had a meeting with Sharks powerbrokers on Monday where he was told he was still in the running,

John Morris’ sacking shocked the NRL.

Morris said that meeting was “encouraging” but he was terminated 24 hours later.

As for why, it’s a question Morris is still asking himself.

“It is not too clear to me at the moment,” Morris said.

“I asked questions around it, but I felt that the decision was made.

“It is disappointing, but I’ve got to move on now. I don’t want to be a distraction to the playing group.”

Since the reveal that Fitzgibbon was firming as coach of the Sharks, Morris has been tarred with the lack of success against top eight opponents as well as being accused of being unable to attract big name players.

NRL 360’s Paul Kent put the criticisms to Morris who said he had “no sole discretion” with his hands tied around big decisions.

But Morris is hoping he can take the lessons he learned at Cronulla into his next opportunity.

“I would have liked to have beaten a few more of those top eight teams of course I would,” Morris said.

“But I think that is an unfair criticism. We didn’t have a salary cap to go out into the market simple as that.

“I have learned a lot from this and hopefully I am a better person that will enable me to jump into my next opportunity whenever that comes up.”