Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy throws support behind Sharks coach Shane Flanagan

STORM coach Craig Bellamy labelled the situation facing embattled NRL club Cronulla "dire" but he threw his support behind Sharks coach Shane Flanagan.

NSW

MELBOURNE Storm coach Craig Bellamy labelled the situation facing embattled NRL club Cronulla "dire" but he threw his support behind Sharks coach Shane Flanagan.

There was little noise coming out of the Sharks today amid reports 14 players could be forced to stand down for six months because links to the use of performance enhancing drugs.

Bookmakers re-opened markets on Cronulla's clash with the Gold Coast on Sunday and said there was nothing to suggest the Sharks wouldn't run out as named.

Bellamy and Flanagan remain close after spending time as coach and assistant respectively of the NSW State of Origin side in 2009.

The Storm boss said he hadn't spoken to Flanagan but said if the situation got worse he would have to "grit his teeth'' and get through it.

Bellamy said Cronulla could have trouble fielding a team if that many players were forced to step away and doubted the NRL would let that happen.

"It's a pretty dire situation. The NRL can't afford for as team to drop out of the competition. Cronulla would struggle if they lost that many players. I'm not quite sure where it is all at. But it's not good,'' Bellamy said today.

"Even if (Cronulla got concessions from the NRL to field a team) I don't know where they would find the players. All clubs have their players and aren't going to release too many.

"If that figure 14 is right, it's a lot of players to find.''

Bellamy hadn't contacted Flanagan but said the Sharks coach had his full support.

"No results have come out yet but it's not looking so good,'' Bellamy said.

"He's got to make sure he grits his teeth and hangs in there and whatever is decided he has to make the best of it.

"I haven't spoken to him ... he'll need a bit of support and I'm only too happy to give it to him."

Bellamy's men trained in the heat ahead of their own season opener against St George Illawarra on Sunday.

Prop Bryan Norrie didn't join in the main group but the Storm camp was confident he will play.