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Cronulla Sharks ... coach Shane Flanagan says ASADA investigation hurting their season. Source: Kristi Miller / News Limited
The drugs scandal which has engulfed Cronulla finally caught up with the Sharks on Saturday night, with coach Shane Flanagan admitting his team's NRL campaign is being destroyed by the ongoing investigation.
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The Sharks conceded the inaugural Johnny Mannah Cup in a dour 13-6 loss to Parramatta, who bounced back from a 50-0 shellacking at the hands of the Sydney Roosters last round.
The Sharks are central to a widespread investigation into alleged performance-enhancing drug use in the NRL, with at least 14 players believed to be under investigation, and have been regularly thrust under the spotlight in the opening rounds.
They started the year as one of the competition favourites, but now find themselves with just two wins from five games.
Flanagan has steadfastly refused to accept the ASADA investigation as an excuse for poor form to date - but that changed at Parramatta Stadium as he watched his side lurch from one poor attacking option to the next.
"I didn't want to use it as an excuse last week, but I knew it was," he said.
"... Our boys are a long way off. We've got too much stuff going on off the field.
"They're trying as hard as they can.
"But we all know there's a massive elephant in the room if you want to call it that.
"We can't prepare on one session a week with all this stuff going on.
"I'm not throwing up the white flag at all but it's very, very hard for this group of players with all the stuff that's going on.
"It's absolutely ridiculous to tell you the truth. I'm sick of it."
Flanagan said he had no answers - for the media or his players - as to how long the club will suffer, or what the final outcome will be.
All he knows is that it is finally starting to affect their on-field performance.
"We're just not getting the work done because of distractions ... too many distractions," he said.
"They're doing a really good job dealing with it.
"They're young men. I feel really sorry for them. I'm trying to help them.
"But it's this unknown and as I said it's a terrible position to be in but I've just got to lead us out of it."
Cronulla desperately missed the influence of star playmaker Todd Carney (foot), with his replacement Chad Townsend finding the chest of Jarryd Hayne far too regularly with his kicking game.
Parramatta centre Ryan Morgan's two tries proved the difference on the scoreboard, while co-captain Tim Mannah also put on a monster performance - finishing with 161 metres and 32 tackles.
Morgan was the beneficiary when a Hayne grubber ricocheted off Cronulla's Townsend and into the arms of Luke Kelly who sent him over for the second of his tries.
Morgan had earlier shown great pace to get on the outside of Ben Pomeroy and cross out wide for an unconverted try.
But it was the defence which brought a smile to Eels' coach Ricky Stuart's face - the exact opposite to how he had reacted the day previous at training.
"To be quite honest, we had an outstanding preparation leading into the Roosters and we were shithouse (on Friday) at training," Stuart said.
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