With skipper Paul Gallen and Anthony Tupou believed to have accepted the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority offer of bans over the supplements program that was in place at Cronulla in 2011, they will now miss the club’s remaining three games.
Gallen, Tupou, Wade Graham, Nathan Gardner, and the retired John Morris, had until 9.30am, today, Friday, to accept the back dated bans offered by ASADA, or face the prospect of a two-year ban from the game, should they have decided to challenge the show-cause notices issued by ASADA on Wednesday.
The sentences are backdated to November 21, 2013, meaning the current five Sharks players, and there are another 12 either retired or playing elsewhere, 17 in total, will be free to train and play from November, 22, 2014.
Gallen will be unavailable to play for Australia in the The Four Nations series due to the ASADA ban. The Four Nations series will be run from October 25 to November 15.
James Shepherd now has to find replacements for the duo for this Sunday’s clash against Canberra at Remondis Stadium, kick-off 2pm
The Sharks will also have to search for a new captain to replace Gallen.
Wade Graham is out injured with a stress fracture in his foot, and also has been banned by ASADA.
Graham has stood in several times this season for Gallen when he was away on representative duties or injured.
Halfback Jeff Robson and experienced second rower Chris Heighington will be the leading candidates to skipper the side against the Raiders this Sunday.
Fullback Michael Gordon is another experienced player the club will look to for a big effort in Sunday’s game.
Both teams are locked together on 14 points. But the Sharks are last on for-and-against record, so the game comes down to a fight to avoid the wooden spoon.
The Sharks have an imposing record against the Raiders at home, having won twenty times at the ground as compared to Canberra’s eight in previous encounters.
Canberra is coached by former Sharks mentor Ricky Stuart.
Do you think the players and the club will be allowed to put the ASADA controversy behind them now?
