John Morris has reportedly won the race to replace Shane Flanagan as Cronulla’s NRL head coach.

Morris will be unveiled as the club’s new full-time coach after being endorsed by Sharks board, News Corp reported.

Penrith assistant Cameron Ciraldo was also interviewed for the role while St Helens’ Justin Holbrook was also mentioned as a contender.

Morris took over in an interim role after Flanagan was deregistered by the NRL for flouting a 2014 ban for his part in the club’s peptides scandal.

Flanagan had been given until Thursday to respond to the NRL’s charges, however he has been given another week to consider his next move.

The NRL remained tight-lipped about any possible sanctions given Flanagan is entitled to a right of reply and any submission will be taken into account when determining any punishment.

Under one option open to NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg, Flanagan could be banned for a finite length of time.

Or he could banish Flanagan indefinitely, in which case the premiership-winning coach would have to apply to the NRL should he wish to re-enter the game down the track.

It’s expected any determination will take several weeks to be handed down.

Flanagan was banned, and the Sharks were fined $800,000, after it was found that he contravened his 12-month ban by communicating via email with club officials.