Cronulla coach Craig Fitzgibbon has been given a massive vote of confidence by the Sharks board after inking a three-year contract extension.
The deal means Fitzgibbon will be the head coach until the end of 2027, guaranteeing his tenure for five more seasons.
The Sharks were one of the big improvers last year. Under Fitzgibbon's tutelage in his first year as a head coach the side went from ninth in 2021 to finish second, before bowing out of the finals with consecutive losses.
Fitzgibbon was able to get five-eighth Matt Moylan playing his best football last year and oversaw the rapid development of young players like winger Ronaldo Mulitalo.
The glowing terms former Melbourne players Dale Finucane and Nicho Hynes spoke about the smarts of their coach, after being mentored by Craig Bellamy, spoke volumes for his abilities.
Hynes was a very good player at the Storm but under Fitzgibbon won the Dally M medal as the best player in the NRL.
Fitzgibbon was already under contract for 2023 and 2024 but his extension gives him and the club underlying stability to make long-term decisions in the best interests of the Sharks. It will also be a magnet for elite players, with the knowledge Fitzgibbon is on the books long term.
"This is a tremendous opportunity for us to build on what we started here at the Sharks last year," Fitzgibbon said.
"We have outstanding playing talent, backed by a board led by Steve Mace who are supportive of what we are trying to achieve.
"We enjoyed our first season, but our journey has just begun and we are looking to create an even stronger environment going forward."
Mace said several months ago he wanted to get Fitzgibbon wrapped up well into the future, and now he has his man.
"Craig managed to create an immediate impression when appointed to the role of head coach (and) his results then spoke for themselves," Mace said.
"We believe ... that the sky is the limit for our football program under his leadership."
Fitzgibbon had a decorated career for Australia and NSW as a player and won the 2002 grand final with the Sydney Roosters, on a night when he was also Clive Churchill Medal winner.
As a coach he has done a quality and lengthy apprenticeship and was on Trent Robinson's coaching staff for the 2013, 2018 and 2019 premiership wins at the Roosters.
Sharks CEO Dino Mezzatesta said Fitzgibbon's extension went beyond what he has achieved, and might yet do, on the field.
"It is also about the culture he is attempting to instill, not only amongst the NRL playing group, but throughout the entire football program," Mezzatesta said.
