On the day Shane Flanagan hoped he would go back to work, the NRL has not been able to give a deadline for the suspended Sharks coach's return after denying him a supplement scandal ban reprieve.
In a concern for the Sharks who recently re-signed Flanagan on a three-year deal from 2015, NRL CEO Dave Smith said the process to reinstate the banned Cronulla mentor would last "however long it takes".
While Flanagan had made "significant progress" since the suspension was imposed on December 17, Smith said the suspended Sharks mentor had not yet met a series of conditions required to lift his ban.
The 48-year-old Flanagan was sanctioned after the NRL deemed he and former Sharks strength and conditioning coach Trent Elkin failed in their duty of care to players during the 2011 season - specifically in relation to their supplements program.
Flanagan technically copped an indefinite ban but Smith confirmed the earliest the suspended mentor could have returned to work was on Wednesday.
And momentum built for Flanagan's release after he fronted a panel this week that included Smith, the NRL's head of football Todd Greenberg and integrity unit lawyer Nick Weeks to argue his case for reinstatement.
However, Smith said Flanagan still had some work to do.
"Coach Shane Flanagan will not be having his suspension lifted," Smith said at a press conference in Rockhampton on Wednesday.
"We've run a very thorough process. We have given a clear indication of our requirements and he is not quite there yet."
Asked when they would review his return again, Smith said: "It's however long it takes.
"Once he meets the conditions we will have him back in the game.
"He has done a good job, he had a good attitude, he's just quite not there yet.
"It is about due process. We always said we would not reinstate until the conditions were satisfied.
"He will go away and think about that and we will give him as much support as we need to give him and the panel will meet in due course to consider if those conditions have been met."
Reaction was being sought from Cronulla.
CONDITIONS SHANE FLANAGAN MUST MEET IF HIS BAN IS TO BE LIFTED:
- Complete intensive education and training courses on workplace health and safety, the NRL rules and other integrity and ethical training;
- Demonstrate that he understands the duties of obligations of an NRL head coach;
- Refrain from dealing directly or indirectly with the Sharks club, team and players.
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