Three hundred-game NRL veteran John Morris is putting his hand up to be a Cronulla assistant coach under Shane Flanagan next season.
Peter Sharp was the assistant holding the fort for Flanagan until his NRL suspension ends in September.
But following Sharp's resignation two weeks ago - the Sharks must appoint at least one new member to their coaching staff for 2015.
Morris - who is sidelined with a neck injury - jumped at the chance to dive head first into coaching as a temporary deputy to James Shepherd, another of Flanagan's assistants who has now stepped up as the new interim coach.
And he has ambitions to make a permanent transition into coaching, eyeing off the vacant position to become a permanent part of Flanagan's staff.
While there is a small chance the 33-year-old MOrris may look to extend his playing career, the likelihood is that a bulging disc injury which doctors have deemed unsafe will force him to retire.
Morris is open to starting out his coaching career in the lower grades, but says he'd like to be considered for the NRL.
"I'd definitely put my hand up. I think I'd be up to it," Morris told AAP.
"Flanno comes back next year and he's a wonderful coach. The club is looking to bring in a couple of staff to assist at NRL level so playing 300 games, I've got a bit of experience there to pass on.
"I've still got to follow up on my neck and that will determine what I do next year.
"They know I'm keen to get into coaching. I'd love to help out, if I'm not playing, in either an assistant's role or a high performance role mentoring the young kids and trying to bring through our elite juniors."
Morris would like the chance to finish his 14-year career on his terms, but says he'd be foolish to take risks.
He will get scans in a couple of weeks to make a final decision.
"At the moment I can't play because the doctor said it's probably not safe and as soon as you hear those words with a neck injury you back right off," he said.
"I'll listen to the doctor and put my health first."
Morris says his two-week crash course on being an NRL assistant coach has been an "invaluable" experience.
He's ridden the highs of Cronulla's record comeback win against the Sydney Roosters and the lows of a capitulation against Newcastle.
Cronulla's board are still looking at the possibility of bringing in a coach to take the reins for the remainder of the season, but captain Paul Gallen and senior player Wade Graham have both come out and said they'd like to see the club stick with Shepherd for the rest of the year.
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