John Morris's long association with Cronulla's juniors is proving pivotal as he tries to manage the Sharks through their early-season injury crisis in the NRL.
The Sharks will be without four of their six highest-paid players when they take to the field against Melbourne on Friday night, with Josh Dugan battling a hamstring injury.
Wade Graham (knee) is yet to play a game this season and Shaun Johnson will miss the next month with a hamstring injury while Aaron Woods (foot) and Matt Moylan (hamstring) both remain in the casualty ward.
In their place Morris has debuted five new NRL players this year in Bronson Xerri, Blayke Brailey, Briton Nikora, Will Kennedy and Ronaldo Mulitalo - the most at the club this early in the season since 2002, according to Fox Sports Stats.
But the youngsters at least come with the advantage of having worked closely with Morris, who transitioned from playing into setting up an elite pathways academy in 2014 before becoming the club's under-20s coach.
"To be under him and then see him go to first grade and for me to develop, it makes me feel comfortable," Xerri said.
"I just believe in Bomber and he believes in me, so it feels good."
Morris's belief in the youngsters is well justified.
The Sharks won the under-20s competition last year and were minor premiers in the National Youth Cup the year before.
They also made last year's NSW Cup grand final through feeder club Newtown, and have played in under-16s and under-18s deciders in the past five years.
"We do (bring that confidence in)," Nikora said.
"Especially us working together all the way through juniors. We're confident in each other and the job we can do together."
Their combinations will never be more evident than on the right edge against the Storm.
Kyle Flanagan will join back-rower Nikora and centre Xerri on that side of the field for the next month, in what will be the playmaker's longest stint in the NRL so far, with Johnson injured.
"He's my half, I know how he plays," Nikora said.
"It's big advantage. Especially coming through the under-20s and knowing how each other play."
