A desperate Cronulla last night signed prop Ian Donnelly from the Titans to bolster their diminishing playing stocks, but he is unlikely to be rushed into the side for Saturday night's clash with Canberra.
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Already having lost prop Ben Ross (neck) and fullback Brett Kearney (knee) for the season, the Sharks ranks were further depleted yesterday after captain Paul Gallen, winger Misi Taulapapa and prop Kade Snowden all pleaded guilty to judiciary charges that ruled them out of the match against the Raiders.
Gallen will also miss his side's round-six match against the Cowboys in Adelaide after receiving a two-game ban for striking, while Taulapapa (leading with his feet) and Snowden (grapple tackle) were suspended for one match each.
Cronulla prop Luke Douglas escaped a ban for a high tackle on former teammate Brett Kimmorley in last Sunday's 24-12 loss to the Bulldogs but the Sharks have also lost forward Jack Afamasaga for 10 weeks with a knee injury.
With Trent Barrett returning from a neck injury, Blake Green was dropped to the NSW Cup and he will be joined by utility Tony Caine after Sharks coach Ricky Stuart decided to promote teenage rookies Jonathan Mannah and Matthew Wright.
Mannah is the brother of Parramatta prop Tim Mannah, while Wright is a New Zealand-born Australian schoolboys centre recruited from Penrith.
The Sharks, who were yesterday installed as the wooden spoon favourites by Sportingbet, signed Donnelly after he was granted a release from the final year of his contract with Gold Coast but officials do not expect him to be ready to play on Saturday.
Winger David Simmons, hooker Terence Seu Seu and forward Grant Millington were the other new faces in the Sharks side named by Stuart yesterday.
