It is expected Cronulla will decide between Daley, Steve Price, Brett Kimmorley and Shepherd this week, after Kangaroos coach Tim Sheens turned down an approach from the club. Cronulla's chairman Damian Keogh said he expected a resolution within days.

''We had a board meeting last Tuesday and obviously with Gal [Paul Gallen] and Lou [Luke Lewis] away for State of Origin, and where things are at, we just decided to get through this weekend and we will have a chat probably over the next few days and make a call on it,'' Keogh said.

''At this stage, the list of available coaches just for eight weeks isn't super long. So we will either go with the current set-up, if we think that is the best option, or we will bring someone in for that last month and a half.

''I know Steve Price's name has been bandied around, Brett Kimmorley's name has been bandied around, now State of Origin is finished we wouldn't mind having a chat to Laurie to see if he wouldn't mind helping out for a while. We will certainly throw [Daley's] hat in the ring. It's been a tough season, we have a number of inexperienced players now. Probably have a chat to some of the senior players and the incumbents and make a call.

''[Daley] has been pre-occupied with Origin. We were keen on Tim - he would have been a solid option - but unfortunately he couldn't do it.

''Timing is another interesting issue within all that. I have no idea where Laurie's head is at. It might be a bit of a long shot. If NSW Rugby League and the NRL can help us out for the next eight weeks that would be handy.''

While Price may miss out on returning as a head coach to the NRL this year, it is understood that he will join Flanagan's coaching staff next year.

Former Sydney Roosters first grader Shepherd has taken charge of the club's past two games following Peter Sharp's decision to quit earlier this month.

Sharp was filling the role of caretaker replacing the suspended Flanagan who will resume as head coach next year. Shepherd was the club's under-20s coach before being appointed assistant NRL coach this year. He led the side to victory in his first game against the Roosters before taking charge against Newcastle on Sunday.

Shepherd said he was unsure if he would be appointed for the rest of the season.

''I've loved it,'' Shepherd said. ''It's been an honour and privilege to coach the club. I'm happy to do so for as long as they want me to do so. My job has been made easy by the players. They are supportive of what I'm doing. The leadership boys in Wade Graham and Jeff Robson in Paul Gallen's absence have been exceptional.

''I'm just pushing the players in a certain direction.''

Meanwhile, Newcastle Knights fullback Darius Boyd has defended his confrontation with a Channel 7 reporter following Queensland's State of Origin win last week. The journalist had asked Boyd about coach Wayne Bennett's decision to leave the club at the end of this year.

''I don't like the way they came at me without asking,'' Boyd told Triple M. ''I felt like I had done something wrong. If I agreed to do the interview fine. I didn't like the way she bombarded me.

''I've had too many run-ins [with the media] with bad stories.''