REPORTS: Cronulla could target Johnston following Holmes’ US move

Cronulla could be set to recruit Alex Johnston to fill the fullback role freed up by US bound Valentine Holmes.

Johnston, a known target of the Sharks, is under contract until the end of 2020 with the Rabbitohs, but Cronulla coach Shane Flanagan still believes there is a chance of obtaining him.

"He's a quality player who had a big part to do with a lot of Souths tries and he's played for his country,” Flanagan told Fairfax Media.

"There's still interest there. That interest didn't start with us, it was him, but it's still on the cards.”

Flanagan maintained that while Johnston was an option, there were still numerous Sharks players that could be used similarly.

"We might have the problem solved within our club. We can put Matty Moylan back there, we have my young bloke [Kyle Flanagan] as a halves option, we have Josh Dugan back there, so it's not panic stations,” he said.

Flanagan isn’t in a rush to decide due to the number of options available to him.

"We'll take a deep breath, wait a week and then see what's out there and make a call," Flanagan said.

South Sydney have stated they are reluctant to let Johnston leave, but he has shown interest in a move to the Sharks.