What do the Sharks do with their ‘war chest’?

Valentine Holmes continues to dominate the NRL headlines two days after his shock decision to quit the code to chase an NFL contract.

Paul Gallen's comments, and a response by Matt Rogers, have kept the story trending on social media, and the lead story across sports bulletins.

It's not going to go anywhere as any minute now the Sharks are going to be linked to every unhappy player on the market. So to will be they be linked by player manages looking to extend current deals.

The Sharks have a reported $750,000-$800,000 on their books following the departure of their number one star, while up to $1.2 million was set aside to re-sign him 2020 and beyond.

The club has effectively become the biggest player in the market overnight.

The question now is; how do the Sharks use their new found 'war chest'?

Attempt to Shaun Johnson (early)

Rumours that Shaun Johnson may be out of the Warriors have been running rampant for over a month after the club let it be known that he was free to explore his options for 2020 and beyond.

The Sharks are now in a position to make a play for the Warriors superstar for 2020. They offered Holmes the biggest deal in the club's history and would have worked around that figure as such.

That's a huge amount of money to bring Johnson across and make him a marquee player.

Almost the second that Holmes was released, people made the obvious jump to Johnson perhaps making the move a year early, reportedly something that the Warriors would not block.

This would free up Matt Moylan to return to fullback, creating a far more creative spine, at least in terms of ball playing ability.

There's also been suggestion that Johnson may want to try his hand at fullback, something he has done previously. I don't think there's a whole lot to this but I've seen stranger things.

I'm sure Shane Flanagan can work out how to play Johnson and Moylan in the same side.

Whether or not the Warriors would be happy to see their marquee man walk a year early though is yet to be seen.

Sign Alex Johnson

Another player who was linked to the Sharks for 2020 now becomes a genuine option for the club in 2019.

Again, whether or not Souths would actually choose to part ways early is another question.

I don't know if Johnson has the game that Flanagan bases his attack around. The Sharks relied heavily on Barba's ability to set up tries as well as score them in their title winning season.

It was no coincidence that the Sharks attack blunted when Holmes was unable to produce the same heroics with the ball.

It's an option, but with all due respect to the young winger turn fullback, I'm not sure the Sharks will be in a huge rush.

Front end contracts

Captain in waiting Wade Graham is off-contract at the end of this season. He'll be sure to be one of the hottest prospects on the open market.

With Paul Gallen retiring at the end of the season, and Lewis having already hung up his boots, the Sharks can't afford to let Wade Graham slip through their grasp.

Back-ended contracts look to be on the outer after some horror salary cap management, but there's nothing really against the Sharks signing Graham to an upgraded 2018 contract and factoring it in.

They could upgrade the likes of Katoa, Xerri and Flanagan too if they wish. That reported $800,000 can be spread over seven players, with an outside of the squad player elevated for the other $100,000.

It's unlikely the club will be happy with this but I doubt they'll spend the money for the sake of it should an option fail to present itself, and this is better than wasting it.

Sit and wait

The Sharks technically don't have to do anything. They have until June 30 before they have to make a move.

Rules are in place so that clubs do not under-spend, but it's an obvious case of unforeseen circumstances rather than the Sharks not exploring their options, should the money not be allocated.

We saw last season that players changing clubs is no longer a rare occurrence with the likes of Woods, Farah and Mbye ending the seasons in different coloured jumpers to those they began the season wearing.

The Sharks can sit tight, wait until something happens then pounce. They currently have at least three roster spaces available, so there's a good chance they're in a position to sign two players.

I guarantee there will be player movement before June 30th, so why rush?

Nothing

There's no real reason for the Sharks to go out and make a big play in the next week. Probably not even until after the turn of the year.

Dugan or Moylan can switch to fullback and the Sharks can go on as though Val was simply injured or unavailable.

There's talk that Marty Taupau wants out. Could the Sharks reinvest the money in another forward and shift their current stocks around to fill the back-line?

If the Sharks don't opt to throw big money elsewhere, it just runs as normal, as if Holmes was out injured.

Again, no rush.