Smith will stay a Shark: Flanagan

Flanagan yesterday cleared up any uncertainty over the future of gun forward Smith, admitting ‘‘I’d have rocks in my head’’ to release the Kiwi international.

Recent speculation has suggested the Sharks were keen to offload Smith to his former club in a bid to squeeze Penrith’s Luke Lewis into their 2013 line-up.

But Flanagan confirmed to the Mercury he has plans to facilitate room for both players.

‘‘One hundred per cent - Jeremy Smith will not be going to the Dragons,’’ Flanagan said.

‘‘Consistently, he’s been our best player, he’s on contract until next year - I’d have to have rocks in my head.

‘‘It’s absolutely ludicrous that we would let him go.’’

Smith, through the Sharks’ media department, declined an interview request yesterday.

The Sharks are one of 13 clubs chasing Lewis’ services next year - a list which at this stage does not include the Dragons - after the Test and Origin star sought an early release from Penrith.

Smith turns 33 next week, and is said to be tired with his daily commute from Wollongong, where he still lives.

But Flanagan rejected suggestions he would be sacrificed for Lewis.

‘‘It’s about having quality players in your roster and my goal is to get to six representative players in our squad,’’ Flanagan said.

‘‘We’ve got three at the moment - Jeremy Smith, Paul Gallen and Todd Carney - my goal, preferably, is to get another three ... to really be a force for the next couple of years.

‘‘There’s no designated number - just over the next six to 12 months I’d like to have at least six rep players in my squad.’’

Flanagan’s ambitious plan raises doubt over whether the Sharks will have enough space in their salary cap to accommodate Lewis and their present fleet of marquee names.

The cap will be extended from $4.3 million to at least $5 million next year under the windfall of an anticipated $1 billion-plus broadcast deal.

Even so, Lewis comes with a price tag of $500,000 a season, while the Sharks have to keep in mind Smith’s contract (around $300,000 a season), Paul Gallen, re-signed forward Wade Graham, Michael Gordon and Anthony Tupou.

Reformed five-eighth Todd Carney is also due for a $300,000 increase on his annual earnings, after Cronulla picked him up at the end of last year on a lowly incentive-based contract of $200,000.

Lewis’ manager, Greg Willett, said the Sharks and the Tigers were among those in the race for the Test and Origin regular, but neither was yet to formally table an offer.

‘‘The situation still remains the same - the only clubs I’m yet to hear from are the Dragons, the Broncos and the Cowboys,’’ he said.

‘‘No-one’s done anything more because I haven’t been around and I don’t want to be under-dealing [Penrith boss] Phil Gould or anyone else - they’ve all been really good about this.

‘‘All of that will begin to happen when I sit down with Luke again.’’

Despite his interest, Flanagan was reticent to spell out how Lewis would feature in the Sharks pack.

‘‘I haven’t even gone down that path yet,’’ he said.

‘‘Gal’s going towards the front row and if we were to go towards Lewis, it’s not for Jeremy, it’s just to add depth to my squad.’’