Cronulla coach Shane Flanagan has denied it is difficult to attract players to the struggling NRL club, despite missing out on Penrith wingers Brad Tighe and Michael Gordon.

Flanagan admitted he was disappointed by Tighe's decision this week to snub the Sharks and follow Gordon's lead and pen a new deal with the Panthers.

However, the rookie coach said securing the services of St George Illawarra's New Zealand international backrower Jeremy Smith, who rejected a move to Newcastle in favour of the Sharks this week, is a sign the club is heading in the right direction.

"We are very pleased to get Jeremy on board as he is a quality player who will help us on and off the field," Flanagan said.

"I spoke to (NSW coach) Craig Bellamy and (NSW team manager) Craig Young who are two excellent judges of a footballer and they could not speak any higher of him.

"From the reports I've had from managers, players can see what we are trying to build down here and I think they are quite happy to jump in."

Flanagan concedes financial constraints do play a part in the club's recruitment policy, but was convinced former Newcastle man Tighe was a done deal.

"There was a lot of speculation that Brad was over the line and coming here ... I kept talking to his manager and saying 'it is good that he is over the line' but unfortunately he never was.

"We would have got Brad had he decided to leave Penrith, and Michael Gordon was a similar case, and I suppose that is a positive, but we move on."

South Sydney centre Colin Best said he would be happy to return to the Sharks, where he started his career in 1998, with his days at the Rabbitohs numbered after they were only prepared to offer him a one-year deal.

"I've got two options really and they're about the same so the only thing is it's not too promising at South Sydney," Best told AAP.

"I live in the Shire and I'm a local junior ... and in a perfect world I probably would have played there all my career but it hasn't worked out that way but it's definitely an option.

"I've heard that they want some outside backs so I guess it's just a good opportunity to finish my career off, this will be my last contract and hopefully I'll be able to go out with a bang."

Flanagan confirmed the 2008 Dally M Winger of the Year is on his radar and an offer had been tabled, but the parties were some way from agreeing terms.

"Colin's is similar to Brad, but there is a long way before he is signed, but there are a lot of players out there who are on the market that we would like to sign."

"In an ideal world I would like five or six new players but we have to be realistic, but I do need to get at least two new outside backs in my top 25."

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