Cronulla coach Craig Fitzgibbon says his club are working hard to ensure that livewire fullback Will Kennedy remains the club's long-term No.1.
Kennedy bagged his first NRL hat-trick in Friday's 30-26 win over Parramatta as the Sharks got their campaign up and running.
The 25-year-old's third and final try was an example of the fullback at his best as he slalomed his way past three Eels defenders to score.
Kennedy remains without a contract beyond this year but Fitzgibbon was hopeful that the dynamic fullback will be part of his long-term plans.
"I don't think Will gets the credit he deserves for what he provides for the team.
"The players love him and love playing alongside him and his positional player is actually really high.
"There's plenty of discussion there. That will happen, we've got to go back to Will and we're toing and froing.
"But we're still in the process of looking at keeping Will."
Fitzgibbon praised the performance of stand-in halfback Braydon Trindall, who set up two tries, but wouldn't be drawn on when Nicho Hynes will return.
The reigning Dally M medallist has missed the first two weeks of the season with a niggling calf issue.
The Sharks head to Canberra next week and Fitzgibbon said he wouldn't be willing to risk his star No. 7 unless he could prove his fitness.
"He doesn't have a significant injury, but he has to get a training volume in that makes it safe for him to play a game," Fitzgibbon said.
"If he gets through that training volume what will happen is he'll be safe to then play.
"If we don't train him well enough and he goes in plays is a huge risk to re-injure so we've got to get that right.
"It's really hard to tell and it's frustrating for me as well as you guys."
