The man who led the club to their inaugural premiership in 2016 is one of the safest mentors in the NRL.

Coaching dramas have plagued up to half of the clubs in the competition this year, but Flanagan is one of the few bosses to have escaped scrutiny due to his consistent record.

He was asked about his long-term ambitions ahead of the Sharks' clash with North Queensland at Southern Cross Group Stadium on Saturday night.

"I think myself and all the people involved in the club over the last four or five years have worked so hard to get the club to what it is at the moment," Flanagan told reporters on Friday.

"We're a top-four, semi-final team year in, year out.

"I think the future looks really bright for the club and I want to be apart of that."

The Sharks sit sixth on the ladder but are only one game outside of the top-four with three games against non-finalists to end the regular season.

But Flanagan says his team wouldn't be resting on their laurels after beating the Storm in Melbourne last Sunday to prevent the reigning premiers from sitting atop the ladder.

That famous win at AAMI Park came after a shock golden-point loss at home to Manly a week earlier.

"It was important we started to take a few steps towards what team we believe we are," Flanagan said.

"We need to back it up in the next month of football and last week means nothing if we can't play well again (against the Cowboys)," Flanagan said.

But in a major blow to the Sharks, they've lost star second-rower Wade Graham to a knee injury, putting his season in doubt.

Scott Sorensen will replace Graham in the No.12 jersey.

Flanagan says his team is ready for the latest chapter of Johnathan Thurston's farewell tour, which sees the retiring Cowboys legend play his final game in Sydney.

North Queensland round out the season with a home fixture against Parramatta and a clash with the Titans on the Gold Coast.

Paul Green's team heads to Shark Park without suspended star Jason Taumalolo.

The Cowboys, who were pre-season premiership favourites, sit at the bottom of the ladder as they look to avoid their first wooden spoon since 2000.

STATS THAT MATTER

- After turning 37 on Tuesday, Paul Gallen will become the seventh player in premiership history to play after his 37th birthday.

- The Cowboys are chasing three straight wins over the Sharks for the second time in their history. They won their round one encounter this year before losing the next five games to slump out of finals contention.

- Cronulla have been testing the hearts of their supporters as 13 of the Sharks' last 15 matches have been decided by eight points or less.

Australian Associated Press