Cronulla coach Shane Flanagan is confident his side can overcome the loss of starting props Kade Snowden and Luke Douglas and develop an even more imposing pack in 2012.

The Sharks were rocked in 2011 when they lost two of the NRL’s premier frontrowers, Snowden to Newcastle and Douglas to the Gold Coast, leaving a massive hole in one of the competition’s most impressive forward packs.

But the recruitment of five new props, Wests Tigers duo Andrew Fifita and Bryce Gibbs, St George Illawarra’s Jon Green, South Sydney’s Ben Ross and Newcastle veteran Mark Taufua, has Flanagan convinced the Sharks can not only cover their loss but improve.

Flanagan’s big four join an all-representative back row of Paul Gallen, Jeremy Smith and Anthony Tupou, as well as young stars Jason Bukuya, Sam Tagataese and Tyson Frizell.

The Sharks also brought hooker Isaac de Gois back from Newcastle in the hope that his crafty work at dummy-half will give their pack an edge.

“Forwards-wise we dominated teams and competed against the best teams in the comp with our forwards,” Flanagan told AAP.

“This year I think we’re stronger again in the forwards.

“Those two players that we lost were quality, but we’ve got some real depth now.

“The five frontrowers we’ve brought into the club will more than compensate for the ones we lost.”

Flanagan pointed to the grand final experience of Gibbs and Green as an example of something the club would gain from the turnover in personnel.

“I’m bringing in two blokes, Jon Green and Bryce Gibbs, that have both been in grand final sides not that long ago,” he said.

“Jon Green did a great job for Wayne Bennett when the Dragons won the comp.

“He’s a real tradesman and he played outstanding (in our trial win over Manly).

“Gibbsy’s been in a successful Wests Tigers outfit for years. That’s massive experience for us.

“And young Fifita could be anything.”

Such is the depth at the Sharks, Flanagan will have plenty of headaches in the lead-up to round one.

While the starting back row is settled, every other position in the pack is up for grabs with everyone playing for their spot in the team’s final trial match against Newcastle in Muswellbrook on Saturday night.

Gallen will be rested this weekend, giving the likes of Tagataese, Frizell, Bukuya and Josh Cordoba a shot at impressing ahead of their season-opener against the Wests Tigers.