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Cronulla caretaker coach Josh Hannay must work out how to fit Shaun Johnson back into their NRL halves, with the star playmaker due back as soon as round seven.

Josh Hannay faces his first headache as Cronulla's caretaker coach with Matt Moylan or Chad Townsend set to be fighting to stay in the starting side from as soon as next week.

Cronulla showed the axing of John Morris won't kill off their season on Friday night, fighting back twice in their 26-22 loss to Newcastle.

But a hard decision now awaits Hannay.

Shaun Johnson could return as soon as next Saturday against Canterbury, after being one of the form halves of the NRL last year before rupturing his Achilles tendon.

A fit-again Moylan has since replaced him in at five-eighth, while club favourite Chad Townsend set up three tries in the loss to the Knights.

"It's probably my first big headache in the position," Hannay said.

"We'll work out a way that's to get him back into the squad. The difficult thing is, you know, I think Chad and Matt Moylan are doing a pretty good job for us.

"But we've we also got to remember Shaun Johnson was elite last year when he was playing."

Complicating the matter is the form of Will Kennedy at fullback.

It was originally thought that marquee-man Moylan would return to the position and open up the spot for Johnson on the playmaker's return.

But 23-year-old Kennedy has arguably been the Sharks' best player this year, with Hannay admitting on Friday night he is now virtually immovable.

In reality, it means Moylan could find himself fighting with Connor Tracey to hold the utility role on the bench once the Sharks are somewhere close to full fitness.

"I think he's shown he's one of the really good fullbacks in our competition now," Hannay added.

"I think it's only onwards and upwards for Will and I'd be loathe to think that we'd be making any changes there."