Cronulla coach John Morris is toying with the option of playing Wade Graham in the halves for next week’s NRL elimination final against Canberra.
With Chad Townsend to come back into the squad from suspension and Shaun Johnson and Matt Moylan sidelined, Morris needs a five-eighth for the sudden-death clash.
This season he has used Braydon Trindall and Connor Tracey as back-up options, but he gave Graham a trial in Saturday’s 38-28 loss to the Raiders.
It was a mixed night for the Australia and NSW representative, who kicked a short drop out right into the lap of waiting Raiders winger Harley Smith-Shields who scored.
He later kicked another ball out on the full.
But he also scored a try and created enough chances for the Sharks for Morris to consider the switch again next week to partner Townsend.
“Losing Shaun Johnson in the halves, there goes 200 games and 30 Test matches out of your spine so I wanted to have a look at Wade there,” Morris said on Saturday.
“He had some nice touches, scored a try and had a hand in another one.
“We didn’t help him because we had eight errors coming out of our own end so we weren’t able to get any flow in the game.
“We wanted to come here and play well to try and get some momentum and confidence going into next week but it is hard when you also have a lot of key players out.
“We are in a position where we have got a pretty healthy squad going into next week and we have got to build for what is going to be a huge game.
“We have got to flush that pretty quick and get our full team back and jump into finals. We are pretty excited about what is ahead.”
Along with Townsend, the Sharks are expected to bring back Blayke Brailey, Jesse Ramien, Josh Dugan, Sione Katoa, Siosifa Talakai and Toby Rudolf for next week’s do-or-die match in Canberra.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Have not beaten any of the finals contenders. Their attack is more than adequate, their defence is revolving door material. Still live in hope though, silly me.
Renegade
Roar Guru
With ya there, keep Wade at 6 – Trindall defence not good enough. Talakai and Rudolph back into the pack with Dugan, Ramien and Katoa to return on the edges after all being rested for a week, will tighten up the edge defence and also produce points themselves. Brailey back from a rest will help the middle plus ruck defence and also add further to the attack. Have to keep Wade at 6, his put in MOM performances there in origin, it’s our only option of producing something without Johnson & Moylan.
Rod
Guest
The sharks are going to be beaten next week , they really are going to struggle
Rob
Guest
Wade Graham looked about as good in the halves as Hess did playing centre for the Cows last year. Appears they are just plugging the dam with their fingers. Graham is a skill full edge back rower but a very average half from what I saw. I’d back Trindall or Tracey and leave Wade to do his thing on the edge if I was in Morris’s shoes.
souvalis
Roar Rookie
Trindall’s defence was exposed in the Knights mauling and was targeted again last night for 2 bad misses leading to tries. He starts next to Nikora and they’re 10 points down before a balls been kicked. Wade doesn’t look 100% himself, Kennedy suss at the back, if they’ve got a miracle in them they’re going to have to use it.
Nat
Roar Rookie
Why? He's been using Tracy and Trindall all year and they are in the finals. They've trained them now trust them. Graham wasn't overly impressive last night but he had the reserves around him.