Matt Moylan has overcome a quad injury and will face Penrith, forcing Cronulla caretaker coach Josh Hannay to make a long-awaited call on the NRL club’s halves.
Matt Moylan is set to make his NRL return against his old club as Cronulla caretaker Josh Hannay prepares to address his halves dilemma for the first time.
Moylan has missed the past two weeks with a quad injury, with the blow coinciding with Shaun Johnson’s return to the Sharks halves.
However the 29-year-old is expected to be fit to take on Penrith on Friday night, making for the first time Moylan, Johnson and Chad Townsend have all been available.
There is some chance the Sharks will bring Moylan back via the bench but a decision on Cronulla’s first-choice pairing is imminent.
Complicating the matter further is that Townsend has already signed at North Queensland for next season while Moylan and Johnson are both off-contract.
But after four straight losses and Cronulla’s season spiralling, Hannay said he wouldn’t be messing around with selections.
“I’ll be picking the best seven and six that I think that suits our team and that combined the best,” Hannay said.
“I know Matt’s got utility value, but I don’t see that as detrimental to him playing No.6.
“I’m not just going to use him as a utility because he’s got that value.
“If I deem Matt to be the best five-eighth option for us, that’s where he will play.
“He looks like he’s come through the week. He’ll be injected into the game at some point if he is fit, and most likely as a half.”
It had been thought that Moylan would return to fullback once all three halves were available, but Will Kennedy has starred in the position.
Connor Tracey has also been a revelation as utility, and could well command a starting spot at some point in the spine.
Penrith coach Ivan Cleary has confirmed that Kurt Capewell will also face his former teammates at Cronulla.
Capewell injured his ribs and did not return against Manly last week, but has got through the lead up to the Sharks game without incident.
souvalis
Roar Rookie
Your club had $2.4m to spend on a half and could have got SJ comfortably for that..yet preferred speed hump, skill challenged Townsend. You need heart in the halfs and neither of those 2 have it. Personally, like to see Connor Tracey play 6 outside of Reynolds next year.
jamesb
Roar Guru
SJ did very well last year. The one player who should make way is Townsend. He is officially moving on next year.
josh7198
Guest
thats what i thought as well
Rob
Guest
I think SJ was gone the minute Morris was sacked. Thought SJ was clearly their best player last year and there isn't many quality halves available. I'd certainly want him to stay if I were a Sharks fan.
souvalis
Roar Rookie
Sub textually this reads that SJ is gone. That would be doing the club a favor. Hasn’t given this club an 80 minute committed performance yet.
Conan of Cooma
Roar Rookie
After the big win from the Storm last night I can't help but think that maybe the Sharks weren't playing total crap last week. I can't see them beating Penrith, but maybe, just maybe, they will put up a better fight this week.