NRL 2021: Matt Moylan shows much-needed spark for Sharks

‘I feel more confident than last year and the back of the year before.’ The trial ended in defeat for the Sharks but Matt Moylan’s first game in six months was still a huge success.

All summer we’d heard stories of the fit, fast and freewheeling Matt Moylan.

And while it may only have been a pre-season trial match, Moylan showed enough to suggest there’s life for the Sharks in 2021 in the absence of an injured Shaun Johnson.

In his first game in six months, Moylan was terrific in his comeback despite the Sharks going down to a committed Canterbury at Kogarah’s Jubilee Oval on Saturday night.

The Bulldogs marked the beginning of the Trent Barrett era with a tenacious come-from-behind victory that gives the club plenty of optimism ahead of the NRL season-proper in 11-days.

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Matt Moylan was sharp against the Bulldogs. Picture: Grant Trouville/NRL Photos

Chronic hamstring issues have stymied Moylan’s career in recent years, managing just 19-games over the past two seasons.

His last match was in August last year.

Off-contract at the end of this year and with Johnson (Achilles) sidelined until round 10, Moylan is acutely aware of how defining 2021 is for his career.

Wearing the number six jersey that Johnson starred in last season, Moylan played with pace and timing that belied his lay-off and the type of ball-play that elevated him to NSW Origin status only a few years ago.

Moylan’s combination on the Sharks left-edge was a persistent threat to the Dogs, with Cronulla’s two first-half tries triggered by the left-side attack of Moylan, fullback Will Kennedy and winger Ronaldo Mulitalo.

“I wasn’t really nervous because we’d done so much work in the pre-season, so I was pretty confident in what we’d done,’’ Moylan said.

“It was just about going out there and finding my rhythm and getting hit a few times.

Matt Moylan return was very encouraging.

“I feel more confident now than I was last year and the back of the year before (2019), to be honest.

“I started doing a lot of work before the pre-season and built off the back of it.

“I’ve now just got to keep on top of it and keep working hard.”

Mulitalo was particularly strong with his powerful carries throughout the match.

For the Dogs, key off-season recruit Kyle Flanagan steered Canterbury around with authority in his first appearance.

In the absence of a host of rested players from the Dogs pack, including Dylan Napa, Luke Thompson and Raymond Faitala-Mariner, Bulldogs prop Ofahiki Ogden was a standout with his punishing runs.

In great signs for Barrett, the Bulldogs showed great character to come from 12-0 down on the scoreboard to pile on 16 straight-points.

Ronaldo Mulitalo was a real attacking spark for the Sharks.

Barrett was happy to kickstart his Bulldogs career with a victory.

“Even though it was a trial, I’m glad we still hung in and won the game,” Barrett said.

“We want to win everything that we play in.

“We didn’t concede a point from the 25th minute and we did bomb a few (tries), so our execution we need to fix.

“It gives us a good look at what we did well and ensures we improve it before we get to Newcastle.

“I thought (Ofahiki) Ogden was strong and Renouf (Toomaga) was also and Jack Hethrington was really good.

Barrett said despite Cotric spraining his ankle, the star recruit “should be fine”.

Sharks centre Josh Dugan suffered a minor ankle injury in the first-half and while he didn’t return for the second-half, the complaint isn’t believed to be serious.

Back-up winger Nene McDonald injured his calf in the NSW Cup clash prior to first-grade.