Cronulla Sharks duo Wade Graham and James Maloney ‘pulling against each other’

FOR so long at the Cronulla, Wade Graham owned the left edge. But the arrival of James Maloney last year saw the pair “pulling against each other”.

FOR so long at the Sharks Wade Graham had owned Cronulla’s left edge. But the arrival of playmaker James Maloney last year saw the pair “pulling against each other” for large parts of last season.

Graham’s style of play was far different to what Maloney had been used to after spending three years playing alongside hole-running back-rower Boyd Cordner. Coach Shane Flanagan said it wasn’t until last years finals series that the Graham/Maloney partnership began to fire, with the duo’s hard work resulting in Graham’s first career treble last week against the Raiders.

Graham said the pair were still a work in progress.

SHARKS TO DRAGONS: WE OWN THE SHIRE

“Hopefully this year instead of pulling against each other we’re going to be helping each other and listening,” Graham said. “As the year grows hopefully that combination builds.

“It was a different role. For a long time I controlled the left edge. When you’re in the habit of seeing stuff and calling stuff it takes a while because Jimmy (Maloney) is inside he sees stuff and wants different shapes. It was a case of building that combination over time. Me responding to him and him trusting me that when I call stuff he will deliver it.

“I haven’t always played as a traditional back-rower. I’ve always played a ball playing role. Then you have someone like Jimmy who is such a dominant half, it took us a while to find that mix. It’s a combination we had to work out how to help each other. It took us a while but we got there in the end last year.

“There will still be times this year where we don’t click.”

Graham and Maloney are still working on their combinations. Photo: Phil Hillyard

Maloney was mindful of not changing Graham’s game too much. He was aware of his teammates strength to create his own opportunities rather than waiting for his teammates to.

“It was something we were aware of and something we spoke about regularly, trying to get the right mix of when we need him running lines and when we can feed him the ball,” Maloney said. “We both see a lot of similar things. Last weekend’s game highlighted a different side of him, running lines. Some of his other skills are a lot more with ball in hand. It’s a mix we’re working on.

“You don’t want to take away his passing game. It’s never anything you want to take away from him.”

Graham has already surpassed his try-haul from last year where he managed just two tries from 26 games.

“I’ve been a bit lean in the last couple of years,” Graham said. “Last year was a bit of that combination stuff and then we had Ben Barba out the back so when you have players like that you’ve got to them the ball.” ,