Matt Moylan reveals he’s not dirty on Sam Burgess despite last week’s high shot

Matt Moylan says he doesn’t hold anything against Sam Burgess despite the Rabbitohs star wiping out the Sharks playmaker with a vicious high shot.

Matt Moylan of the Sharks is seen during warm up ahead of the Round 21 NRL match between the Penrith Panthers and the Cronulla Sharks at Panthers Stadium in Sydney, Friday, August 9, 2019. (AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY

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Matt Moylan says he bears no grudge towards South Sydney enforcer Sam Burgess while declaring he will be fit to return for a season-defining local derby for Cronulla next Sunday.

Forced to watch the Sharks six-point loss to a committed Penrith on Friday night from the sideline, Moylan was ruled-out by club doctors after reporting to training with headaches last Monday.

The Sharks fullback was the centrepiece of Burgess’ controversial grade two high-tackle charge delivered during Cronulla’s big-win over Souths last weekend.

Burgess was alleged to have fouled Moylan with a swinging-arm, however the Rabbitohs captain managed to escape suspension by winning his appeal at the judiciary.

The decision stunned fans and commentators particularly after the Sharks playmaker was deemed unfit to face the Panthers.
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Burgess clipped Moylan last week.

Moylan gave his version of how he was able to pass on-field concussion tests.

“I knew someone was coming, but I didn’t expect to cop the hit I did,’’ Moylan said.

“He’s (Burgess) an aggressive style of player and it’s simple as that. I don’t hold any grudges or anything like that.

“You step on the footy field and it’s a chance of happening.

“The hit stung me, more than anything else. I recall everything, which is why I was able to answer the questions as quickly as I did.’’

Under the NRL concussion protocols, Sharks head trainer Andrew Gray met Moylan on the field and delivered a series of questions in order to determine whether he needed to be taken from the field for a head injury assessment (HIA).

Moylan passed the tests but further scrutiny of the hit by the NRL’s Sideline Injury Surveillance technology was unavailable due to a malfunction.

“He (Gray) came out and asked me some questions and I gave him the answers straight away,’’ Moylan said.

Moylan is attended to by the Sharks trainer after copping a hit from Sam Burgess. Credit: Fox Sports

“Until they (doctors) could see the video, which had malfunctioned, there’s not a lot more they could’ve done because I passed my on-field test.

“Remember this happens in a split-second and without the (sideline) vision, it’s a bit hard to pass judgment on the process, which has been tightened up massively in recent years.

“Obviously when the sideline bunker got working again, they said I needed to come off for a HIA, which I did and then and I passed that also.

“Everyone thinks I didn’t finish the game because of the hit.

“But the only reason I came from the field with five or so minutes to go was because of the advantage on the scoreline we had and it was an opportunity to avoid putting unnessecary pressure on my hamstring.

Moylan is one of Cronulla’s most improved players. Picture by Phil Hillyard.

“I woke-up Sunday (the morning after the game) with a headache and just felt a bit slow,’’ Moylan said.

“I still had a headache hanging around on Monday and with the short-turnaround (Monday into Friday game) there were just not enough days to get everything done under the concussion protocol.

“If I had an extra day (to play Penrith), I probably would’ve been right.’’

Like the Sharks, Moylan has had a frustrating year with injury which has included featuring in just 10 of 20 matches.

He vowed to return against St George-Illawarra at Shark Park next Sunday to keep the Sharks finals hopes alive.

Moylan will return for next week’s clash with the Dragons. AAP Image/Craig Golding.

“I’ve been training the back-end of this week, so I’ll be right to play next Sunday at Shark Park (against St George-Illawarra),’’ Moylan said.

“I had a run yesterday and by Monday I should be back into full training.

“I had the long lay-off and then over the last six weeks I’ve missed one game, played one game, so it’s frustrating but I’ve just got get on top of it to make sure I’m ready the back-end of the year.

“I just want knuckle down and make sure I’m doing everything I can to be ready to go and finish the year without missing a game.

“I’ve got full confidence again in the hammy. I’ve been doing a lot of work on it lately at training to make sure it’s right to finish the year.’’