Wade Graham’s injury in Cronulla’s loss to Roosters puts the pressure on Matt Moylan when he faces former club Penrith
AFTER the shattering loss of key backrower Wade Graham in their defeat to the Roosters, Cronulla will look to Matt Moylan to provide the spark in the semi-final against his former club Penrith.
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CRONULLA ace Matt Moylan appears certain to go into his Trading Places showdown against Penrith without his wingman, after Wade Graham left Allianz Stadium on crutches.
Debate has raged all season over which club has done better out of the high profile off-season player swap between Moylan and James Maloney, and now bragging rights will be decided once and for all.
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Cronulla must bounce back from Saturday night’s loss to the Sydney Roosters against a rejuvenated Panthers on Friday night, and their mission has been compromised significantly by the shattering loss of key edge back-rower Graham to what seems a serious knee injury.
When Latrell Mitchell pulled off his unbelievable try-saving stop on Luke Lewis in the final minutes, cameras crossed to the Sharks’ sheds where Graham slammed his crutches down by his side like an Olympic alpine skier.
Sharks coach Shane Flanagan said Graham was set to miss football.
“(I’m not sure how severe). He’s going for a scan now. Hopefully it’s not too bad but those sort of things aren’t a week,” said Flanagan.
“He (first) did it about six weeks ago. That was a grade one medial strain. We’ll see what it is.”
Flanagan believes Moylan can help Cronulla navigate the looming battle with Maloney.
“If we have the attitude and effort we had (last night) I’m sure we’ll be OK,” said Flanagan.
Graham’s left-side combination with Moylan has been pivotal to the Sharks’ attack all year and now the Cronulla No.6 is bracing to go it alone in a head-to-head playmaking battle that will define his season.
Cronulla officials refused to confirm the severity of Graham’s right knee, but conceded it showed the hallmarks of an ACL after he hobbled off early in the first half.
Graham has been battling issues with his knee over the past few weeks but the lasting damage was done when he twisted in the face of Roosters opposite Isaac Liu trying to pounce on a stray ball.
Cronulla’s left-side felt the loss immediately when they bombed a try passing over the sideline in a play where Graham’s silky hands might have done the job.
They did in the fifth minute, when Graham’s pass helped craft a brilliant try to winger Sosaia Feki inches inside the touchline to open the scoring.
The threatened right up until Cooper Cronk’s deciding field goal, but their attack lacked the final polish.
Moylan’s date with Maloney at Allianz Stadium shapes as one of the most tantalising of the finals series.
A falling out with axed Penrith coach Anthony Griffen made Moylan’s tenure at his junior club almost untenable, while Maloney couldn’t get the money he wanted from Cronulla.
The trade solved a problem for both clubs, but for every transfer there can only be one winner.
Moylan has taken time to gel in the frontline at the Sharks and Maloney’s combination with Nathan Cleary at the foot of the mountains hasn’t necessarily sailed smoothly all year either, yet they’re both critical to their team’s finals hopes.
Penrith will rely on Maloney’s experience and big game abilities and Cronulla’s bruising forward pack needs Moylan to provide its spark and bring superstar Valentine Holmes to the fore.
There will be no love lost.
Although Griffen is gone from the Panthers, Moylan never thought he’d leave Penrith and will therefore have a major point to prove.
Maloney’s departure from Cronulla has been discussed with a degree of frostiness by Sharks coach Shane Flanagan and both are proud men.
Penrith’s rousing win over the Warriors was a timely return to form. But Graham’s injury has halted Cronulla’s momentum and will force a major readjustment before Friday night.
Sharks coach Shane Flanagan said Graham was set to miss football.
“(I’m not sure how severe). He’s going for a scan now. Hopefully it’s not too bad but those sort of things aren’t a week,” said Flanagan.
“He (first) did it about six weeks ago. That was a grade one medial strain. We’ll see what it is.”
Flanagan believes Moylan can help Cronulla navigate the looming battle with Maloney.
“If we have the attitude and effort we had (last night) I’m sure we’ll be OK,” said Flanagan.
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