‘Million dollar question’ could decide Sharks’ finals fate

The Sharks’ finals hopes are in jeopardy following Saturday’s loss to the Warriors but one man could turn the side’s fortunes around.

The Sharks missed a golden opportunity to keep their spot in the eight by losing to the Warriors on Saturday. Image: NRL Photos

Sharks coach Josh Hannay is sweating on the answer to the “million dollar question” that could hold the key to the club’s finals hopes.

Star playmaker Matt Moylan has been named in the squad in recent weeks and then cut at the death, as he battles a calf injury that has kept him out since round 15.

Half Shaun Johnson is unavailable for rest of the year with a hamstring tear and the Sharks are fielding an inexperienced halves pairing of Connor Tracey and Braydon Trindall. The duo failed in the last two matches to get the team home when the game was in the balance, including the 18-16 loss to the Warriors where Moylan’s experience would have been vital.

Cronulla, now two points outside the top eight, face a must-win game against the Knights on Sunday where a loss would end their finals hopes.

“It is the million dollar question. He is getting closer,” Hannay said of Moylan’s availability.

“He is as frustrated as anyone and is working extremely hard.

“He has just come to the point with a soft tissue recovery where it has stopped improving at the rate we all hoped. He is desperate to get back out there and we are doing everything we can to get him right. Fingers crossed he is available next week.”

Moylan joined the Sharks from the Panthers in 2018. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)

The Sharks young spine was unable to make the most of Kane Evans’s second sin-binning on Saturday and played like headless chooks in the second half. Hannay took responsibility for the bizarre decision to turn down a late penalty shot at goal, but conceded the team was missing Johnson and Moylan.

“We have got a young spine out there at the moment and are missing some seniority in those positions,” he said.

“I think they are trying their backsides off but we looked a bit frantic and flustered out there (against the Warriors) when we had some good ball opportunity. I think we showed a lack of composure at key times.

“Certainly losing at this time of the year, and in the situation we are in, is not ideal.

“It is a tough loss to take and a tough pill to swallow and everyone is pretty shattered, staff and myself included.

“My job is to pick these guys up because they are disappointed, and that is going to be a challenge. We play a similar side in Newcastle next week who are in a similar situation.”

The Sharks do have a laundry list of players unavailable including inspirational skipper Wade Graham. The squad is thin and Hannay is keen to bring in reinforcements for the last month of the season.

“We are definitely in the market in terms of loan players and I will be making some calls,” Hannay said.

“Whoever we bring in they won’t be season savers or superstars. We need to find people who can add depth to our squad. We are pretty thin.”