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Matt Moylan on Sharks’ defensive turnaround, Warriors woes, Nicho Hynes’ Origin push
Cronulla’s left-edge defence has been a concern throughout the NRL season. Matt Moylan chats to LACHLAN McKIRDY about the Sharks’ low point against the Warriors and how they plan to turn things around.
Five-eighth Matt Moylan is under no illusion he must improve defensively as Cronulla seek to back up Friday night’s win over the Roosters.
The Sharks kept the Tricolours scoreless after half-time as they came away with a 22-12 victory, ending a seven-game losing streak against the boys from Bondi.
But for Moylan, it was especially sweet after his disappointing game against the Warriors a fortnight earlier.
Coming off the bye, Moylan admits the pain of his defensive showing in round five stuck with him over the Easter break.
“I think defensively that game I was pretty average,” Moylan told CODE Sports. “I conceded a couple of tries there.
Moylan had two weeks to think about the loss to the Warriors. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images
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had the long turnaround and so had the whole time to think about it.
“Definitely had a lot of stuff to work on going into [the clash with the Roosters] … was hoping to get out there and do a job defensively more than anything.
“It’s probably somewhere I’ve been a bit disappointing in my game this year, defensively. So it was good to get out there and get a result on the back of that.”
Cronulla’s left-edge defence has been a concern throughout the year. It’s the channel they have conceded the most tries in (eight) and it’s clear teams are targeting the supposed weakness.
Moylan’s combination with Teig Wilton and Siosifa Talakai on either side of him has been particularly susceptible to ball-running from edge forwards, with Josh Curran, Marata Niukore, Jaydn Su’A and Keaon Koloamatangi all scoring down that side in 2023.
The 31-year-old knows he can expect even more traffic sent his way this season, but can take confidence out of the fact his side was able to shut out a potent Roosters right-edge that included Joey Manu.
“We’ve been leaking some tries there on the left edge so it’s good to come out of there, not conceding one,” Moylan said.
“It was a step in the right direction for us as a unit on the left edge, but we can’t rest on that.
“Most sides’ halves get a bit of traffic sent at them, that’s the way sides play these days. I’d be delusional if I didn’t think I was going to see some traffic, I’m going to see that all year.
“We’ve all played together and been able to do it last year. It’s just getting back in there and making sure we’re moving right and making our tackles when we have to. That’s probably where I slipped up against the Warriors.
“It’s an area we addressed and worked hard on throughout the bye week.”
Moylan is as good as usual in attack, but has been targeted defensively this year. Picture: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images
While Moylan might not be satisfied with his defensive output, he still has the backing of coach Craig Fitzgibbon.
“I don’t know if there has been [a lot of talk], I don’t care if there has been because I trust them,” Fitzgibbon said.
“I saw what they could do last year and I believe in them.”
The Sharks are conceding 21.5 points per game this year, much higher than the 15.2 points they conceded during the 2022 regular season.
A big part of that has been frail goal-line defence. The Sharks were the best team in the competition in 2022 for their red zone defence, withstanding 17 tackles for every try conceded on average.
Heading into the Roosters clash, the Sharks had dropped to the worst in the competition in 2023 with just 8.2 tackles in their own 20m for every conceded try.
Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon still backs Moylan. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images
The fact they were able to hold out the Roosters in the second half, after 16 tackles in their red zone, is a platform they can build on.
“The last few weeks we have leaked 20+ points and it’s been soft, easy tries,” Blayke Brailey told CODE Sports.
“We wanted to kickstart our defence and get it strong again and I think we’re headed in the right direction.
“It wasn’t panic stations but it was definitely a kick up the ass to get our season back on track.”
Fitzgibbon adds: “We weren’t comfortable with how we’ve been defending…[but] the effort has been there.
“It’s been technical issues and fundamental issues.
“When you have a couple of issues, you can’t fix them in a week. We’ve been chipping away and working at it.
“I’ve got faith in them.”
Blayke Brailey said the Sharks had received a ‘kick up the ass’ following the loss to the Warriors. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images
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In attack, however, the Sharks continue to be one of the most potent outfits in the competition, averaging 26.7 points a game in 2023.
Much of that has come down to the form of Nicho Hynes, who has starred in each of his three matches since returning from injury against the Dragons.
But the first half against the Roosters was a perfect example of what Moylan can offer. Hynes took time to build into his game and so Moylan took the reins and steered the Sharks around.
Once the reigning Dally M medallist found his rhythm, Moylan knew his role was to get the ball in Hynes’ hands.
“For me, I’m trying to put him in positions where he can play his footy,” Moylan said.
“He does that anyway. He plays his footy and it’s me trying to complement him and being able to create opportunities for him to play the way we know he can.”
Moylan backs Dally M winner Nicho Hynes for Origin. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images
Hynes’ impressive showing gives further weight to calls for him to make his State of Origin debut later this year. Having played for NSW himself, Moylan has no doubt his halves partner is ready for the game’s biggest stage.
“He’s definitely ready. His footy speaks for itself,” Moylan said.
“I think it‘s not a surprise anymore what he’s able to do. He was very impressive last year and he’s built on that this year.
“He’s a competitor, he’s not going to let anyone down.
“If he gets the opportunity, I know it’s something he’s worked hard for, and he’ll never stop working to try and get that opportunity.
“And when he does, he’ll work even harder to stay there.”
