He has scoffed at suggestions it was his love of surfing that saw him move to Cronulla and to the Sharks, but that’s not to say Matt Moylan isn’t enjoying his new coastal environment.
Born and bred a Panther, Moylan shifted to the Shire for the 2018 season and so far, so good, however the move had little to do with the former NSW Origin rep looking to spend more time down at the beach.
“I’m not sure where it came from,” Moylan said of the talk of his surfing prowess. “I can barely surf to be honest. I’m lucky to get out there and not drown.
“But it’s been a good transition so far. I’ve settled in pretty quick, everyone around the club has been really good and knowing blokes from playing with them in previous teams has helped as well,” he added.
Moylan quickly impressed when the squad started throwing the ball around at training pre-Christmas and since then has knuckled down to the task of forming combinations with those around him, most significantly hookers Jayden Brailey and James Segeyaro, fullback Valentine Holmes and his halves partner Chad Townsend.
In the team’s first trial match against Manly the pair were understandably a little scratchy, however in their second outing showed glimpses of what they might be capable of, the Sharks backline tearing the Tigers apart in scoring four first half tries.
Following the trials it has been more work on the training paddock, with Moylan confident in partnership with Townsend they have skills to complement each other and to be a benefit to the team in 2018.
“The main challenge is how each other likes to play and to make sure we are fitting in with the team,” Moylan began.
“The way Chaddy plays, he plays on the ball a lot, which gives me a bit of freedom to roam around both sides of the field. He takes a lot of the structured stuff and I think that’s been working for us so far.”
With the pre-season now almost behind them and a meeting with the formidable Cowboys outfit next on the agenda, the real test is about to begin for Moylan and the Sharks.
But if his first few months in the Shire are anything to go by, Moylan is set to tackle those challenges head on, with his immense skill and a smile on his face, if not a surf board under his arm.
Moylan attended the Sharks media call on Sunday. See what he had to say, with his interview now playing on Sharks TV
