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Moylan back for Sharks in halves headache

Scott BaileyAAP
Cronulla's Matt Moylan is tipped to make his return from injury when the Sharks play Penrith.
Camera IconCronulla's Matt Moylan is tipped to make his return from injury when the Sharks play Penrith. Credit: AAP

Matt Moylan is set to make his NRL return against his old club as Cronulla caretaker Josh Hannay prepares to address his halves dilemma for the first time.

Moylan has missed the past two weeks with a quad injury, with the blow coinciding with Shaun Johnson's return to the Sharks halves.

However the 29-year-old is expected to be fit to take on Penrith on Friday night, making for the first time Moylan, Johnson and Chad Townsend have all been available.

There is some chance the Sharks will bring Moylan back via the bench but a decision on Cronulla's first-choice pairing is imminent.

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Complicating the matter further is that Townsend has already signed at North Queensland for next season while Moylan and Johnson are both off contract.

But after four straight losses and Cronulla's season spiralling, Hannay said he wouldn't be messing around with selections.

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"I'll be picking the best seven and six that I think that suits our team and that combined the best," Hannay said.

"I know Matt's got utility value, but I don't see that as detrimental to him playing No.6.

"I'm not just going to use him as a utility because he's got that value.

"If I deem Matt to be the best five-eighth option for us, that's where he will play.

"He looks like he's come through the week. He'll be injected into the game at some point if he is fit, and most likely as a half."

It had been thought that Moylan would return to fullback once all three halves were available, but Will Kennedy has starred in the position.

Connor Tracey has also been a revelation as utility, and could well command a starting spot at some point in the spine.

Penrith coach Ivan Cleary has confirmed that Kurt Capewell will also face his former teammates at Cronulla.

Capewell injured his ribs and did not return against Manly last week, but has got through the lead up to the Sharks game without incident.

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