Matt Moylan’s days in the NRL could be numbered after holding talks about an immediate switch to English Super League side Leigh.
Moylan, who still has a year remaining on his contract at the Sharks, lost his regular starting spot in the second half of last season and has been discussing a potential move to the Challenge Cup winners.
The 32-year-old already knocked back interest from Super League grand finalists Catalans a few months ago, but talks have since advanced with Adrian Lam’s Leigh about joining one of the emerging powerhouses in the Northern Hemisphere.
It’s unlikely the Sharks will stand in the way if Moylan wants an immediate exit, according to sources familiar with the ongoing negotiations who are not authorised to speak publicly.
Moylan, who represented NSW and Australia in 2016, played second fiddle to Braydon Trindall as Nicho Hynes’ halves partner in the lead-up to the finals, and wasn’t in Cronulla’s 17-man squad for the one-point loss to the Roosters in week one of the finals.
Leigh still has a spot available on their overseas quota and Lam has been hunting a halves partner for his son Lachlan, who starred on the club’s fairytale run to Challenge Cup glory at Wembley. Lachlan Lam kicked the winning field goal as the club claimed their first cup trophy since 1971.
Cronulla Sharks five-eighth Matt Moylan.Credit: Getty
The former State of Origin star is just nine matches shy of the 200-game milestone in the NRL, but faces fewer minutes in 2024 as the Sharks try to find the formula to take them deep into the finals.
Coach Craig Fitzgibbon will boast options such as Kade Dykes, who is returning from an ACL tear, and Daniel Atkinson next season, while fullback Will Kennedy is expected to be fit after missing the business end of the season with a hamstring injury.
In the last two years Moylan has largely managed to overcome the injury struggles which plagued the majority of his career, featuring in 44 NRL matches throughout 2022-23.
At his best he was elevated to the Penrith captaincy and was capped three times by the Blues in the 2016 series. He also had a single Test appearance for Australia in the same year.
Moylan returned to pre-season training with the Sharks last week.
Moylan’s potential exit would also free up a roster spot for the Sharks, who are also wrangling with the future of utility Connor Tracey, who was given permission to test the market before officially becoming a free agent on November 1.
The Dragons have registered interest in bringing the 27-year-old to the Red V, and would be open to any move happening in time before the start of next season.
Tracey is still under contract at the Sharks until the end of 2024.
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