Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon doesn’t think Wade Graham should tone down his aggression as he prepares to return from a four-game ban, but concedes there is a balance when it comes to putting on a big hit and using proper technique.
Graham was suspended for four matches after he was found guilty of a grade one reckless charge for a high shot on South Sydney’s Davvy Moale back in Round 1.
He said at the time that he’d need to fix his technique after he rushed out of the line to whack the young forward in a bid to swing momentum Cronulla’s way, but his tune changed slightly when addressing the issue on Wednesday.
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“I just need to be better with my decision making where I make contact,” he said.
“I got him high, but it wasn’t by that much. It was a close call so it’s about being conscious of the decisions I make when I’m out on the field and my target area of my tackling.
“If you look back through my career, I have always played on that edge of aggression with my defence. But when I play the way I play, I need to be conscious of the decisions I make when I am out there. I can’t be making any slip ups.”
Graham returns via the bench for Friday’s game against the Roosters, and his coach doesn’t want him to hold back, as long as he does it legally.
“Wade has always been an aggressive style of player, so you want to make sure that his aggression is directed in the right area and getting it right. He knows that,” Fitzgibbon said.
“With the long turnaround and the bye, we’ve had a lot of time to work on some of those techniques, particularly for Wade.
“There’s a balance in getting that right and rushes of blood tend to end in the ones that you’re on the wrong end of, so it’s about getting a clearer mind for him and using it in a technical way.”
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The Sharks can’t afford to have the 2016 premiership winner banned again given they’re without Toby Rudolf (toe) and Dale Finucane (suspension) following a costly loss to the Warriors before last week’s bye.
It’s why Graham’s return comes at the perfect time for a side that needs leadership in the middle against a Roosters team that has dominated them in recent years.
The former skipper will also help tighten up their defence which has been uncharacteristically poor this season, conceding 117 points in the first five rounds, compared to the 56 they’d allowed at the same stage last year.
“Wade’s got a very particular style about his (leadership) in a really articulate way,” Fitzgibbon said.
“He’s a very deep thinker and very measured in his approach. When he sits back and assesses meetings or training, he’s usually on the mark for his feedback.
“Players like that build trust inside and outside of them. Having Wade back has come at a really good time for us, particularly in the absence of Dale. He’s a handy addition.”
