HE spent the pre-season banking on having Valentine Holmes at the back all season but Sharks coach Shane Flanagan has made a major change after just one game, and he’s got the stats to back it up..

Josh Dugan and Matt Moylan were the two key off-season recruits for Cronulla and having spent the majority of their careers in the No.1 jersey for their previous clubs, where they fit into the Sharks structure has been a constant talking point.

A brilliant winger who racked up 11 tries in the space of two games on the flank for the Kangaroos during the World Cup, Holmes struggled under the high ball against the Cowboys in the 24th NRL game he has played at fullback.

Round 20

Although he scored a try, Dugan struggled to have a major influence on the game from right centre while Moylan’s individual brilliance failed to pierce a Cowboys team that enjoyed the lion’s share of possession.

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It’s forced a round two rethink ahead of the southern Sydney derby on Thursday night and stats obtained by the Fox Sports Lab indicate suggest it is a change that will help to bring the best out in Dugan.

Josh Dugan by the numbers. Source: FOX SPORTS

An Origin and Test centre who came up with a crucial defensive play in the World Cup final against England, in 12 games for the Dragons at the back last year Dugan’s output was significantly greater than his five NRL games at centre.

The three tries he scored in 2017 all came while wearing the No.1 jersey and the opportunities to run in broken field led to far greater tackle busts and line breaks than being posted out wide on the right.

But according to Johns, moving Dugan to fullback is not the sole solution to problems that could plague the Sharks as they adjust to life without James Maloney and a new-look halves pairing of Moylan and Chad Townsend.

Matt Moylan struggled to breach the Cowboys defence in his first game for the Sharks. Photo: Evan Morgan Source: News Corp Australia

Complicating the issue is that former NSW No.7 Trent Hodkinson is also waiting in the wings while Flanagan’s own son, under 20s star Kyle, should return in a month or so from a broken thumb.

The Roosters, Dragons, Sea Eagles, Storm, Panthers and the Knights all have reconstructed spines that will take some bedding down but Johns says the Sharks may have the toughest time in finding the right combination that works best for them.

“A lot has been made this year of the changes to the Roosters side and the fact that these combinations are going to take time but it’s the same with the Sharks,” Johns told Triple M’s The Grill Team program on Thursday.

“The Sharks are still trying to work out who their best No.1 is.

“They tried Valentine Holmes there last week, didn’t work out.

“They’re going to push Dugan back there and say it’s a sharing role but I’d be very, very surprised if they share the role. I think it will just be Dugan at fullback.

“And they’ve got Moylan in the six, who is relatively new to the six position.

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“He played a bit of six last year but new to the position and they’ve got a young guy in Jayden Brailey at hooker who is a terrific young player but new so they’re still trying to work all this out.

“I’m really interested to see Moylan tonight at six.

“I’m not surprised they made a change but that they picked Dugan rather than pushing Moylan back there.”

Johns conceded that moving Moylan back to fullback and pairing Hodkinson with Townsend would leave the Sharks with two like-minded players in the halves but warned the former Panther what he can expect in the front line against the Dragons on Thursday night.

“I thought they may have gone with Hodkinson back into the halves but then you’ve got Chad Townsend that likes to call the shots and Trent Hodkinson that likes to call the shots,” Johns said.

“I still think Moylan’s best position is in the one, simply because (Dragons coach) Paul McGregor will say tonight to Paul Vaughan, Tyson Frizell, Tariq Sims, Jack de Belin, James Graham, if you see Moylan anywhere in the vicinity of you, take the ball and run at him.”

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