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France legend Freddie Michalak went from holiday to new NRL coaching gig
Aiming to keep up in the battle for a top-four spot, Cronulla Sharks head coach Craig Fitzgibbon has enlisted the help of a holidaying Frenchman by the name of Frederic Michalak.
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Michalak is not your average backpacker, however, having played 77 Tests across a 14-year international rugby union career.
Michalak had the distinction of being able to play halfback or five-eighth in union and has been brought in over the last month help the Sharks’ kicking game with No.6 Matt Moylan and halves partner Nicho Hynes, two of the main beneficiaries.
Cronulla have played with flair all year and as they gear up for the pointy end of the NRL season their attack has added a French flavour.
“I had a quick Google and looked him up on YouTube to see his highlights when he first came in,” Moylan told AAP.
“It’s good to have someone of his stature around the club.
“He’s been with us the last few weeks and it’s been enjoyable working with him.
“He’s mainly working on how we strike the ball and focused on helping us get a better routine (in our kicking action).
“Wade (Graham) speaks a bit of French at home and I’ve tried to pick up a bit … but I’m hopeless.”
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Sporting a black eye and six stitches from last weekend’s 20-10 loss to Penrith, Moylan took heart from the fact the Sharks pushed the Panthers all the way as they prepare to face South Sydney this Saturday.
“I think there is some stuff we have got to address,” Moylan said, pointing to the Sharks’ completion rate of 71 per cent.
“It’s good that we showed that we can go toe to toe with them.
“But I think there are things for us to tidy up and we want to keep improving as a team.”
Moylan has enjoyed a career resurrection under Fitzgibbon, recently earning himself a two-year contract extension.
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He has played 18 games this season – the most since his first year at the club in 2018 – and said Fitzgibbon’s advice in November has helped him keep fresh and on the field.
“I’ve done a bit of training with Justin Lang (the son of former Sharks coach John) and it was Fitzy who got me to start going to his gym,” Moylan said.
“He individualises some extra stuff for me to do in my training to help my body.
“It’s good to get away from the club for a change of scenery.
“(When I was younger) I didn’t realise how much hard work was needed to look after my body and things outside of footy; nutrition, sleep and recovery.
“I didn’t put enough importance into it and that’s helped me enjoy things this year.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Bar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
9 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
35 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
35 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
35 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
35 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
35 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
35 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
35 Go to commentsArdie’s preferred position 7? Where do they get these writers from? I've no idea where he's playing in Japan, but the previous two seasons he wore the 7 jersey exactly twice.
18 Go to comments