BY CURTIS WOODWARD

@woodward_curtis

The Craig Fitzgibbon era at the Cronulla Sharks will begin with their new coach stuck in Sydney after testing positive to Covid while his Sharks head to Canberra for one of the toughest road trips in the NRL against the Raiders.

This is the new world we live in.

The premiership-winning Sydney Roosters forward and Kangaroos great won’t be the only coach that will miss a match because of the pandemic this season.

It’s just the way it is.

“Obviously the timing of this isn’t ideal, you can take all the precautions as I have in following NRL apollo advice and protocols, but with four children at home unfortunately it has caught up with our family at an inopportune time,” Fitzgibbon said.

“My health is fine and symptoms mild, I look forward to getting back amongst the group next week and I will be in constant communications with the coaches and players.”

Fitzgibbon – regarded as the next great prospect in the coaching ranks – had a few more headaches than others during the pre-season. There are few clubs that have recruited as well as the Sharks with the arrival of Cam McInnes, Nicho Hynes, Dale Finucane and Matt Ikuvalu.

Throw them into a squad with plenty of experience and a bunch of hot youngsters coming through and Fitzgibbon’s job has been how best to crunch the numbers and get his best team on the paddock for round 1.

Cronulla have named Matt Moylan and Nicho Hynes in the halves for their clash against the Raiders at GIO Stadium. That decision was made easier with young halfback Braydon Trindall suspended for the opening weeks of the premiership.

Trindall was sin-binned and then suspended for a high shot during Cronulla’s trial match against the Panthers in Parramatta.

Asked prior to the match against Penrith, Fitzgibbon hinted that Moylan was leading the race in pre-season to partner Hynes in the halves ahead of Trindall.

“He’s [Moylan] got a really good connection with Nicho and Will K [Kennedy] at the back,” Fitzgibbon said before complimenting Trindall’s ability to play several positions: “He can play hooker and 13 as well.”

Can he?

And if he can, is he really a long-term bench option in such a packed Cronulla 17?

For all intents and purposes, whether Trindall was suspended or not, it appears Fitzgibbon was always going with Moylan and Hynes in the halves.

This is Fitzgibbon’s first big move in what will be a long coaching career.

While there’s no doubting the ability and class of Hynes and Moylan – one would be right to ask whether Cronulla can win the premiership without a legitimate halfback.

It sounds like Moylan and Hynes have trained well and created a good partnership in a short space of time.

But at the end of the day, neither are true game managers.

And what if things don’t go to plan for Hynes and Moylan at 6 and 7?

They all have to fit somewhere, and it appears Will Kennedy has a mortgage on the fullback spot for as long he wants it – such is his raw talent.

Many experts have Cronulla making the top 8.

But there are still plenty of question marks over the Sharks and how good they can be, if and when they qualify for September footy.

@woodward_curtis