CRONULLA coach Shane Flanagan says no line can be drawn between the first-up NRL loss to Brisbane and the surprise defeat to Wigan – because the World Club Challenge was “a trial”.
Speaking after a 26-18 defeat to Brisbane which opened their premiership defence, Flanagan played down concerns of endemic problems hot on the heels of the world title-deciding 22-6 loss to Wigan at DW Stadium.
“Let’s not get too carried away with England,” he said. “It was the first game for some of them … a lot of the blokes hadn’t played at all.
“It was more like a trial for us in England. It was an intense trial and I was happy with it but I’m not getting too carried away. It wasn’t for two competition points. Tonight was.”
Flanagan also said the Sharks were playing no role in discussions to get hooker James Segeyaro a release from Leeds.
“It’s not really our business,” he said. “It’s between James, his manager and Leeds. If he can get a release,, we’ll consider it.”
