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Bulldogs stars Moses Mbye, left, and Josh Reynolds at Belmore Oval. Picture: Gregg Porteous
Mbye has enjoyed an outstanding season but since he marked his return to the side with a standout performance against the Sydney Roosters in round 21, he has found it difficult to prise open the defence.
Over the past five games, Mbye has recorded only one try assist and failed to record any line breaks. His involvement in general play is also on the slide — Mbye has touched the ball 100 times over the past three games.
By comparison, St George Illawarra halfback Benji Marshall has touched the ball on 122 occasions over the same period.
Despite Mbye’s recent struggles, Graham is confident the pressure-cooker atmosphere of finals football will bring out the best in the 22-year-old, starting with tonight’s elimination final against St George Illawarra at ANZ Stadium.
“I’m fully confident in Moses that he will do what he needs to do for this team on Saturday and for the rest of the finals series,” Graham said. “It’s been a long year for a few of us. Finals brings out the best in people. It’s funny when you have so many supernova moments like Moses has done throughout the year, if he doesn’t have one or two in a game people start to worry and think what is going on?
“I’ve got no problem with his form. Maybe he isn’t having those huge supernova moments where everyone is standing on the edge of their seat, (but) I think he is doing a terrific job for the team. Going into the finals series, I think it’ll bring out the best in him.”
Mbye can at least take solace in the fact that he has shown he can handle the finals.
Thrust into the hooking role when Michael Ennis was injured in the lead-up to last year’s grand final, he held his own as the Bulldogs came up short against South Sydney.
He carried that form into this season, forcing his way into the halves despite the presence of Josh Reynolds and Trent Hodkinson. The birth of his first child meant he sacrificed his starting spot. He was given a rest by coach Des Hasler but he was brought back into the fold when suspension and injury affected Reynolds and Hodkinson.
As Hodkinson is sidelined for the rest of the season with a wrist injury, the Bulldogs desperately need him to find his best form against the Dragons in a game that will signal the end for one team.
Asked whether he would speak to Mbye, Graham said: “Moses is the type of guy who doesn’t need to be told what to do. He knows the dance. He knows what finals is about.
“He was outstanding for us in the grand final playing hooker. He knows what he has to do to be at his best. I’ll back him all the way. I don’t need to speak to him about how important he is and how important he is in the team.”
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/spo...523446484?sv=c69f8aafbd067b788fcf079dfbb2b3d1
