Graham technique fine on concussion return

Wade Graham is confident his tackling technique can withstand the NRL again after spending nine months sorting the issues that led to three separate concussions last year.

Graham made his return to rugby league on Monday night, suffering a syndesmosis injury that could delay his start to the season in the Sharks' pre-season win over Canterbury.

The Cronulla captain is due for scans on Tuesday night, hopeful there's no serious damage so he can face Canberra in round one.

"It's frustrating because I was ready to go," Graham told AAP.

"Worst case if it's grade-three and surgery it will be six or so weeks.

"But I am not feeling too bad, so hopefully I can be back soon."

Regardless of when it comes, Graham's eventual full-blown return will be a triumph.

He was knocked down by three separate head knocks last season, with the last of those in June prompting Cronulla officials to end his year early.

A meeting with his former NSW State of Origin captain Boyd Cordner convinced him he didn't need to follow his path and retire.

But there was work to be done.

Each of Graham's three concussions came from getting his head in the wrong spot in tackles, noting the flaw in his technique - ducking his head too early as ball-carriers ran right to left on him.

"I have worked hard, really hard, on a lot of things like my footwork and my contact," Graham said.

"Even the thought process in the contact ... my tackle selection more than anything."

He suffered an early knock in training before Christmas, but rebounded out of that with more confidence he would be fine and now carries no mental scars.

Graham's cause has been aided by the return of Steve Price as a defensive coach, while defence was also new coach Craig Fitzgibbons' department as an