Questions over Nicho Hynes’ ability to ice big moments in big games are beginning to be raised again on the eve of finals.
The Sharks are in a good position heading into the play-offs having all but locked in a top four finish — and they managed to do that while Hynes was out injured for eight weeks.
Cronulla hit a bit of a rut mid-season, losing five of their six games between Round 12 and Round 18. Hynes started in his usual position of halfback in four of those losses before suffering a syndesmosis rupture and tibia fracture at training.
Braydon Trindall shifted to halfback in four of the games Hynes missed with Daniel Atkinson partnering him at five-eighth, while Blayle Brailey also spent some time in the halves too.
Watch every game of every round this NRL Telstra Premiership Season LIVE with no ad-breaks during play on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial today >
Bulldogs forward Max King joins the Fox League podcast to go inside the Bulldogs’ remarkable 2024 revival and chat about the impact of coach Cameron Ciraldo, captain Stephen Crichton and the club’s renowned defensive system
With Hynes sidelined, the Sharks couldn’t rely on their marquee man and others had to step up with the team going on to win five of their next six games.
Given Trindall’s form in the No.7, Hynes made his return last week at five-eighth — and the Sharks suffered a shock loss to the Warriors.
Coach Craig Fitzgibbon has named Hynes at halfback for Sunday’s clash with Manly, which serves as an important game for the 28-year-old, who desperately needs to rediscover his mojo before finals kick off.
Despite winning the Dally M medal in 2022, Hynes has often come under scrutiny for not being able to deliver when the pressure is on. He got an opportunity to start at halfback for NSW in Origin I but was then dropped for the rest of the series following a 38-10 loss to Queensland.
Tigers see no pressure in Spoon Bowl | 00:59
That’s why NRL 360 host Braith Anasta believes “this is a defining finals series” for Hynes.
“I hate to say it but he really has failed to deliver in big games in his career,” he added.
“I think he would admit that, it’s probably something that he wants to get the monkey off his back (over) and this final series is an opportunity for him to do that.”
News Corp journalist Michael Carayannis agreed, saying: “There’s a stigma around Nicho and there’s a stigma around the Sharks’ inability to win big games.”
“They haven’t won a finals game since Shane Flanagan was coach and that was a long time ago,” he added.
“It all comes back down to their No.7 and his ability to steer them around the park. He’s their marquee man, he’s their million-dollar player. If they bounce out in straight sets again the scrutiny is going to be even tighter next year.”
It comes after four-time premiership-winning halfback Cooper Cronk put the blowtorch on Hynes’ performance in his return game.
James Hooper agreed with Cronk’s criticism given Hynes signed the most lucrative deal in the club’s history in April last year, which sees him earn around $1 million a season.
“When you’re the million-dollar player and are paid to win these big end of season games, it doesn’t matter if you’ve missed the past eight weeks, this is your time to deliver,” Hooper said.
“Nicho is on big dough, he was re-signed as their marquee man off the back of winning the Dally M Medal. This is his time to shine now.
“You often hear coaches say halfbacks own the result a lot of the time and this is the time where they need to deliver so the heat is on Nicho.
“We know over the past couple of seasons when he has some setbacks he can get a little bit of head noise and he can go into his shell.”
MORE NRL NEWS
TEAMS: Roosters’ plan amid injury crisis; Wayne’s big call on star for must-win clash
RESERVES WRAP: Roosters’ guns set for call-up amid crisis; new Eels recruit shines
RUN HOME: So you’re telling me there’s a chance? The wild 500/1 scenario still alive
TRANSFER CENTRE: Sharks star’s early release to join Tigers on multi-year deal
Hynes has always been open about his mindset, even admitting after being dropped from Origin that he let the pressure get to him.
Given he’s a confidence player, rugby league legend Gorden Tallis believes Hynes needs to switch off from the outside noise.
Bennett got a point to prove to Knights? | 02:16
“If I was talking to him I’d say ‘don’t worry about the outcome, worry about the next play’,” Tallis said on NRL 360.
“With Nicho, I think it’s fair criticism because if a forward pack gets bullied we call them soft and they’re not good enough… and with a halfback you’re there to make decisions.
“We all look to our halves in the toughest times just to put a little kick in, turn a poor set into a good set.
“He’s yet to deliver and I think it’s the baggage that he carries. So he’s going to have to go into this finals series and not worry about what’s going to be written about him.”
Meanwhile, Anasta knows what it’s like to be in the pressure cooker given he spent majority of his 288-game career in the halves and is confident things could turn for Hynes if he can get just one strong game under his belt.
“It’s like he just needs that one game,” he said.
“I’ve been there myself as a half where you’re just struggling to get over the line in big games and it builds up in your head, you put more pressure on yourself, it becomes a thing, the media talks about it and it really is a distraction.
“There’s no denying that you can;t escape it, the only way to get rid of it is to perform on the biggest stage under the most pressure. But it only takes one game.”
Discussion about this post