‘Sparks flying of negativity’: Hynes’ concerning interview as Sharks star urged to ‘focus on footy’

Sharks superstar Nicho Hynes fronted the media on Tuesday following a disappointing performance against the Storm — and his comments have raised some eyebrows.

Hynes’ form has come under fire ever since he returned from injury and his ability to ice moments in big games is once again being questioned.

With a do-or-die semi-final just days away, the 28-year-old admitted he needs to “nail my opportunities” and is confident that “it’s going to turn at some point.”

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But he also hit back at the criticism that’s come his way, while also revealing he’s off social media for the time being.

“If people want to try to tear me down there’s something going on in their lives that they might need to deal with,” he said.

“I’ve just got to block it all out. It’s going to come, it’s going to keep coming for the rest of my career.”

Those comments ruffled some feathers on the NRL 360 panel with News Corp journalist Dean Ritchie saying Hynes is “overexposed and overhyped” while also advising the star No.7 “should be told to stay away from the cameras and just focus on (his) footy.”

Ritchie also added: “I think that’s an unfair comment because we in the media and the fans are entitled to express an opinion about how a star player, who’s on $1 million a year, is going. If he attracts criticism, I don’t think that warrants a comment saying that ‘you are trying to tear me down.’

Paul Crawley also believes pundits are entitled to comment on Hynes’ form.

“I think you write your own headlines,” he said.

“When Nicho was flying, won the Dally M and there was so many different parts to his life that we absolutely admire — and we praised him for that.

“But you’ve also got to look at the reality and unfortunately for Nicho, in the big games he hasn’t aimed up. He’s been disappointing… You can’t ignore that.

“That’s not tearing him down, that’s just making Judgement and comment on what you see.”

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But what “concerned” Braith Anasta the most after watching Hynes’ interview is the fact he actually fed the outside noise even more.

“He said he’s off social media and he’s not listening to the noise — but he referenced the noise on two or three occasions,” Anasta said.

“At one point he said ‘I’ve got a good life, people who are criticising me must have issues in their own’. I thought ‘hang on, you’re actually talking to the noise and listening (to it).’

“You can’t control that. The only thing you can control are the controllables: turn your phone off, don’t watch NRL 360, put the papers away, make sure your preparation is good, make sure your meals are good, make sure your training sessions are good, get on the field and execute the game plan.

“They’re all the things that only he can control that are going to get the right result.

“I feel like he is impacted by the outside noise and he showed us that in that interview.

“I wouldn’t have even put him up (for media) today. If I’m the Sharks, don’t put him up, stay quiet, focus on training, focus on your preparation.”

Ritchie went one step further and commented on Hynes’ overall attitude just days out from Cronulla’s do-or-die clash with the Cowboys.

“His body language on-field is poor at the moment but even that interview, that just had sparks flying off of negativity,” he said.

Meanwhile, rugby league legend Gorden Tallis shared some wise words that he once got from one of the all-time great coaches.

“Wayne Bennett said to me one day ‘if you want the good articles written about you, you take the bad articles.,” he shared.

“So if you put yourself out there when you win the Dally M… if you want to go there and take all the accolades, when someone writes a bad article you’ve got to appreciate it.”