NRL news: Star recruit Nicho Hynes ready to make mark at Cronulla Sharks
Shaun Johnson’s move from the Cronulla Sharks to the Warriors has left a vacancy in the crucial job of goalkicking.
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If Nicho Hynes wasn’t calling the next attacking play, he was practising his long kicks down field.
If the 25-year-old wasn’t committing his body to the defensive line, or rifling a pass to his outside men, he was converting goal kicks from the sideline.
Life for Hynes, the Cronulla Sharks playmaker, has begun — and he’s making every second count.
Turning up to work one week earlier than scheduled, the Melbourne Storm recruit is on a personal mission to prove that not all players who leave the purple machine are never the same again.
“I don’t think I have a point to prove to anyone but myself,’’ Hynes said on Monday.
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“There‘s going to be outside noise and me going to the Sharks in the halves where I haven’t played a lot of NRL is going to get people talking.
“And there’s obviously a lot of talk about players that leave the Storm, they don’t go that good afterwards, but I think that’s all pretty crap to be honest.
“If you put the work in, I don’t see why you can’t be as good as what you were at the Storm.
“It was very vocal up in Queensland when I was being linked to the Broncos. People were saying that the Broncos needed to be careful buying Storm players.
“But I just don’t think that’s an appropriate thing to say.
“Bellsa (Craig Bellamy) does get the best out of you at the Storm, but why can’t other coaches?
“If you go and put the hard work in, you’re going to play good footy. I’m all about putting the work in.”
GOALKICKING
Johnson’s departure from Cronulla has left a vacancy in the crucial job of goalkicking.
Hynes, in an insight into his intent, has snapped that task up too.
“I want to be a goal kicker, I love it. I want to do everything I can,” Hynes, who has a career strike rate of 76.5 per cent, said.
“I’ll definitely putting my hand up to kick goals.
“It’s exciting times for this club. There’s been a really good feeling the past few days I’ve been here.
“I want to help get Cronulla back to finals footy where they belong.’’
HALFBACK HYNES
The Central Coast product played almost his entire juniors in the halves, running the show for the 2015 Manly SG Ball side that made the grand final and featured Tom Trbojevic and Sharks teammate Jesse Ramien.
Hynes also played at the scrumbase for the Norths Devils in the Queensland Cup.
The fact that Hynes excelled, mostly at fullback or from the bench for the Storm over the past two seasons, speaks to his talent, feel for the game and class.
But undeniably, the lure by Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon for Hynes to replace Shaun Johnson in the halves in 2022, was the clincher.
“I’m thinking I’m in the halves somewhere — I’m not thinking anywhere else,’’ Hynes, who has played 36 NRL games, said.
“We’ve got Will Kennedy here at fullback, who is a really good player and I’ll fit somewhere in the seven or six (jersey).
“When I had that first phone call with Fitzy he mentioned me being in the halves.
“I grew-up playing in the halves my whole life, so it’s not new to me at all.
“People might think that, but I only played fullback when I was at the Storm.
“It was pretty exciting for me to play in the halves here and get my hand on the ball a bit earlier, rather than second or third all the time.
“You can’t really control the game at fullback.
“Controlling the game was something I was good at when I was a bit young so hopefully I can get back to that again.”
MOYLAN, TRINDALL, METCALF
Hynes laughed when asked who he believed would work best alongside him in the halves for Cronulla with rookie halves Braydon Trindall and Luke Metcalf in the running alongside experienced five-eighth Matt Moylan.
“That’s up to the coach,’’ Hynes smiled.
“They’re great players, they bring different qualities.
“I honestly don’t know. It’s going to be a really good battle — for me as well.
“I definitely don’t have my spot locked up, I have to train well also.’’
LEADERSHIP AND FINUCANE
The Sharks leadership vacuum and support for captain Wade Graham over the past three seasons has been glaring.
The same can’t be said in 2022, where experienced forward Cam McInnes will also be crucial.
Yet Hynes revealed his own desire to develop as a leader, while explaining the influence of fellow Storm recruit Dale Finucane.
“I’ve been vocal that I want to be a main player of this team, so me coming back early to training and getting to work straight away is going to be a crucial part in how we go next year,’’ Hynes said.
“I want to be the guy they (teammates) look at on the field when it’s needed.
“Being in that playmaking role, everyone looks to you to get around the park and I really enjoyed that part of my season this year.
“It’s a bonus that he’s (Finucane) come with me.
“He’s the ultimate professional, everything he does from the gym to the field, rehab, prehab, he doesn’t leave any stone unturned.
“His leadership is second to none.”
Under pressure: Is Fittler 2.0 ready to save Bulldogs?
By Paul Crawley
They are the six star NRL recruits that will go into next season under more pressure than any of the other big names who have swapped clubs.
And the reason is simple:
They all play in the halves, and have been recruited by clubs that all missed the finals this year.
Former South Sydney skipper Adam Reynolds heads this list of playmakers that also includes Matt Burton, Nicho Hynes, Shaun Johnson, Jamal Fogarty and Jackson Hastings.
Every one of them has the potential to turn their new teams into finals contenders. But the odds are the majority of them will fail that challenge.
JACKSON HASTINGS – Wests Tigers
Age: 25
Career Games: 47 NRL, 70 Super League
Everything Hastings has said since his return from England suggests that he has spent his time in the Super League wisely. He played some outstanding football over there and he reckons he’s grown into a better person.
So good luck to him.
What is perplexing for me is trying to work out where Hastings will fit in given the Tigers maintain they have no intention releasing Luke Brooks while Adam Doueihi has categorically said he wants to play five-eighth.
Of course, that’s not even taking young Jock Madden into consideration.
Doueihi will miss the start of the season because of his knee injury, but I struggle to see why the Tigers would be buying Hastings to play anywhere other than halfback.
ADAM REYNOLDS – Broncos
Age: 31
Career Games: 231
This will end up a spectacular success or the greatest regret of Reynolds’ distinguished career. I can’t see any in-between.
I expect Reynolds will guide the Broncos into the finals because they have an outstanding pack and some wonderfully talented backs. And for too long now they have been terribly disappointing.
Reynolds is exactly the No 7 they needed.
But the pressure the little halfback from Redfern is taking on will be unlike anything he ever encountered at the Rabbitohs.
Of course, Reynolds takes over as the chief playmaker at the former powerhouse that hasn’t played finals footy for two straight seasons.
Throw in the fact coach Kevvie Walters has just agreed to a new contract that offers no guarantees beyond the fact that he has a job but he can be booted out at any time, and if the Broncos don’t fire the pressure is going to mount regardless.
What won’t help is the fact Reynolds’ former Rabbitohs coach Wayne Bennett is now in charge of the Dolphins (who will become the Broncos’ biggest competitors when they enter the league the following season).
Make no mistake, this coming year will be among the most critical in the Broncos’ proud history.
MATT BURTON – Bulldogs
Age: 21
Career Games: 32
Burton reminds me of a young Brad Fittler the way he just oozes confidence and class on the footy field.
In years to come I reckon Burton could turn out to be one of the best buys in the Bulldogs’ proud history.
It’s just with only 32 NRL games in a bank so far (and, remember, a good whack of those where playing in the centres this year) my immediate worry is whether Burton is ready to handle the pressure that goes with being the dominant playmaker in a team that has been planted down near the bottom of the ladder for several seasons.
As good as the Bulldogs’ overall recruitment has been this year, where they have let themselves down is that they just don’t have the experience in the spine to seriously challenge the top teams consistently at this point.
NICHO HYNES – Sharks
Age: 25
Career Games: 36
It wouldn’t shock me one bit if the Sharks challenge for a top four position next year and Hynes is right up with the leading contenders for the Dally M Medal.
Which will be a pleasant change for Cronulla fans given some of the dud buys they have had to put up with in recent years.
When the club forked out massive money on players who just didn’t seem to appreciate the size of their pay packets, and only in rare moments lived up to their hype.
But Hynes just seems to have this wonderfully humble nature and you get the feeling there is no chance he will be taking his new-found fame, or the size of his salary, for granted.
This year he was close to the best consistently for the team that led the way, and his career is still a long way from peaking.
SHAUN JOHNSON – Warriors
Age: 31
Career Games: 206
This is a crazy reunion when you think back to what the Warriors said about Johnson when he was sent packing just three years ago.
The difference now is that he returns on less than half the money and it just might be at a time in Johnson’s life when he’s ready to be that steadying influence the Warriors have long craved.
Johnson copped his share of good and bad publicity at the Sharks but what can’t be disputed is that when he was fit and firing he was still as dangerous as the best of them.
I still can’t see the Warriors playing finals footy next year, and if that turns out to be the case it will be Johnson wearing a huge chunk of the criticism.
JAMAL FOGARTY – Raiders
Age: 27
Career Games: 41
Ricky Stuart has a history of riding his halfbacks hard. Some thrive on it, some fold.
But one thing going for the new recruit who will be wearing Stuart’s old Raiders’ No 7 jumper next year is that they reckon Fogarty trains as hard as anyone and is a first class person to boot.
And while he might not have the star power of some of the game’s elite playmakers, the Raiders bought him knowing what he was capable of.
He just needs to keep things simple and manage the team, and that will allow Jack Wighton to get back to doing what he does best, running the football.
If that happens the Raiders have every chance of rocketing up the ladder.
The hooker who jumps first could rake it in
— Dean Ritchie
This has become the great hooking carousel worth up to $5m – and he who hesitates may miss the big bucks and glamour club.
Ten NRL hookers, including some genuine NRL stars, come off contract after next season – each holding private fears that a moment of hesitation could be costly.
Several hookers are being chased by the one club – meaning the first to move might pinch the big contract at the big club.
The ten hookers officially on the open market for 2023 are Api Koroisau, Brandon Smith, Blayke Brailey, Freddy Lussick, Josh Hodgson, Tom Starling, Mitch Kenny, Reed Mahoney, Jake Turpin and Manase Fainu.
Wests Tigers have been linked to Koroisau and Hodgson.
Mahoney and Koroisau have both being connected to the Bulldogs and Dolphins.
Smith and Mahoney are being pursued by Gold Coast.
Mahoney is being chased by Brisbane, leaving incumbent Broncos hooker Turpin unsure of his future.
Player agents are telling their clients to remain patient – but players are becoming increasingly anxious to nail down their futures given that so many hookers have now entered the open market.
One leading NRL player agent said: “There is Api Koroisau, Josh Hodgson, Brandon Smith, Reed Mahoney there are a fair few hookers coming off. It will be like a domino effect.
“Whoever goes first, whether it’s Api, Reed or Brandon, that will determine where the other guys end up. It will depend on who makes the call first. It will be a chain reaction.”
Smith was photographed meeting with Gold Coast officials this week while Mahoney was sprung enjoying dinner with Bulldogs officials inside Canterbury Leagues Club.
Koroisau has been formally approached by Wests Tigers and been linked to Canterbury, a club he almost signed with before joining Penrith in 2020. His chances of staying may depend on whether Penrith re-sign giant forward Viliame Kikau, also off contract after next season.
Smith has multiple offers to consider with Gold Coast and New Zealand Warriors on top of the pile followed by three additional Queensland clubs – Cowboys, Broncos and Dolphins.
The Warriors have increased their interest in Smith after Joey Manu re-signed with the Sydney Roosters.
Hodgson could be headed to Concord – possibly for this coming season – but negotiations between his existing Canberra and Wests Tigers appeared to have stalled over money.
Mahoney has interest from Canterbury, Gold Coast and Brisbane but now appears likely to stay at Parramatta while Turpin is also expected to attract plenty of interest.
Asked about Mahoney, his manager Sam Ayoub only said: “Meaningful discussions have been had.”
He may be Cronulla’s number one dummy half but Brailey is certain to come under pressure from new buy Cam McInnes. Canberra wants to re-sign Starling but another off-field incident last month has stalled negotiations.
Fainu has been stood down by the NRL since 2019. Manly re-signed the gun hooker last year until the end of next season. Once his legal issues are concluded, and he is permitted to return to rugby league, he will be in hot demand.
North Queensland’s Jake Granville is also off contract after next season but the club has an option for 2023. It remain unclear whether Penrith can retain both hookers – Koroisau and Kenny – for 2023.
Panthers CEO Brain Fletcher remains hopeful Koroisau can be re-signed after next season.
“Api is totally committed to playing here in 2022 with us. We will enter negotiations with him down the track to extend his career at Panthers,” Fletcher said.
“Hopefully we can extend his contract because he’s a great player and he’s played in our premiership-winning side.”
News Corp also probed Fletcher about Kikau.
“He has a contract to play with us for next year and the club if fully committed – like we were with Matt Burton – to having him playing in ’22 side,” Fletcher said.
“Further to that, down the track, conversations will be had with his management to hopefully continue his career at Penrith. It’s pretty hard to go and find another player like Viliame. We see no reason why they (Kikau and Koroisau) would want to leave the club.”
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