NRL 2021: Brisbane recruitment target Nicho Hynes a win on and off the field for Broncos
He’s attracting widespread recruitment interest on the back of his performances for Melbourne, yet Nicho Hynes provides a lot more value to any potential club than just from his on-field heroics.
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Storm cult figure Brandon Smith believes Nicho Hynes can be a matchwinning poster boy for Brisbane as the Broncos close in on the $1.2 million signature of the in-form Melbourne fullback.
St George Illawarra were considered a major threat to snaring Hynes but Dragons coach Anthony Griffin has ruled out signing the Storm custodian, putting the Broncos in the box seat to snare the man who destroyed them on Thursday night.
Hynes was in sublime touch in Melbourne’s 40-12 rout, amassing 177 metres, eight tackle busts, three line breaks, two try assists, one try and a 16-point haul to underline why he would be a revelation in the Broncos’ No. 1 jumper.
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Brisbane tabled a formal offer on match eve, believed to be a three-year deal worth $400,000 a season, and on Hynes’ current form, his likely acquisition could be a bargain buy for the Broncos.
Storm hooker Smith ably supported Hynes with a two-try haul and the Kiwi Test star is adamant the 24-year-old would be a huge asset on and off the field if he joined the Broncos in 2022.
“Whether the Broncos get him or not, he will be an asset to any club,” Smith said of Hynes, who last month opened up about overcoming his off-field battle with depression.
“What Nicho brings is a lot of good spirit. He is a really good guy to have around the club.
“He is what you call a poster boy.
“Mental health is a big thing for him and a big issue that he has faced before.
“He is the first person, if you are struggling, to go and have a conversation with because you know he has been through it all and he is always willing to help out.
“Regardless of football, having someone like that around the club is always good. He has mental health chats with us and gives presentations about all that stuff.
“As not only a footballer, he is someone that you want around as a friend.”
The Broncos are expecting a definitive call from Hynes next week and remain confident he will be part of Brisbane‘s reconstructed playmaking spine next season involving new halves Kotoni Staggs and Adam Reynolds.
Hynes is happy at the Storm but accepts he will probably have to leave to play regular first grade considering he is stuck behind fullback sensation Ryan Papenhuyzen in Melbourne.
The Storm, however, are refusing to give up hope of winning a tug of war against the Broncos for Hynes‘ services.
“We really want to keep him without a doubt,” Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy said.
“We think he is a very talented player and he is a popular guy around the group. It all depends on what Nicho wants out of his footy career at this time and next year.
“We have a position in our cap where we can offer him a certain amount. Whether that is going to be enough, I’m not quite sure.
“It is hard for us to guarantee him a spot in the starting team. We can guarantee him a spot in the top 17.”
Even Bellamy has been surprised by the stellar form of Hynes while filling in as starting fullback for the injured Papenhuyzen.
“The thing I didn’t seen in him was the number of involvements he’s having in these games, and he continues to do it week-in and week-out,” Bellamy said.
“Sometimes you might get a guy do it one week or two weeks in a row but he has been like that the last six weeks.
“I know he’s a talented player and he’s got a good head for the game and a good skill set.”
Originally published as NRL 2021: Brisbane recruitment target Nicho Hynes a win on and off the field for Broncos
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