NRL 2021: Brisbane coach Kevin Walters keen to lure Storm utility Nicho Hynes to the Broncos
The Broncos are ready to strike back against Melbourne after losing Xavier Coates by targeting one of the Storm’s emerging stars for a switch to Brisbane.
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Broncos coach Kevin Walters has declared his interest in Nicho Hynes as Brisbane recruitment chiefs prepare to meet on Thursday to discuss tabling a formal offer for the Storm surprise packet.
Brisbane’s pursuit of Hynes is gathering steam with Walters to sit down with Brisbane’s recruitment-and-retention committee, which includes Darren Lockyer and new CEO Dave Donaghy, to discuss a potential poaching raid on the Storm.
Melbourne landed a blow on the Broncos a fortnight ago with the acquisition of boom winger Xavier Coates, but Brisbane are ready to strike back by upping the ante for the vastly-improved Hynes.
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The 24-year-old is off-contract at season’s end and has been a revelation filling in for the injured Ryan Papenhuyzen, fuelling Hynes’ belief he is ready to become a regular starter in the NRL.
That has opened the door for the Broncos, who view Hynes as a potential option at fullback, which would give Brisbane the flexibility to move current No.1 Jamayne Isaako back to the wing to replace the Storm-bound Coates.
The Broncos have been linked with Hynes for the past fortnight and Walters confirmed he will be seriously discussed as a recruitment target by Brisbane hierarchy.
“I am meeting with the retention committee on Thursday and I dare say he (Hynes) is one guy whose name will come up,” Walters said. “He is a good player that’s for sure.
“He is offering the Storm a lot so he’s one guy we are looking at.”
The Storm view Hynes as a key cog in the Melbourne system given his ability to play a number of positions and he is also a hugely popular player in the squad.
But after debuting in 2019 and gradually becoming a more prominent figure in the Storm’s NRL team, Hynes feels he is now ready to become a permanent starter.
That won’t happen at Melbourne with the Storm’s spine consisting of star trio Papenhuyzen, Jahrome Hughes and Cameron Munster.
Hynes’ best opportunity to become a regular starter will be at another club and the Storm are also unlikely to match the money rivals are prepared to offer.
Speaking after playing a starring role in Melbourne’s 44-18 demolition of the Dragons last Sunday, Hynes said he hoped Brisbane’s interest would translate into a formal offer.
“There are not any offers on the table at the moment, just discussions with the Storm and the Broncos as well, so I can’t really make a decision,” Hynes said.
“I am seeing on social media that I am going (to the Broncos) but there has been no offer as yet. I would rather make a decision sooner rather than later so I can just focus on the rest of the year.
“The Storm have spoken to me. We were meant to have a meeting the other day but the COVID rules came again and they got a bit busy, but I am sure I will sit down with them the next couple of weeks in camp (at Twin Waters).”
Hynes has scored five tries in 20 games for the Storm and has impressed with his footwork, vision and game awareness.
Broncos legend Lockyer said Brisbane could take confidence from Hynes developing good habits in Melbourne‘s premiership-winning system.
“The history on him is he was a five-eighth in his younger days,” Lockyer told Channel 9.
“Speaking from a commentator’s perspective, I think he is a good fullback.
“That is important in an NRL team if you want to be one of the good fullbacks, having a pass and kick is important.
“It’s always a little bit of a risk buying someone from the Melbourne Storm because the cap forces them out. They’ve been coached by Craig (Bellamy) who gets the best out of every individual.
“If you’re buying someone from the Melbourne Storm, sometimes they go to another club and it’s very rare they do as well as they did at that new club.
“There’s no doubt he’s got some talent and being in the Storm system, he’s learnt how to be disciplined. There are some good things to like about him.”
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