NRL 2021: Nicho Hynes signs with Cronulla Sharks on 3-year, $1.8m contract
The Cronulla Sharks have landed Melbourne Storm sensation Nicho Hynes on a massive three-year deal. This is how they did it.
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The Cronulla Sharks have signed Melbourne Storm utility star Nicho Hynes on a three-year $1.8 million contract, beating four rival clubs for his signature.
Storm, the Broncos, the Raiders and the Warriors were all desperately keen on the 24-year-old who can play in the halves or at fullback and has been in outstanding form for Melbourne.
Hynes broke the news to Storm coach Craig Bellamy and general manager of football Frank Ponissi on Tuesday night after reaching an agreement with the Sharks.
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The Daily Telegraph reported 48 hours earlier that incoming Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon has met with Hynes and his father at the Kincumber Hotel on the Central Coast.
The Sharks were so keen to secure Hynes that chairman Steve Mace personally handled the negotiations with the help of club legends Paul Gallen and Luke Lewis.
Last Thursday Hynes and his partner had lunch with Mace, chief executive Dino Mezzatesta, Gallen, Lewis and front-rower Andrew Fifita at the Pines restaurant on the Cronulla beach front.
Fifita was there because his brother is one of Hynes’ closest mates.
It is a huge coup for the Sharks, less than a week after locking down middle forward Toby Rudolf and fullback Will Kennedy on new contracts.
“This is massive for us,” Mace said.
“It’s a huge vote of confidence in Fitzy, our whole football operation and the direction we are heading.
“We were always hopeful we’d be in a position to attract good playing with Fitzy on board.
“Nicho is a terrific young fella and it is a credit to Craig Bellamy and Frank Ponessi for developing not just a great footy player but a very humble young man.”
Sharks sources are suggesting Fitzgibbon has signed Hynes to play in the halves.
This means it is highly unlikely both Matt Moylan and Shaun Johnson will remain at the club with Fitzgibbon facing a difficult choice between the pair.
The signing is a huge boost for the Sharks, having recently missed out on Rabbitohs star Adam Reynolds.
It is why Mace stepped in alongside Mezzatesta to handle the negotiations.
“Having Gal and Luke Lewis obviously helps,” Mace said, “No-one tells our story better than those two. They were a really important part of the negotiations.”
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Originally published as NRL 2021: Nicho Hynes signs with Cronulla Sharks on 3-year, $1.8m contract
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