NRL 2023: Proof Nicho Hynes puts mother Julie before everything else
While Nicho Hynes is yet to speak publicly about mother Julie’s recent court case, the Sharks star’s agent has revealed just how protective the mother and son bond is.
NRL
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As the sun rises over Cronulla beach, Nicho Hynes leads his teammates down on the sand through a 45-minute breathing and meditation class.
On his days off from Sharks training, Hynes walks back through the gates of his old high school on the Central Coast to encourage students that it’s okay to talk about their feelings and mental health.
With his mother Julie facing another prison sentence, Hynes tells her she’s all that matters to him, that he wants to stay by her side through her trial and that he won’t go to New Zealand to wear the Indigenous All Stars jersey – even though that jersey means everything to his family.
On the behest of his mother, Hynes relents and plays.
He unashamedly draws a love heart and writes “Mum” on his wrist and in the representative game two weeks ago, which featured superstars Latrell Mitchell, Cody Walker and Jack Wighton, Hynes won the man of the match award.
And this week Hynes moved past his humble beginnings – which included seeing his mother serve three jail sentences between the ages of five and 12 – to be anointed the NRL’s face of the game for the 2023 season.
“He is the ultimate package and we haven’t seen the best of him yet,’’ champion rugby league player Andrew Ettingshausen said.
FACE OF THE GAME
In the 1990s, Ettingshausen carried the mantle of the game’s poster boy, with rugby league administrators and marketing teams using his model looks and clean-cut image to promote the game to new audiences.
Ettingshausen said Hynes, the 2022 Dally M winner and man of the match of the All Stars match two weeks ago, is everything to a code wanting to increase TV ratings, crowd numbers and junior participation numbers.
“When you hear him speak, there’s a deep underlying passion and love for the game, that’s the special part,’’ Ettingshausen said.
“He wants the game to do incredibly well and he wants everyone around him to do well.
“You see his interaction with young girls and boys, his passion for the Indigenous jersey, his leadership at the Sharks and the unwavering support for his family.
“He is nothing but himself, a young man who understands how fortunate he is and is respectful of the position.
“His focus is so narrow on making himself the best player.
“I know even in his social life, he’s more of a homebody and thinking about how he can improve, rather than going out dancing all night.’’
THE BOSS
ARL chairman Peter V’landys rarely comments on individual players.
He made an exception for Hynes.
The memory of Hynes wearing face paint and opening the Dally M ceremony last year with an Indigenous dance while in a three-piece suit still affects the chairman.
One of the most influential men in Australian sport, V’landys then sat and watched the Sharks halfback close the night with a stirring speech after winning the Dally M medal by the greatest points margin in the history of the prestigious award.
“I didn’t walk the easiest journey to get here, I had some challenges growing up and I’m now in a privileged position to give back and hopefully influence some people who have been in my position and are walking a tough journey right now,’’ Hynes said with the medal around his neck.
“Hopefully I inspire them to be here where we’re standing today.’’
Asked if he considered Hynes the ultimate advertisement for the game, V’landys said: “Yes, he is”.
“I love Nicho’s story, he’s what makes me want to do the job I’m doing.
“He’s come from the tougher side of the tracks, worked his backside off and emerged as an inspiration for so many.
“I’ll never forget his Dally M speech last year. Every boy and girl should sit down and Google it. The entire game should be proud to have him with us.’’
LOVE YOU, MUM
Hynes’s mother Julie is a raw spot for the star playmaker. He is yet to speak publicly about her latest court case.
Like most loving sons, he is deeply protective of his mum.
Fans have commented that Hynes’ support for his mother only adds to his authenticity. So too was his arrival last year to his first Dally Ms with Julie on his arm.
He was also there at Gosford District Court to lend support.
Earlier this month the mother of the NRL star was found guilty of the principal offence of knowingly supplying heroin.
In achieving the verdict, the Crown has stated they will now consider withdrawing one or more of the backup charges, which include using her home as a drug premises and dealing with the proceeds of crime.
She will be sentenced on May 8.
“He’s under enormous personal stress at the moment with a family matter off the field. A lot of people would go off the rails and yet he’s just so committed,’’ Ettingshausen said.
“And when I say that, he’s just so committed to the game, to being the best player and person he can be.’
Hynes’s agent Andrew Purcell added another layer to just how committed the footballer is to his mum.
“A lot of the sponsor engagements that were lined up for him have all been put on hold because it doesn’t rank anyone near where things rank with his mum,’’ Purcell said.
“When you talk about the realness of a person, he’s truly authentic. There’s nothing fake about Nicho.
“You’re not going to find a different version of himself. He puts it out for everyone to see.’’
SPONSORSHIP DOLLARS
With his boyish good looks, his current standing as the game’s best player and willingness to stop for a chat with the local butcher, baker or brickie at his home in the Sutherland Shire, Hynes has no shortage of sponsors wanting to be part of his brand.
Yet, for two reasons, the 26-year-old is deliberately and strategically taking an opposing view.
Hynes has asked his agent to press pause on the flood of lucrative sponsorship opportunities so he can provide his mother with his unwavering support.
Secondly, as Hynes declares on the top of his Instagram bio: ‘Patience is the key.’’
“Sometimes when you see an athlete reach a level of profile, you see them take a backward step,’’ Purcell said.
“Nicho is very in tune with the fact that he knows where he’s come from and it’s only early days as far as his NRL career goes.
“We don’t see there being any need to rush things. We want to work with the right people at the right levels.
“In that sponsorship space, if you want to be everything to everyone, you end up being nothing to no one.
“He’s going to be Dally M player of the year for the rest of his life.
“He’s taken a long diverse road to get where he’s got too. That story in itself is inspirational to a lot of players. It’s a fabulous case study on not giving up on your dreams.
“Continuing to walk the walk, is the focus. It’s a frightening thing to think where his ceiling might be because he’s only 60 games into his NRL career.’’
LIFETIME DEAL
After steering the Indigenous side to victory, Hynes was linked to a lifetime deal at the Sharks, as revealed on the back page of The Daily Telegraph.
2023 will be Hynes’s second year of an original three-year deal – worth around $600,000 – that he signed to join coach Craig Fitzgibbon at Cronulla last year.
As reported, Cronulla management is in negotiation to resign the star to a monster long term deal – more than $900,000 per year – and Hynes has indicated he doesn’t want to go anywhere.
“Hurry Steve Mace (Sharks chairman) up so we can get it done,’’ Hynes joked with MC Danika Mason on stage at the Sharks season launch last week.
According to Purcell, the new contract is all part of a story that the entire game should latch onto.
“He’s taken a long, diverse road to get where he’s got to,’’ Purcell said.
“That story in itself is inspirational to a lot of players. It’s a fabulous case study on not giving up on your dreams.’’
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