Nicho Hynes as you’ve never seen him before

They’re the pictures of NRL star Nicho Hynes that prove the Cronulla Shark has some serious fashion bite, as he predicts his teammates will “definitely give me sh*t” for his first ever high fashion shoot.

$$$ $$Picture: Damian Bennett

They’re the pictures of NRL star Nicho Hynes that prove the Cronulla Shark has some serious fashion bite.

Photographed as part of Stellar’s First Nations Issue, which appears in this weekend’s Sunday Telegraph, the Wiradjuri man and Fox Sports ambassador is already anticipating the feedback he’ll have from his teammates on his first ever high fashion shoot.

“They will definitely give me sh*t for it,” Hynes, who just signed a history-making $7 million playing contract with the Sharks.

In a candid interview, Hynes - whose refreshing honesty, skill and trademark hair has made him one of the most popular players in the NRL – opens up on how his childhood shaped him and how the game has helped him reconnect with his Indigenous heritage.

Nicho Hynes in his first ever fashion shoot for Stellar. Picture: Damian Bennett

Growing up in the Central Coast of NSW, Hynes lived with his father Mick Wilson and older brother Wade, while his mother Julie was in and out of prison. “Because of everything that happened, I could have easily said life has been hard and just easily go and drink and go party. But I’ve never wanted to let my five year old self down,” he explains. “I have used that as motivation ever since.”

Hynes’ maternal grandfather was an Aboriginal man but was taken away from his mother when she was young. With his own mother not around full-time in those formative years, parts of Hynes’ culture were lost. She came home when Hynes was 12, and that was when he learnt of his Wiradjuri roots.

“[Kids at school said] ‘You’re too white to be black.’ And I went back into my shell about it because at the time I really cared what people were saying and it got to me,” he says. “But rugby league has this lovely thing where you can get in touch with your culture and learn more about it.”

Jessica Mauboy on the cover of this weekend’s First Nations issue of Stellar, which exclusively features First Nations people, including Nicho Hynes.

Hynes’ who is now one of the biggest names in the game after being awarded the 2022 Dally M medal, the sport’s highest honour, also opened up on why not being selected for games two and three of this year’s State of Origin series is “the best thing for me” despite his Origin snub becoming one of the biggest storylines of this season

“Internally I felt like I was dealing with it,” Hynes who revealed the past couple of months have been some of the most challenging of his career. “I was putting on a brave face but I realised that I was probably a bit of a dick to be around and I was probably taking it out ones closer to me,” he says. “But at the end of the day, I look back on this and it’ll probably be the best thing for me. Like I’ve been on such a high. It’s something I’ll learn from then I’ll come out of it a better person, better player.”

Although this isn’t the only hurdle Hynes has faced. Only ever wanting to play rugby league, Hynes got his start playing for Manly in the Under 20s however that didn’t lead to an NRL contract, so he moved to Queensland to play reserve grade.

“My five year old self loved the attention, so he wouldn’t be too upset with it,” he laughs. Picture: Damian Bennett

“When I moved away, I went through a lot of mental health issues and I was struggling a lot. I was ready to call it in and just move back home and be the local footy hero,” he explains.

But it was working as a teacher’s aide at a local school that changed the course of his life. “I was rocking up to school where these kids from a low socio-economic area had a bit of trouble at home but they came to school with a smile on their face every single day. I thought if they could come every day with a smile after what they’ve been through, then why can’t I get back on the horse and chase my dreams? I just started to build the belief back in myself and build a better life than what I had as a kid.”

Hynes eventually signed with the Melbourne Storm, which then led him to the Cronulla Sharks. Hynes has been selected in representative Indigenous All-Star teams and says it’s through those camps with Elders and other Indigenous players, he’s learnt to be a vocal Indigenous man. “It’s such an amazing culture to be a part of and I’m not scared to open up about it. I don’t care about the colour of my skin. All that matters is what’s inside me and in my heart and who I am as a person. I’m so proud to be an Aboriginal man and I’m trying to inspire the young kids like me who have got the fairer skin, to come out and be proud at a younger age than I was,” he says, adding it’s his dream to start up a foundation to support the sporting dreams of underprivileged children.

“I’m a pretty usual Aussie footy bloke,” says Hynes. Picture: Damian Bennett

Despite the spotlight being on him, Hynes says he’s not going to stop speaking from his heart. “I keep remembering that every single move you make there is someone watching him, and there’s going to be one little kid that’s going to be always remembering that one thing you said or did. And I just think the more that people can see when you’re heart led and you’re being yourself and you don’t have to hide away. If I can do that and change people’s perspective in life, then that’s what I want to do. That’s my purpose.

So if that five year old child is Hynes’ biggest motivation in life, what would he think of a high fashion shoot even if he admits his teammates will definitely torment him?

“My five year old self loved the attention, so he wouldn’t be too upset with it,” he laughs. But also, he would be pinching himself. “I’m a pretty usual Aussie footy bloke. I just like having a beer and going out and playing footy. From where I was to where I am now, to being in a magazine like this and inspiring the next generation of Indigenous people, or just anyone in general, to know they can do it as well. I’m extremely grateful to be in the position I’m in.”

Read the full interview inside The Sunday Telegraph (NSW), Sunday Herald Sun (VIC), The Sunday Mail (QLD), and Sunday Mail (SA) this weekend.

Originally published as Nicho Hynes as you’ve never seen him before