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NRL live round 7: Nicho Hynes notches big SuperCoach ton as Kalyn Ponga injured again

Just about every Cronulla Sharks player had a blinder in a points-fest, but the big talking point out of today’s games is the fresh injury to Kalyn Ponga.

Tom SangsterTom Sangster
@TomSangsterSC
8 min read
April 21, 2024 - 9:44PM
News Corp Australia Sports Newsroom
Nicho Hynes on his way to 133.
Nicho Hynes on his way to 133.

First the good. Nicho Hynes notched a big ton and the 9.7 per cent who captained him will be loitering around the office water cooler on Monday.

Now the bad. Kalyn Ponga limped around for 52 minutes with a hip injury he carried into the game, then finally succumbed to a foot injury.

The 14.1 per cent who captained him will be hiding under their desks and contemplating best trades.

“It’s nothing to do with his hip-pointer, it’s in the foot,” said coach Adam O’Brien. “It’s a ligament issue and as far as I know it’s pretty rare. They’re not great signs for us, but I couldn’t tell you exactly what it is.”

WINNERS

* Nicho Hynes (133) - In everything. His best score of the year with three try assists.

* Reuben Cotter (59) - His team was dominated but Cotter was a shining light with 49 tackles.

* Kayal Iro (56) - Those job security myths are well-and-truly busted. Iro was one of the best on field with 23 runs but unfortunately missed the attacking stats.

* Matt Burton (77) - If someone said pre-season that Burton would dominate the five-eighth position, you’d get some weird looks. But he’s well ahead and may well stay there given the pace he has outside him.

* Kai Pearce-Paul (75) - Finally got an attacking stat with a try assist. Looks pretty close to a genuine keeper at 2RF.

Nicho Hynes on his way to 133.
Nicho Hynes on his way to 133.

* Sam Hughes (69) - Chris Patalo went down in the third minute which ensured minutes for the SuperCoach stud. Scored a try with his first touch so start counting that cash.

* Josh Curran (63) - Another to benefit from the injury to Patolo, notching 67 minutes in a base stat special. Also had a try assist from a grubber denied by the Bunker.

* Bronson Xerri (60) - Scored a try and locked in a price rise of around $60,000 for the many who got on this week. Notched 18 runs in a very promising performance.

* Valentine Holmes (61) - It wasn’t looking good for Val when he sat at under 30 with 18 minutes to go. But he notched the Cowboys’ only try and surged to a decent score considering the flow of the game.

LOSERS

* Kalyn Ponga (13) - Limped around for 52 minutes with a hip injury he carried into the game, then finally succumbed to a foot injury. We await updates on his injury but it doesn’t sound good and almost 50,000 SuperCoaches may be looking to sell.

* Greg Marzhew (29) - Usually a great base stats performer but quiet in a well-beaten side.

* Jeremaiah Nanai (44) - Dropped to the bench and then produced a number of poor defensive plays.

* Reece Robson (40) - Currently topping the hooker position but produced his worst score of the year.

FULL-TIME: SHARKS BEAT COWBOYS 42-6

Just about every Cronulla player had a blinder as the Sharks dominated from start to finish.

Nicho Hynes ended on 133, while Ronaldo Mulitalo ran in two second half tries to finish on 94.

For the Cowboys, popular keeper Valentine Holmes (61) managed to score a late try against the run of play to notch a respectable score but it was mostly hard yakka for North Queensland players.

Nicho Hynes cracked 133 points.
Nicho Hynes cracked 133 points.

57th MIN: NICHO CRACKS TON WITH 23 MINS LEFT

To those who captained Nicho Hynes, well done.

He was the third most popular captain behind Kalyn Ponga (13, injured) and Tom Trbobjevic (86) - but has already well-eclipsed both.

Nicho has surged to 112 with three try assists - and there’s still more than a quarter of the game left.

His latest assist involved a lovely cut-out pass to Ronaldo Mulitalo.

HALF-TIME: SHARKS LEAD COWBOYS 24-NIL

The Sharks are running riot at Shark Park and it’s a SuperCoach points-fest.

Just about every popular SuperCoach-relevant player is doing well:

* If you captained Nicho Hynes (67) you look like a genius so far given the earlier injury to fellow popular captain Kalyn Ponga (more below).

* Cheapie of the week Kayal Iro (34) has 13 runs in one half. Yes THIRTEEN. Those job security issues are surely dead and buried.

* Reuben Cotter (37) is pumping out the base in a well beaten side, making 32 tackles already.

30 MINS: STUNNING MOMENTS WOW SHARK PARK

Two incredible moments here.

Firstly, fan favourite Tom Hazelton, a prop, did his best impression of an outside back by stepping through a host of players to score.

And the crowd loved it.

But probably not quite as much as the next try to debutant Sam Stonestreet.

A third generation first grade player, Stonestreet scored right in front of a huge contingent of family and friends and the celebrations went off tap.

The Sharks lead 18-nil and are completely dominating this contest.

16th MIN: KAYAL IRO, YOU BEAST!

Our cheapie of the week has produced a powerhouse start with 17 points in base, including 7 runs already.

Elsewhere, it’s a slow-ish start compared to the second half madness in the Bulldogs v Knights clash.

Will Kennedy opened the scoring early for the Knights but it’s largely been a finding out session between two pretty solid sides.

LATE MAIL: COWBOYS PULL BENCH SWITCH

Not a great deal to speak of here (thankfully, not sure I could handle more mass changes and I’m still rattled from the Kalyn Ponga injury).

Sharks are 1-17.

The Cowboys have promoted Jack Gosiewski to start on the edge with Jeremiah Nanai going back to the bench.

Sharks: 1. William Kennedy 2. Samuel Stonestreet 3. Jesse Ramien 4. Kayal Iro 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Braydon Trindall 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Thomas Hazelton 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Oregon Kaufusi 11. Briton Nikora 12. Teig Wilton 13. Cameron McInnes

Bench: 14. Jack Williams 15. Toby Rudolf 16. Siosifa Talakai 17. Braden Hamlin-Uele

Reserves: 18. Daniel Atkinson

Cut: 19. Tuku Hau Tapuha 20. Kade Dykes 21. Billy Burns 22. Mawene Hiroti

Cowboys: 1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Kyle Feldt 3. Valentine Holmes 4. Tomas Chester 5. Semi Valemei 6. Tom Dearden 7. Chad Townsend 8. Jordan McLean 9. Reece Robson 10. Jason Taumalolo 11. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 17. Jack Gosiewski 13. Reuben Cotter

Bench: 12. Jeremiah Nanai 14. Jake Granville 15. Griffin Neame 16. Sam McIntyre

Reserves: 19. Thomas Mikaele

Players cut: 18. Jake Clifford 20. Marly Bitungane 21. Jamal Shibasaki 22. Viliami Vailea

Top SuperCoach scorers at full-time in Bulldogs v Knights.
Top SuperCoach scorers at full-time in Bulldogs v Knights.

FULL-TIME: PONGA INJURED AS DOGS RUN RIOT

Well that second half was an absolute bloodbath.

With Kalyn Ponga (foot/hip) and Tom Jenkins (knee) both injured early in the second stanza, the Knights capitulated.

Meanwhile, the Bulldogs produced arguably their best half of the season.

Bailey Hayward (on debut), Josh Addo-Carr and Stephen Crichton all crossed as the Bulldogs surged to a dominant 36-12 win, while Bradman Best scored a consolation try for the Knights on full-time.

The game got heated late with Jack Hetherington and Reed Mahoney sent to the sin bin after a series of scuffles.

Kalyn Ponga struggles with hip and foot injuries.
Kalyn Ponga struggles with hip and foot injuries.

60TH MIN: FRESH PONGA INJURY CONFIRMED

Fox Sports sideline eye Matt Russell confirms Kalyn Ponga has been put in a moon boot.

So fresh foot injury confirmed. And the hip pointer injury clearly lingers.

54TH MIN: PONGA OFF!!!!

Massive injury news with Kalyn Ponga forced from the field with a fresh foot injury.

The Newcastle superstar also carried a hip injury into the game and struggled for impact.

Tyson Gamble has switched to fullback.

50TH MIN: MORE INJURY WOES FOR KNIGHTS

Winger Tom Jenkins is off after some knee-on-knee contact and is unlikely to return. Enari Tuala switches to the wing with Dylan Lucas shifting to centre.

HALF-TIME: PONGA A PASSENGER

The Bulldogs lead the Knights 18-6 and one thing is clear for SuperCoaches - Kalyn Ponga is struggling big-time.

The signs weren’t good pre-game when Ponga refused to guarantee if he’d play the full 80 minutes, saying he just wanted to “make half-time”.

He took just three runs for the half and had -5 in errors. Thankfully he kicked a conversion, which accounted for 4 of his 10 points.

But it wasn’t all bad news for SuperCoaches with popular buys Sam Hughes (51),

Bronson Xerri (47), Kai Pearce-Paul and Josh Curran (both 34) all putting in great halves of footy.

Top SuperCoach-relevant scorers:

- Reed Mahoney (64) including two try assists.

- Dylan Lucas (52) including a try

- Sam Hughes (51) including a try

- Bronson Xerri (47) including a try

- Kai Pearce-Paul and Josh Curran (both 34) in pure base

Struggling:

- Greg Marzhew (12) uncharacteristically quiet

- Kalyn Ponga (10) with only three runs and an error.

30th MIN: GAMBLE SETS UP KNIGHTS’ FIRST

Tyson Gamble was a late inclusion on game day and he’s vindicated his selection by sending Dylan Lucas over with a neat short ball.

Interestingly, while Kalyn Ponga has been a passenger all half due to a hip injury (he’s only on 9 SuperCoach points), he successfully took the shot at goal.

23RD MIN: DOGS IN FOR SECOND TRY

Jacob Kiraz scores in the corner and it’s 12-nil to the Bulldogs.

Fullback Connor Tracey burned the defence and held back the pass to the last possible moment to send the Lebanon international over in the corner.

“Speed, speed, speed,” said Blocker Roach in commentary.

And indeed it’s true, with Tracey showing a clean pair of heels and speedsters Bronson Xerri and Josh Addo-Carr lining up on the left.

17th MIN: DOGS PROP OUT OF GAME

Confirmation on the injury to Canterbury prop Chris Patolo ... it’s an MCL issue and he won’t return.

Surely big minutes for Sam Hughes, Jaeman Salmon and Josh Curran.

4th MIN: SUPERCOACHES COUNT THE CASH AS HUGHES CROSSES

Just as we typed Sam Hughes could be the big winner from the injury to Chris Patolo ... the big prop crosses for a try!

Hughes had only just come on the field before barging over one off the ruck.

At almost 40 per cent ownership and with a BE of -13, SuperCoaches are already counting that cash.

3rd MIN: BULLDOGS PROP LIMPS OFF

Early injury blow for the Bulldogs with prop Chris Patolo limping off.

But the big winner here could be popular SuperCoach buy Sam Hughes, who enters the game early.

ORIGIN POWER RANKINGS: NSW’S TOP 50 PLAYERS

While we wait for kick-off, sink your teeth into our Blues Origin power rankings.

We’ve ranked the top 50 NSW players according to their form so far this season.

Read here and have your say

LATE MAIL: KNIGHTS MAKE MASS CHANGES

Knights coach Adam O’Brien has torn apart his side, making mass changes for this afternoon’s clash against the Bulldogs.

Five-eighth Jack Cogger has been dropped with Tyson Gamble to start.

Daniel Saifiti will start at prop with twin brother Jacob shifting back to the bench.

Dane Gagai has been ruled out with a calf injury, with Enari Tuala moving to centre and Thomas Jenkins elevated to the starting side on the wing.

Kalyn Ponga has been cleared of a hip injury but is unlikely to kick goals.

The Bulldogs are 1-17 with Blake Taaffe (concussion) to return as a super sub.

Dane Gagai (left) and Jack Cogger (right) are both out. Picture: Scott Gardiner/Getty Images
Dane Gagai (left) and Jack Cogger (right) are both out. Picture: Scott Gardiner/Getty Images

Bulldogs: 1. Connor Tracey 2. Jacob Kiraz 3. Bronson Xerri 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Matt Burton 7. Drew Hutchison 22. Max King 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Chris Patolo 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Josh Curran 13. Jaeman Salmon

Bench: 14. Bailey Hayward 15. Poasa Faamausili 16. Kurtis Morrin 17. Blake Taaffe

18th man: 21. Jake Turpin

Players cut: 19. Toby Sexton 20. Liam Knight 23. Harry Hayes 22. Jeral Skelton

Knights: 1. Kalyn Ponga 2. Greg Marzhew 4. Bradman Best 5. Enari Tuala 22. Thomas Jenkins 20. Tyson Gamble 7. Jackson Hastings 15. Daniel Saifiti 9. Jayden Brailey 10. Leo Thompson 11. Dylan Lucas 12. Kai Pearce-Paul 13. Adam Elliott

Bench: 8. Jacob Saifiti 14. Phoenix Crossland 16. Jack Hetherington 19. Brodie Jones

18th man: 17. Mathew Croker

Players cut: 6. Jack Cogger 3. Dane Gagai 18. Jed Cartwright 21. David Armstrong

1.5 HOURS TO KICK-OFF: BULLDOGS THROW DICE IN FULLBACK EXPERIMENT

Connor Tracey has kept the No.1 jersey this week despite Blake Taafe returning to the side following a week off with concussion. Taafe will play off the bench.

There were fears Kalyn Ponga would be out with a hip injury but the Knights superstar is firing for the match.

Both teams are keen to go up the ladder after close losses.

At Shark Park, Sam Stonestreet will make his NRL debut in the place of suspended winger Sione Katoa.
It’s the Cowboys’ second week in Sydney and they’ll be looking to bounce back from a disappointing loss against the Cowboys.

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Originally published as NRL live round 7: Nicho Hynes notches big SuperCoach ton as Kalyn Ponga injured again

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