NRL Round 19: Nicho Hynes stars Sharks win 24-12 over Dolphins

Sharks star Nicho Hynes has produced some magic, as Cronulla shut down a frenetic Dolphins comeback to snap a two-game losing streak and surge back into the top-eight.

Toby Rudolf will never have to pay for another drink in the Shire again after the prop forward produced a huge play in defence to kill off a frenetic Dolphins comeback as the Sharks held on for a crucial 24-12 win on a night Nicho Hynes stood tall.

The Sharks looked set to cruise to a comfortable win in front of their fans when they raced out to a 14-0 lead, but two stunning tries in the space of four minutes turned the game on its head.

The Dolphins had all the momentum and looked certain to score the winner when Jeremy Marshall-King was leading the race for a grubber, only for Rudolf to come from nowhere to spoil him as he tried to ground it.

It was a huge play for a team that has forgotten how to win lately, with Hynes punishing the error by slicing through for his second try just two minutes later.

Nicho Hynes stood up for the Sharks as Cronulla secured a much needed victory after two-straight losses. Picture: Getty Images

Hynes was the magic man for Cronulla and combined beautifully with Blayke Brailey who was outstanding through the middle, with the halfback also nailing some key conversions from out wide to keep his side well in front.

The former Dally M Medal winner saved his best for the final play of the night when he threw a peach of a pass to set up Sione Katoa in the corner.

HAMMER BLOW

They’ve been the hottest attacking team across the past two months, but the Dolphins finally met their match on Thursday night with the absence of two key men hurting them dearly.

A hamstring injury to Kodi Nikorima left their left edge without its usual spark, while the decision to rest Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow meant they were without their speedster who torched the Sharks 12 months ago with one of the tries of 2024.

The Dolphins threatened a second half comeback, reducing the Sharks lead to just two-points at one stage. Picture: Getty Images

You couldn’t begrudge them for resting their star fullback just two days after Origin, but it left Isaiya Katoa with too much to do and allowed the Sharks to go after the young halfback for the first hour.

It took something special for them to score their first of the night when Jake Averillo sliced through, kicked with the outside of his right boot and found Max Feagai who scooped up the ball and fought through the defence to score.

That was only the entree as Herbie Farnworth put on his dancing shoes and scooted through the heart of the defence before he linked up with Kurt Donoghoe who threw a blatant forward pass for the Englishman to score.

The loss bumps the Dolphins out of the top eight with a crucial clash against the Cowboys coming up next week.

UP UP INTO THE EIGHT

There was nothing pretty about it, but the Sharks won’t care one bit as they woke up from their June slumber to jump back inside the top eight.

The Sharks had lost four of their past five games to slump to tenth spot on the ladder, but they are now back in the finals mix after grinding out a much-needed victory thanks to their stifling defence which returned after a few off weeks.

Craig Fitzgibbon has built his reputation on defence and would have been filthy with his side after they conceded 164 points in their past five matches, but they tormented the visitors with the physicality that Cronulla locals love so dearly.

Originally published as NRL Round 19: Nicho Hynes stars Sharks win 24-12 over Dolphins