NSW Blues news: Nicho Hynes trains with squad, Isaah Yeo named vice-captain

NSW Blues halfback Nicho Hynes hit the training paddock today and made an immediate impact to the team’s structure and attacking potency.

Nicho Hynes and Liam Martin at Blues training on Thursday.

Blues halfback Nicho Hynes looks certain to take his place in the NSW side to play Queensland after training for the first time on Thursday ahead of next week’s State of Origin opener in Sydney.

Provided he pulls up well after the session in the Blue Mountains, it’s all systems go for the Cronulla No.7.

Hynes and five-eighth Jarome Luai now have six days to form an Origin-winning halves partnership.

“It was mad, bro. He killed it,” Luai said.

“Nicho was important out there today for us with his voice and getting us around the park.

“We’ve done a lot of planning and game planning off the field so it was good to get him out there and start forming those combinations. It’s been clear and I’ve really enjoyed those meetings. The membrane of the side is the spine.”

Nicho Hynes tests his injured calf at training. Picture: Rohan Kelly

Hynes has been troubled by a calf injury and didn’t train on Wednesday at Blue Mountains Grammar school in Wentworth Falls.

It was the same injury which forced Hynes out of Cronulla’s match against Penrith at halftime last weekend.

The media was kicked out of NSW training after 15 minutes but Hynes looked fit and ready during warm-up.

NSW and Panthers forward Liam Martin has a hamstring injury but also trained on Thursday.

Hynes and Martin did movement work away from the team at training.

The Blues didn’t push Hynes excessively hard at training. Martin missed Wednesday’s session as a precaution.

Nicho Hynes trains with the group. Picture: Rohan Kelly

NSW rake Reece Robson, who was one of three starting hookers used by the Blues in last year’s series, also backed Hynes to star in a new-look spine.

“Having Nicho back training was awesome,” Robson said. “He and Jarome complement each other perfectly on both sides of the park.

“They are both great attacking weapons and play real ad-lib footy.

“You need a bit of time to get the ‘reps’ in with a new spine. That’s the good thing about these camps. Everyone is bouncing around the place.

“It’s been a really good experience. The whole size is buzzing.”

NSW have a free day on Friday before training again on Saturday. The Blues will return to Sydney from their Blue Mountains base on Saturday afternoon.

YEO APPOINTED VICE-CAPTAIN

Penrith’s Isaah Yeo has been named NSW’s vice-captain.

Blues coach Michael Maguire made the announcement before training on Thursday.

“He is extremely hungry in representing NSW,” Maguire said.

“Everyone wants to play for and with him.”

Manly’s Jake Trbojevic is NSW captain.

Originally published as NSW Blues news: Nicho Hynes trains with squad, Isaah Yeo named vice-captain