State of Origin: NSW loss leaves Nicho Hynes battling to retain Blues jersey

Nicho Hynes came into Origin I under the blowtorch and his failure to seize the moment will only intensify the pressure, writes BRENT READ.

(L-R) Nicho Hynes and Daly Cherry-Evans.

Nicho Hynes had his moments. More than a few to be fair. Like everyone else in sky blue, however, Hynes finished the opening game of the State of Origin series fighting for his future in a NSW jersey.

The Cronulla playmaker had come into Origin I under the blowtorch given Mitchell Moses had made his return less than a week earlier and been outstanding in a blue and gold jersey. Moses had laid a marker.

Hynes had the chance to respond at Accor Stadium on Wednesday night and the jury is still out, although it was hardly a fair fight.

Hynes’ plans to take control largely went out the door after eight minutes when Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii was given his marching orders for a high shot on Reece Walsh.

Nicho Hynes struggled to inspire a NSW team that was just trying to survive after the send off. Picture: Getty Images

After that, it was all about survival for the Blues players who remained on the field. They did a fair job of it. Even though they were a man short, they managed to stay in the game deep into the second half.

It was only when Ben Hunt beat some feeble defence from Liam Martin and James Tedesco that the game was over. Martin didn’t deserve to be involved in that forgettable moment.

Only minutes earlier he had flown out of the defensive line and ironed out J’maine Hopgood. It was inspirational stuff but not enough.

Try as they might, the Blues couldn’t overcome the one-man deficiency to find a way back into the match. Hynes did his best but he was given a lesson in Origin control by the man in the maroon No. 7 jersey.

Daly Cherry-Evans was brilliant for Queensland – he won man of the match in his 23rd appearance for the Maroons – and their respective nights were summed up by two moments only minutes apart in the second half.

Daly Cherry-Evans was masterful for the Maroons. Picture: Getty Images

Hynes went within centimetres of pulling off a 40-20, only for Xavier Coates to keep the ball in play as he tiptoed down the sideline.

Not long after, Cherry-Evans nailed a 40-20 and Queensland thought they had scored, only for Jeremiah Nanai to be deprived by some Reece Robson desperation on the line.

Once again, Origin was shown to be a game of inches. Hynes and the other members of the Blues squad – at least those who are fortunate to keep their spots – have a mountain to climb.

The old adage is that Origin players go back to club football and lead the way for their club. That is now the challenge for Hynes as he looks to prove that he deserves another chance.

He came into Origin I with only a handful of minutes in a Blues jersey under his belt. They were off the bench at the back end of a game that ended in defeat. Hynes insisted there were no demons but he must have cursed his luck when Suaalii was sent from the field.

He would have felt better about himself when he gave the Blues’ an unlikely sniff with a kick for a Zac Lomax try four minutes into the second half but it was one-way traffic after Hunt raced away.

Hynes had nine runs for 49 metres but rarely looked like breaking the line. He made 27 tackles and missed five as a Maroons onslaught unfolded at the back end of the second half.

He now faces an anxious wait to see whether he gets another chance.

Originally published as State of Origin: NSW loss leaves Nicho Hynes battling to retain Blues jersey