‘I have zero control over that’: Craig Fitzgibbon distances himself from Nicho Hynes Origin chat as selectors prepare to make changes

There have been calls for Mitch Moses to replace Nicho Hynes at halfback for the Blues, with the Sharks star left with one club game to convince selectors to retain him.

Nicho Hynes’ spot in the Blues side has been debated following the loss in the Origin opener. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon says he has “zero control” over what Blues selectors do with halfback Nicho Hynes for game two, with Parramatta’s Mitchell Moses spruiked as the man who should come in following the heavy loss in the series opener.

Wednesday’s game was a nightmare scenario for any playmaker, with the Blues forced to play a man down for 72 minutes after Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii was sent off early.

Hynes sent his first attacking kick dead but did respond with a perfect chip for Zac Lomax to score on debut, only for the Maroons to pile on the points late as fatigue caught up with the Blues.

Nicho Hynes had a mixed night in the State of Origin opener. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

The selectors face several major calls for game two in Melbourne, but none are bigger than who wears the No.7, with Moses likely to have been picked for the series opener had he not been out with a foot injury.

It would be another brutal call on Hynes, who played in last year’s series opener but was dropped for the final two games after he came on late off the bench and was forced to play out of position.

Hynes won’t get the chance to impress Blues officials this week, with the Sharks star rested for the trip north as he continues to manage a calf issue that has plagued him this season, which means he’ll play just one match against the Dolphins next week before teams are picked for game two.

“I can’t really control any of that,” Fitzgibbon replied when asked about the selection chat.

“One thing I did like is that he went after the game. He didn’t shrink and he got the ball as much as possible, but he would have liked to have executed a few things better.

“As for the selection process, I have zero control over that. What I do want to do is get him back to full health, get his calf right and get him back to his best.”

Cameron McInnes will play for the Sharks just days after he made his Origin debut. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Cameron McInnes will play after getting through his Blues debut unscathed, with Fitzgibbon calling on his Origin stars to move on mentally as the Sharks look to bounce back from consecutive losses.

“Nicho and Cam are both disappointed in what was a difficult night for them,” he said.

“They’re also aware that they’ve got to get over that really quickly and get back to business for the Sharks.

“They’re both OK. It’s obviously high pressure stakes in the Origin environment, so it’s another lesson to learn.”

Originally published as ‘I have zero control over that’: Craig Fitzgibbon distances himself from Nicho Hynes Origin chat as selectors prepare to make changes