Sharks star Nicho Hynes kicks goal after siren following ‘inexplicable’ act

A moment of madness has given big name Cronulla Sharks recruit Nicho Hynes a chance to become a matchwinner — and he took it with both hands.

Nicho Hynes is the hero the Sharks needed. Photo: Fox Sports

Cronulla Sharks star Nicho Hynes has given his side its first win of the season, kicking a conversion after the siren to defeat the Parramatta Eels 18-16.

In a brutal clash between two teams seen among the frontrunners of the competition, the Sharks have claimed the points after finally crossing the line with less than a minute left on the clock.

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On tackle five, the Sharks ran the ball as Matt Moylan threw a short ball to Teig Wilton who barged over the line to draw the sides level.

Hynes, who signed a three-year $1.8m contract with Cronulla to move from Melbourne, had missed all three conversion attempts before as he had a lousy night with the boot — until it mattered.

Nicho Hynes is a game-winner. Photo: Fox Sports

Taking the shot 20m back and halfway between the sideline and the posts, Hynes held his nerve to kick the goal before being swamped by his teammates as the Sharks premiership account opened for 2022.

After the win, Hynes told ABC Sport that the win was for one of his best mates who died last year.

“I got me family and all me best mates here, and a good mate of mine’s (ashes) on my wrist … he grew up with me,” he said. “He passed away last year, and I’m just so pleased we got the win for him.”

Speaking to Fox League after the game, Hynes said the feeling was “unreal” in the club’s first match back at what was known as “Shark Park”.

“This is amazing, I can’t even hear you,” Hynes said. “Was kicking like Harry Grant there to start with but just very glad I end up getting that, otherwise I reckon the game would have been on me if we lost it.”

However, it looked to be a bridge too far for the Sharks who had attacked strongly but hadn't been able to penetrate desperate Eels defence in the final 20 minutes.

A charge from Braden Hamlin-Uele had been denied by Eels skipper Clint Gutherson’s knee forcing the ball out and Reed Mahoney had spoiled a last tackle play with an intercept.

But two minutes from full-time, Eels interchange forward Ray Stone gave away a penalty for a cannonball tackle on Hynes, taking the Sharks from 50m out on the fourth tackle to 30m out with a fresh set of six.

Ray Stone knew he'd done wrong. Photo: Fox Sports

“That’s Stone giving away the penalty, spearing in at the legs — I hate that,” Steve Roach said in Fox League commentary.

“We’ve got to get this out of our game.”

Dan Ginnane responded: “How has it crept back in our game?”

Journalist Alexander Grant tweeted: “Ray Stone needs to take a good hard look at himself. Inside the last two minutes, opponent on the half way line and you sweep his legs out when two of your teammates have him wrapped up? Inexplicable.”

It's the second in two weeks after Melbourne Storm forward Trent Loiero was penalised for the tackle against the West Tigers’ Luciano Leilua in round one.