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NRL Live: Cronulla Sharks vs. Dolphins, will Nicho Hynes reward patient SuperCoaches?

A moment of magic from the Hammer and a missed goal after the siren were the only things to separate the Dolphins from the Sharks in a Thursday night thriller. Find out who were the big SuperCoach Winners and Losers.

Matthew ElkertonMatthew ElkertonNational Live Streaming Editor
@m_elkerton
8 min read
June 13, 2024 - 6:00PM
News Sport Network
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Talk about a finish.

Nicho Hynes had a chance to send the match into golden point after a thrilling Sharks try in the final minute.

But, with only his fourth miss of the season, sent the ball sailing wide to crush the spirit of The Shire faithful.

The Dolphins had managed the final 10 minutes perfectly, but will feel they made a great escape with the 30-28 victory.

The Sharks stormed their way back into the contest off the back of their barnstorming bench forwards, but it was a moment of Hammer magic that truly turned the game back towards the visitors.

It was a top four shoot-out that lived up to the billing.

Herbie Farnworth turned it on in a brilliant first half display, Royce Hunt became the unlikely hero of the Sharks resurgence and Jesse Ramien has put his hand up high for the Blues when it mattered most.

Hynes showed glimpses of his brilliance, setting up a try for Hunt and having a hand in another, but he will be sweating on the performances of his competitors for the Blues No. 7.

Briton Nikora made the most of his mismatch against Isaiaya Katoa, running over him for one try and then around him in the dying stages to set up his winger and a grandstand finish.

The Sharks backrower was the clear SuperCoach standout, the only player to notch more than triple figures before updates.

Check out the full SuperCoach Winners and Losers below, and scroll down to find out how it all unfolded.

Briton Nikora of the Sharks scores a try over the top of Isaiya Katoa. Photo: NRL Photos / Brett Costello
Briton Nikora of the Sharks scores a try over the top of Isaiya Katoa. Photo: NRL Photos / Brett Costello

SC WINNERS

Briton Nikora (2RF) - 118 pts: The hard-running backrower made the most of his match up against a shell-shocked Isaiya Katoa. Nikora ran over the top of Katoa to score a try and then around him to set up the final try for Sione Katoa. Add in a clean line break and try assist earlier in the game. Brilliant.

Herbie Farnworth (CTW) - 85 pts: The Englishman was easily the player of the first half before Royce Hunt hit the field. His work out of the backfield was just as important as his work in attack – at least in a real world sense, not so much in SuperCoach. Playing Round 16 and 19, Farnworth is the POD you want for the run through Origin.

Max Plath (FRF/5/8) – 78 pts: The Dolphins lock forward has been a fantastic money earner for owners since taking over the #13 jersey. He seems to be a player in the Bennett mould, hard working and consistent. His score was inflated by a try, but he still had 47 in pure base.

SC LOSERS

Siosifa Talakai (2RF/CTW) – 34 pts: One of the most purchased players this week with more than 5000 SuperCoaches bringing in the Sharks bulldozer. It was always going to be a risky play, and with rumours swirling about an early return for Teig Wilton, this was clearly a bust. The backrower had glimpses of his tackle breaking ability, but not enough for owners.

Ronaldo Mulitalo (CTW) - 53 pts: His night was saved by a second half try, but this is far from the points beast we have come to know in recent seasons. In a centre-wing position where points have been flowing, Mulitalo has become dead weight for coaches.

Josh Kerr (2RF) - 15 pts: The man was once a genuine POD for top coaches, but he was barely sighted on Thursday night. Bashed out of the game by the Sharks bench forwards, and could only muster eight points in hit ups.

60TH MIN: RAMIEN PUTTING HAND UP FOR BLUES, HAMMER MAGIC

The Sharks were in the lead, for the blink of an eye.

The next blink Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow had the ball in his hands, a blink later and the Hammer was over the line after a piece of individual magic.

The 90 metre effort will be featured on every highlight reel for the next five years after he single-handedly beat the entire Sharks side before pausing on his run just to give Will Kennedy a sniff at a try-saver before blasting away again.

Brilliant.

It was a bit of a receipt for the Hammer from Kennedy’s try only minutes earlier which had unbelievably put the Sharks into the lead for the first time in this game.

It was thanks in large part to a NSW hopeful turning it on.

While all the talk has been about Nicho Hynes needing to earn his Origin stripes in this game, there is another Shark looking to put on a show for the Blues.

Jesse Ramien is one name in line to take the right centre spot vacated by a suspended Joseph Sua’ali’i and he has started to turn it on at the right moment.

Ramien made a mockery of a broken Dopihns line to send Briton Nikora down the sideline in the lead up to a Will Kennedy try, while he has begun to strike back against Herbie Farnworth.

While his defence has been lacking at times in this game, the same certainly can’t be said about his attack.

50TH MIN: MULITALO SCORES POINTS, FINALLY, SHARKS MARCHING

The Sharks are marching their way back into this contest.

Ronaldo Mulitalo has continued his climb up an impressive Sharks top try-scorers list, breaking through three poor tackles on his way to the line.

There were a few question marks over the line run by Sifa Talakai taking out a defender, but the bunker gave Ronaldo the green light and fervent owners some sweet relief.

The Sharks are steaming back into this contest.

Royce Hunt is finally off the field after a huge first stint. He’s been replaced by Braeden Hamlin-Uele.

Talk about from frying pan into the fire for the Dolphins.

HALF TIME: SHARKS SHOWING FIGHT IN FIN SHOWDOWN

The Wayne Bennett ambush was executed to perfection.

But the Sharks have shown enough fightback, thanks to their impressive bench forwards, to suggest this game is long from over at 22-12.

Herbie Farnworth has easily been the best player on the field in the first half, scoring a try and running the Dolphins out of trouble each set.

Royce Hunt was the game changer though, coming on and leaving tread marks on the chest of Isaiya Katoa. The young halfback can expect a few more big bodies running at him in the second half.

Royce Hunt runs right over the top of Isaiya Katoa.
Royce Hunt runs right over the top of Isaiya Katoa.

Nicho Hynes has had limited involvement in attack, but that has not all been his fault. The Sharks have shot themselves in the foot plenty of times, leading the error count 7-0 at halftime.

Any owners brave enough to stick with Ronaldo Mulitalo, and the 1500-plus who picked him up this week in hope, must be wondering what they did to deserve their current hell with the winger struggling on 2 points at halftime.

35TH MIN: SHARKS BENCH BITES BACK

It has been their biggest asset all season, and the sizeable Sharks bench has bitten back on the scoreboard.

Down four tries to zip, Royce Hunt has put his side on his back and steamrolled poor Isaiya Katoa.

The ramapging front-rower is making metres for fun and crashed across to score the Sharks first try, and then provided a fast play the ball to allow Briton Nikora to crash across.

Hunt has made a bee-line for Katoa with each carry, and while the teenager hasn’t backed down, he’s also been stomped into the turf plenty of times.

For those on Nicho watch, he has a try assist now and is up to 37 points.

25TH MIN: ANYONE FOR FISH FINGERS?

The Sharks are getting slaughtered, and you could hear a pin drop in The Shire.

The home side have been their own worst enemy to start this game with awful defensive efforts and consecutive penalties cruelling them as the Dolphins shoot out to a 22-0 lead.

Dolphins wing revelation Jack Bostock has grabbed himself a 10th try for the season after brushing off Sione Katoa and planting the ball despite carrying two defenders to the try-line.

The Dophins doubled down minutes later off a slick kick from Kodi Nikorima, who is undegoing a career resurgence spearheaded by the teenager beside him Isaiya Katoa.

The Dolphins are keeping things simple, and bashing the Sharks out of this one.

The Sharks need points, and they need them now.

15TH MIN: SHARKS BACK FIVE STRUGGLE, PLATH STRIKES

The Dolphins have adapted the Panthers blueprint, as the Sharks stare down the barrel of a major slide down the ladder.

The Dolphins have scored twice in the opening 15 minutes to heap the pressure on a rudderless home side.

One of the season’s better cash cows, Max Plath, struck first for the Dolphins as the Sharks continue to swim in circles in their own end.

Max Plath scored the opening try for the Dolphins.
Max Plath scored the opening try for the Dolphins.

Plath has been a genuine money spinner this season, making more than $230,000 for those who got on early days, and there are plenty. He is the second-most owned Dolphin in SuperCoach behind Jamayne Isaako (18.8 per cent).

Herbie Farnworth backed up his lock forward, capitalising on a poor error from Ronaldo Mulitalo coming out from his own end.

The Englishman is looking rather dangerous going one-on-one with Sharks halfback Nicho Hynes.

The Sharks are struggling to buy metres early in this one, as the Dolphins middle men aim up against the Sharks hard-running back five.

LATE MAIL: TRINDALL CONFIRMED STARTER, HYNES HOPE FOR ORIGIN

Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon has opted against a late switch, leaving exciting rookie five-eighth Daniel Atkinson as 18th man for the Sharks clash with the Dolphins.

Braydon Trindall has retained the playmaking role in the Sharks side, with Blues halfback Nicho Hynes returning after failing to back-up from Origin.

With Hynes feeling the pressure from a resurgent Mitchell Moses, Thursday night’s showdown between the two top four sides provides the perfect chance for the long-haired playmaker to stamp his claim on the Blues jersey.

Wayne Bennett has also opted against any late changes to his side, with Max Plath keeping hold of the starting lock role while Oryn Keeley remains 18th man.

The Dolphins return to action following the bye last weekend, and with Kodi Nikorima and Isaiya Katoa forging a strong partnership at the scrumbase, the Redcliffe-based side are proving to be a SuperCoach goldmine.

Euan Aitken (2RF/CTW $673,300) is fast becoming one of the best dual-position players (DPP) in SuperCoach with a three-round average of 75.3 points.

Outside men Herbie Farnworth (CTW, $646,100) and Jamayne Isaako (CTW, $689,600) are both averaging decent points, although Isaako has struggled in recent weeks putting him at a juicy price point.

With the Dolphins playing in both upcoming major bye rounds, 16 and 19, it is worth putting them square in your trade target crosshairs this week.

EARLIER

Cronulla halfback Nicho Hynes may be the incumbent number seven for NSW but his position is under threat from the likes of Mitchell Moses after a mixed showing in Origin I.

Over 20% of SuperCoaches still own Hynes and they’ll be hoping for a big showing on home turf against the Dolphins.

Non-owners will be watching closely. Hynes has a BE of 208 this week (due to an injury-affected three points against the Panthers in round 12) and is forecast to drop $200K in price even if he can average 85 points over the next fortnight.

Sharks star Nicholas Hynes after being removed from the game for a head knock during tonight's NRL clash between the Cronulla Sharks and the Penrith Panthers at Shark Park. Photo: Tom Parrish
Sharks star Nicholas Hynes after being removed from the game for a head knock during tonight's NRL clash between the Cronulla Sharks and the Penrith Panthers at Shark Park. Photo: Tom Parrish

Other players of interest tonight are:

Kayal Iro: Still in over 50% of teams, Iro has been scoring well without jagging anything in the way of attacking stats. After scoring a try on debut, Iro has failed to cross the stripe in nine straight games but retains value on workrate alone. A try would get his price moving upwards again.

Jamayne Isaako: Struggled last match against the Raiders as the ball rarely got past fill-in half Anthony Milford. Kodi Nikorima is back this week which is good news for Isaako. Still, I wouldn’t be placing the vice-captain’s armband on the Dolphins winger as Cronulla’s outside backs are a good defensive unit.

Max Plath: The tenacious workaholic has rewarded owners over the past five games averaging just shy of 60PPG and is averaging 72PPG in games where he plays 60+ minutes.

Siosifa Talakai: The most popular ‘buy’ from either team heading into the round after he scored 88 points last week when playing 80 minutes on an edge replacing the injured Teig Wilton. The Sharks have not provided a Wilton injury update for a while but his injury (AC joint) can result in a 4-5 week absence. Cronulla have a bye next week so even at the upper end of that timeline Talakai will only have two or three rounds of useful service. Feels like a luxury trade to me.

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Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/supercoach-news/nrl-live-cronulla-sharks-vs-dolphins-will-nicho-hynes-reward-patient-supercoaches/news-story/8cb7d72fc7ce88acb364300de1672032