Nicho Hynes wants to stay loyal to Cronulla and inspire kids after going through ‘toughest times’

Dally M star Nicho Hynes has been through family turmoil this pre-season. He spoke from the heart when asked about the emotional toll and his NRL future.

Cronulla superstar Nicho Hynes admits he can’t imagine pulling on another NRL club’s jersey after the support he’s received during what he calls the toughest time of his life.

The Sharks have Hynes locked up until the end of 2024 but want to extend his contract to keep him for the rest of his career. In the lead-up to round one, the 26-year-old said he doesn’t want to play for anyone else but coach Craig Fitzgibbon.

“I love this place and I make it well known I love this place,” the Dally M Medallist said on Monday.

“I started my Sharks career under Fitzy and he’s just re-signed and I’d love to finish my career under Fitzy. I can’t see myself pulling on another jersey at the moment.”

During the past few months, Hynes has been enduring a tumultuous family situation, providing support for his mum Julie, who was recently found guilty of heroin supply.

She faces sentencing at a later date, but has also spent time in prison in the past for drug offences.

“It’s been one of the toughest times of my life with the way it’s been spoken about in the media and to see my mum dragged through the media,” Nicho Hynes said on Monday.

“It’s hard. I’m handling it the best I can.”

Nicho Hynes answers questions about family turmoil and his future at the Sharks. Picture: Jonathan Ng

The beloved Sharks halfback has handled the emotional situation with class, and with the support of Fitzgibbon, opting to play for the Indigenous All Stars in the days after the guilty verdict earlier this month.

He said he saw it as an opportunity to inspire kids with difficult home lives – and he did, by winning the Preston Campbell Medal as the best player on the field.

“[Kids] see the way we play and the way we react to certain things. There’s a lot of young kids walking through the same life as me, who might have a parent in prison or might not have parents at all and are struggling,” he said.

“I hope that if I could even inspire one kid by at least going and playing my best … that was for all the little kids out there struggling with home life like I have and I am now.”

Nicho Hynes and his mum Julie on the night of his Dally M Medal win last year. Picture: NRL Photos/Gregg Porteous

Hynes vowed to support his mum through her sentencing. He said he was grateful to be able to speak up and show that athletes face battles in their personal lives like everyone else.

He’s also reached out to good mate Liam Knight, after the South Sydney forward opened up recently about his struggles with alcohol addiction after suffering long-term injuries.

“We’re branded as athletes, but we’re humans too,” Hynes said.

“We have a life outside of rugby league and day-to-day things affect us just as much as they affect you guys and other people in the world.

Nicho Hynes during his media appearance on Monday. Picture: Jonathan Ng

“Just because we put on a footy jersey every week, and go out and entertain the crowd and the fans, doesn’t mean we don’t have things going on behind closed doors. I texted Liam yesterday, he’s a good mate of mine and I’m so proud of him for coming out about what he’s had to deal with.

“For people to see that and realise that athletes go through struggles and have tough times … for him to inspire people who might have an alcohol addiction or be dealing with things a bit differently, he’s changing lives and I’m trying to change lives too.”

Meanwhile, Hynes is nursing a minor calf injury he suffered at training last week, but is hopeful to be fit to play the Rabbitohs in round one on Saturday night.

Originally published as Nicho Hynes wants to stay loyal to Cronulla and inspire kids after going through ‘toughest times’