Nicho Hynes signs six-year $7 million deal with Cronulla Sharks

Reigning Dally M Medallist Nicho Hynes has signed a monster deal which is an enormous club first as he stays in Cronulla.

Nicho Hynes and William Kennedy. Photo: NRL PHOTOS

Cronulla Sharks halfback Nicho Hynes has signed a monster six-year deal which will make him the first $1m player in the club’s history.

The 26-year-old reigning Dally M Medallist was still contacted until the end of the 2024 season but the Sharks have moved to lock him in until the end of the 2029 season, with a deal set to earn him $7m across its length.

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While he was crowned the best player in the game in 2022, Hynes is also won the Provan-Summons Medal for the player who best exemplifies the spirit of the game.

It was after he gave a stirring speech in a post-match interview after the death of Paul Green, calling for more to be done around mental health in Australia.

Hynes said he was excited to be able to lock his future away, days after he claimed he wanted to play and then coach the Sharks.

“It’s pretty surreal, it hasn’t sunk in yet,” Hynes said after signing the new contract.

“I never thought I’d sign a long-term contract in the NRL, one that’s hopefully going to set up my life and my family as well.

“I’m happy it’s done and now I can focus on playing some good footy and to win some games with this club with the ultimate goal of winning a premiership.

“Loyalty is a big value of mine and this club and Fitzy gave me an opportunity to be a starting player. This whole town, whole community has welcomed me and I can never picture putting on another jersey.”

The bloke does it all! Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

Nicho Hynes has been a revelation.

Hynes, who missed the opening few rounds of the season, helped demolish the Dragons in his return to the field and has once again been talked about in Origin circles as a potential replacement for incumbent five-eighth Jarome Luai.

Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon said the upgraded contract which makes Hynes a million dollar player shows just where he sits in the NRL’s pecking order.

“This new contract is reward for Nicho’s hard work, which has certainly paid off, but I have no doubt he’s got more to come,” Fitzgibbon said.

“His stature in the game is rising by the way he carries himself and his performances to date are in line with that. I’m looking forward to watching him develop and continue to improve and to Nicho performing at a consistently high level as a Shark into the future.”

Nicho Hynes, Dally M Medal winner.

Just last week, Hynes asked for a 20-year deal, first for the rest of his playing career, then as a coach.

“I hope so, there’s been talks, everyone’s talking about it a little bit,” Hynes told SEN 1170 The Run Home.

“I just hope something happens and gets done, my manager will sort that out and the club will sort that out, so hopefully they’re talking as we speak because I’d love to stay … then hopefully I’m here forever.

“Ideally I’d love to be here for the rest of my career then I’d like to go straight into coaching … Give me a 20-year contract Sharks!”

Originally published as Nicho Hynes signs six-year $7 million deal with Cronulla Sharks