NRL 2024: Nicho Hynes suffers leg break, syndesmosis rupture in huge blow to Cronulla’s finals hopes

Sharks halfback Nicho Hynes suffered a leg break and syndesmosis rupture during a training mishap which could bury Cronulla’s NRL finals hopes.

Nicho Hynes is feared to have suffered a serious ankle injury. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Nicho Hynes is facing two months on the sideline after scans revealed the painful double blow of a broken leg and a complete syndesmosis rupture.

The Sharks halfback will aim to return for the final round of the season against Manly with Hynes booked for surgery on Wednesday.

Hynes met with surgeons in Sydney on Tuesday where the severity of the injury was revealed.

“It has been confirmed that Nicho has a complete syndesmosis rupture, plus a tibia fracture to his left ankle,” Shark Head of Performance Nathan Pickworth said. “He will undergo surgery tomorrow (Wednesday), with an estimated return to the field of approximately eight weeks.”

The incredibly painful damage occurred as Hynes was attempting to retrieve a mid-air kick in one of the final training drills at Sharks training on Monday.

The entire weight of his 90kg frame came down on his rolled ankle, painfully cracking a bone that attaches to his ankle ligaments.

Nicho Hynes is out for the back-end of the season. Picture: NRL Photos

There was a deathly quiet that fell over PointsBet Stadium as Hynes writhed on the ground in agony.

The star halfback was then carried from the field with the aid of two Cronulla trainers before being rushed for scans to determine the full extent of the damage.

Sharks utility Daniel Atkinson will be named to replace Hynes at five-eighth with Braydon Trindall chosen at halfback against the Wests Tigers at PointsBet Stadium on Friday night.

Despite having played just 10 NRL games, Atkinson has proven he’s capable of steering the Sharks.

The 23-year-old played in the halves when Cronulla beat the Melbourne Storm and Roosters, earlier this season.

Originally published as NRL 2024: Nicho Hynes suffers leg break, syndesmosis rupture in huge blow to Cronulla’s finals hopes