Nicho Hynes’ hilarious try celebration backfires in Cronulla Sharks win

The Cronulla Sharks defeated another struggling team but a try celebration by halfback Nicho Hynes backfired in hilarious fashion.

Nicho Hynes went the early crow with the shoey.

Doubles to Sharks outside backs Siosifa Talakai and Sione Katoa, and a storming game by front rower Teig Wilton was enough for Cronulla to land a convincing 36-12 win over Wests Tigers at CommBank Stadium on Thursday night.

Jilted Blues back Nicho Hynes scored a try and ripped off a faux-shoey to celebrate a try that wasn’t, in a solid if unspectacular outing.

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The Tigers had been lapped by the Cowboys last start and hadn’t scored a try for 19 days.

No Try ❌
Try Celebration ✅
Just because the try was taken back, doesn't mean the shoey celebration will be.
That's $5k to kick off #TryJuly#NRLTigersSharkspic.twitter.com/rLI7wP6K4N

— Sportsbet.com.au (@sportsbetcomau) July 6, 2023

What do we think of the shoey no try celebration from Nicho? 🤣🤣 #NRL

— Luke Marlow (@MarlowLuke) July 6, 2023

Tigers Speak Despite No Talkies

They weren’t allowed to talk to attendant media but Wests Tigers were still able to tell fans: “Don’t give up on us – we may have lost 74-nil last week but there’s life in us yet as long as the other team gives us plenty of ball.”

Such was the game: Cronulla dominating and looking ruthless if they completed sets; the Tigers doing their best when ball was gifted them by lax Sharks handling.

Momentum turned to the Tigers late in the second half. Tigers centre Tommy Talau scored his team’s first try since Alex Twal’s famous first one against Melbourne Storm 165 minutes of rugby league previously.

They won penalties and a strip. Cronulla knocked on. After Chunky 22-year-old middleman Shawn Blore scored his first NRL try near the posts, Brandon Wakeham’s conversion tied it up 12-all at halftime.

But second half errors led to five tries by Cronulla and ended any pretension to an upset in front of a noisy (if hyper-inflated) crowd of 9,215.

The Sharks got another win over a struggling team. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Sharks Own It Early

Such was the Sharks’ dominance in the middle it was a surprise that their first points came from a Hynes penalty goal in the 11th minute.

Wests Tigers right side looked lax. Kicks were chased largely by John Bateman, moon-tanned thighs flashing like pistons in the chill night air.

When his pass was dropped by Jahream Bula, Bateman looked like he’d rather be back in Bradford. The speed of Will Kennedy created a try for Katoa minutes later.

Tigers’ wing Junior Paulo threw the ball away on tackle three, the Sharks went 80 metres in two sets before former Leichhardt garbageman Talakai stormed over in the southeast corner.

Bunker Cruels Tommy Double

Talau did plenty to grab a Wakeham chip chick, flying through their air to pluck the ball from Hynes and plant the ball while falling back into the field of play.

The bunker took an age but eventually disallowed the try given Talau momentarily had only one hand on the ball. That he did not have control was technically correct though there were shades of Mitchell Starc’s non-catch at Lord’s.

While the Tigers remain rooted to the bottom of the ladder Cronulla went equal top of the ladder, just behind Penrith on points differential.

Tigers centre Starford Toa was put on report for a lifting tackle on Ronaldo Mulitalo.