Nicho Hynes ruled out at halftime with calf injury in NSW nightmare

In front of NSW coach Michael Maguire, a near certainty for the Blues’ No. 7 jersey has returned the state to the drawing board.

Both men's face says it all. Photo: Fox Sports

Star Sharks half Nicho Hynes has left NSW coach Michael Maguire with a massive decision to make after not returning from the halftime break in his side’s 42-0 thrashing at the hands of the Panthers.

In another test of the Sharks’ premiership credentials, Cronulla was found wanting as the Panthers put together a first half masterpiece at PointsBet Stadium.

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In front of a pack crowd of Sharks fans, the Panthers ran in five first-half tries to blow Cronulla off the park in a 28-0 halftime score.

While the scoreline showed just how much further the ladder leaders have to go in 2024, the big news came just before the break when Hynes was ordered to leave the field for a head injury assessment after an accidental knee from likely Origin teammate Isaah Yeo.

Hynes was seen on his haunches in backplay before being sent for a break, but the news became so much worse when he didn’t return from the halftime break, citing a calf complaint.

Hynes wasn't in a good way. Photo: Fox Sports

Hynes missed the Sharks’ famous win over the Storm a fortnight ago with the injury and has mentioned he hasn’t been training at full capacity as he manages the complaint.

But in front of NSW Blues coach Maguire, whose options at No. 7 have already been limited by long-term injuries to the likes of Nathan Cleary and Mitchell Moses, another blow is the last thing he needs.

Just after the break, Fox League sideline reporter James Hooper reported: “He was sent for a HIA — which he has passed. But he has a calf issue, it is not a strain, it is simply tightness.

“And the Sharks have decided that given it was 28-0 at halftime, not risking their star No. 7.

“(NSW Origin coach Michael Maguire) now has a decision to make, whether he remains with picking Nicho or he goes in another direction.”

Dan Ginnane added Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon had told reporters the club was “managing him through training” with the latest injury showing “it’s not there yet”.

Soon after, the Fox League cameras found the Sharks half looking dejected on the sidelines.

“Nicho Hynes, the face says it all,” Ginnane said on Fox League.

Even if Hynes’ injury isn’t too bad, the question for Maguire will be whether he wants to take injured players into his first Origin camp — particularly if they can’t train with the team.

Post-match, Fitzgibbon told reporters Hynes was “not too bad”.

“Probably with the 15 minutes time off (for the HIA) he cooled down and tightened up so I think he’s okay.

“I have to check, I haven’t spoken to him or the medical guys about it but I got the message through that through cooling down, it tightened up.”

Fitzgibbon added that if he was selected for Origin: “Even if he got through, he’s still going to have to be modified for it.”

He added he wasn’t sure of the extent of the injury.

Should Nicho Hynes go into Origin despite the injury cloud? Photo: Fox Sports

Michael Maguire is living a nightmare. Photo: Fox Sports

With incumbent NSW five-eighth Cody Walker ruled out of his final audition against the Eels as well due to a calf injury, it’s been a nightmare for Maguire in his first season as Blues coach.

Contenders and certainties for Origin such as Moses, Cleary, Bradman Best, Cameron Murray, Tom Trbojevic and Ryan Papenhuyzen are all sidelined through injury.

However, if Jarome Luai was still auditioning for a return to Origin, he’s put his best foot forward.

With 10 minutes remaining, the Panthers led 42-0, with Luai having run for 107m in 13 runs, a try, a try assist, two line breaks and two line break assists, as well as nine tackle breaks in his best performance of the season.