‘Don’t scapegoat Nicho’: Hynes finds unlikely Maroons ally as Moses call looms

Queensland captain Daly Cherry-Evans hopes battling Blues halfback Nicho Hynes doesn’t become an Origin scapegoat as Mitchell Moses stakes his claim for a NSW recall.

Hynes’ second Origin outing played out in similar fashion to a lamentable debut last year when he was exposed defending out of position, with Joseph Suaalii’s send-off making the Sharks No.7 a right-edge target in Queensland’s 38-10 triumph on Wednesday night.

The 27-year-old’s kicking and game management – albeit with NSW reduced to 12 men – is also under the microscope as Michael Maguire bids to keep the series alive at the MCG on June 26.

Cherry-Evans was dubbed man of the match for his own sparkling effort – highlighted by a long break and chipped try assist for Xavier Coates – but said he felt for his opposite number following a difficult night at the office.

The Maroons skipper mentored Hynes during their time together in Kangaroos camp last year, to the point they were described as “inseparable” by Australian staff, with Cherry-Evans seeking Hynes out after full-time at Accor Stadium.

“Nicho was extremely competitive and he worked so hard out there,” Cherry-Evans told this masthead.

Daly Cherry-Evans and Nicho Hynes after fulltime in Origin I.Credit: Channel Nine

“He took his opportunities with the ball, and he obviously got put in some really unfamiliar positions as well as a defender and that’s not easy.

“I’m a big fan of Nicho and I hope to see him back there doing his best because he’s earned that spot and these representative teams that he’s making.

“We’ve got a friendship and naturally that gets put on hold a little bit at this time of the year, but I do have a soft spot for him. I hope he goes well and doesn’t get scapegoated or anything.

“He’ll bounce back. He’s a resilient bugger, and he’s learned a lot over the last couple of years.”

Hynes will have just 80 minutes at most to defend his Blues spot against the Dolphins next week.

Cronulla have not named him for Saturday’s clash with Brisbane given the niggling calf injury that restricted the start of Hynes’s Origin campaign last week.

Eels star Moses is back from a three-month foot injury and has games against Canterbury on Monday and then the Roosters to push his Origin credentials.

Moses impressed during his last start for NSW – a face-saving game three win in 2023 – and would have been Nathan Cleary’s No.7 replacement if not for his own injury.

Coach Michael Maguire refused to comment on Hynes’ performance after full-time as Eighth Immortal and Blues legend Andrew Johns forecast a series-defining selection call around the NSW spine.

“It’s going to be a big decision for Madge,” Johns said on Channel Nine.

“[James] Tedesco absolutely tried his heart out tonight.

“If you’re going to go with combinations, obviously there’s going to be a lot of talk about the halves ... whether they pick Nicho again and Jarome [Luai] or whether they go with Mitchell Moses.

“Mitchell Moses and James Tedesco played a lot of footy together as young fellas, they debuted together at the Tigers. It probably depends on how Michael Maguire sees his team attacking and how they’re going to play in Melbourne.”

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