The magic halves number you need to win the NRL premiership

Storm stars Cameron Munster and Jahrome Hughes have something the Sharks halves Nicho Hynes and Braydon Trindall want – and it’s not just a premiership ring, writes DAVID RICCIO.

Cronulla’s Nicho Hynes and Braydon Trindall want something that their Storm rivals Cameron Munster and Jahrome Hughes have.

It’s something that, as history shows, comes before a premiership ring: Time together as a halves combination.

Hynes and Trindall arrive for their heavyweight title clash with the Storm at Sharks Stadium on Saturday night in the midst of their longest run of consecutive games together, which stands at only 10 matches.

Coming together for the first time in round 21, 2022, a combination of injury, suspension and State of Origin has stymied their ability to string games together ever since.

Nicho Hynes and Braydon Trindall have played just 33 games together since Round 21, 2022. Picture: Getty Images

In total since 2022, they have combined in the halves for 33 matches.

By comparison, the outstanding duo of Munster and Hughes have combined in the halves for almost 100 more matches for the Storm.

In addition, and in a further nod to their elite class, Munster and Hughes had played just 26-games together as a halves pairing when they secured the 2020 premiership – the most raw premiership-winning halves combination in five years.

Hynes said his partnership with Trindall was one of growth and excitement.

“When you first said 33 games together, I was thinking, oh, that’s not much,” Hynes said.

“When you look at the best halves combination in the game. Jahrome and Munny (Munster) would have been playing together for four years, five years now.

“Nathan (Cleary) and Jarome were playing together for five or six years, but they were playing together in juniors too.

“So all the best halves combinations have been playing together for a very, very long time. When I think of that number, that’s only just over one season.

“Last year, we started the year, and then he (Trindall) went out, and then I came back in, and then he came back in, and then I went out for eight weeks.

“So we haven’t really had a full season together.

“So as I’m talking, I’m thinking how exciting it is, you know? Once we get a full couple of seasons together who knows where we’re going to be?

“Munny and Hughsey are the top tier in our game at the moment, so you’d be silly not to (take samples from their game).

“But right now, Tricky (Trindall) and I are just really focused on improving as a combination each week, every day at training, and just learning on the run.

“Learning how each other plays, and we’re happy, but you’re never content. You’ve always got to learn and keep growing, and we’ve still got plenty of this season to go to keep growing.

“But in saying that, there’s no point looking too far ahead.”

Cameron Munster and Jarome Hughes have placed over 100 NRL games together. Picture: Getty Images

Hynes is right.

The well-travelled Sharks can’t afford to look any further than their first home game in sevens weeks against one of their great rivals, who will provide a barometer for the Sutherland Shire club to their form, after edging into fifth on the NRL ladder.

The Storm welcome back Test hooker Harry Grant while the Sharks welcome back Siosifa Talakai in the absence of key forwards Tom Hazelton (sternum), Toby Rudolf (knee) and Teig Wilton (shoulder).

“It’s exciting that they’re (Storm) coming in here for once,” Hynes said.

“Since 2022 they haven’t played here. I didn’t actually play that game (in 2022).

“So I haven’t played against them at home yet.

“It’s nice that we get to do it here in front of our home fans. We haven’t been here for a while either, so I’m looking forward to it.”

Originally published as The magic halves number you need to win the NRL premiership