By Billie Eder
Nicho Hynes feared his season was over when he felt two pops in his leg at training in early July.
Just a month after being dropped from the NSW Origin team for the second consecutive year, and with the Sharks fighting to stay in the top four, scans showed Cronulla’s star halfback had fractured his leg and ruptured his syndesmosis.
The hours immediately after the injury were the hardest, says Hynes, as a series of worst-case scenarios played on loop in his head.
“When I first did it, I was a bit nervous that it could be the season done,” Hynes says. “But once I got through the surgery and I knew that I could be on track, we did everything I could to get back on the field and then hopefully get at least a couple of games under the belt so I could get the fitness back.”
“[Initially] I was like, ‘Far out, I think it might be a bad fracture’ ... Luckily it was only a small fracture, so I could only be out for, I think it ended up being seven weeks.
“It feels good. It’s not going to feel 100 per cent, that’s just how it goes, and you’re playing the toughest sport in the world. But, the confidence is much higher level right now compared to what it has been.”
Nicho Hynes returned from injury in round 26.Credit: Getty Images
As one of the team’s key playmakers and leaders, there’s never a good time to have an injury, Hynes admits.
But the time away from football took a weight off his shoulders after a turbulent couple of weeks following NSW’s defeat in Origin I.
“It was bittersweet,” Hynes said. “I reckon in the first week you sort of have a lot of time to think for yourself, but all I could do was sit on the couch and elevate my leg, really, because I was stuck in the cast.
“But then, once you get past that stage and get in the boot, and then get in the coaches box and start being around the team again, [it was OK]. So I reckon there were some good things to take out of it and some learnings. I’m in a really good space right now, and I’m looking forward to the finals series.”
Hynes again came under scrutiny after that Origin loss, which was closely followed by a series of defeats back in club land.
But, now in his third year at Cronulla, Hynes says he has learnt how to manage the pressure, criticism and attention that comes with wearing the No.7 jersey.
“[Scrutiny] comes with the job,” Hynes said. “Every halfback at every team cops the brunt of it, so I’m happy to cop it for my team “There ares things [criticism] that could have been unnecessary, there are things where I needed to just be better. I’ll always come under the microscope. It’s just it is what it is, just got to embrace it and keep moving forward.
“I’m human, sometimes it can affect me, and sometimes it doesn’t ... I’m just really lucky that I had my girlfriend at the time, in that period, and she’s been really good for me, and I can’t thank her enough for what she’s done for me in that period.
“I probably underestimated how much a special someone can do for you in that period and take your mind off footy.”
Finals week 1 fixtures
Penrith Panthers v Sydney Roosters
BlueBet Stadium, Friday 7.50pm
Melbourne Storm v Cronulla Sharks
AAMI Park, Saturday 4.05pm
North Queensland Cowboys v Newcastle Knights
Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Saturday 7.50pm
Canterbury Bulldogs v Manly Sea Eagles
Accor Stadium, Sunday 4.05pm
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