Nicho Hynes is used to big games – he has now spent 10 per cent of his NRL career playing finals matches.
The Cronulla star lines up for his 100th NRL game on Saturday night against Penrith, a clash that will also be his tenth finals appearance. And that is excluding the 2020 NRL grand final, when Hynes sat on the bench for Melbourne and never took the field.
Hynes was aware of the feat, and also pointed out he would celebrate the special mark on the same weekend one of his best mates, Storm hooker Harry Grant, played his own 100th game.
“When you’re a kid, all you want to do is play one NRL game – I was a little boy at the Umina Bunnies just wanting to play footy and hang with my mates. This is pretty special,” Hynes told this masthead.
“I have played in some great teams at the Storm and the Sharks. I want this to be a milestone to celebrate rather than just another milestone.
“To make my tenth NRL finals appearance is pretty cool, especially when not many people get to play ten NRL games.”
Cronulla’s milestone man Nicho HynesCredit: NRL Photos
It is an amazing strike rate when you consider Manly recruit Luke Brooks had to wait more than a decade to play in his first finals game earlier this month.
Grant became friends with Hynes during their time together at the Storm and developed their games in reserve grade on the Sunshine Coast. They still speak most weeks and spend time together when the NRL draw allows it.
“I said to Nicho the other day how it felt like we’d been around forever,” said Grant, who plays his eighth final against the Roosters at AAMI Park on Friday night.
“It’s incredible to think guys have played 300 and even 400 games. It really is special to share the milestone with Nicho. I’m just glad we’re playing in separate games and not against each other.
Nicho’s September run
2020: Qualifying final against Parramatta – WON 36-24
2020: Preliminary final against Canberra – WON 30-10
2020: Grand final against Penrith – WON 26-20 (but did not take field)
2021: Qualifying final against Manly – WON 40-12
2021: Preliminary final against Penrith – Lost 10-6
2022: Qualifying final agaionsty North Queensland – LOST 32-30
2022: Semi-final against South Sydney – LOST 38-12
2023: Elimination final against Sydney Roosters – LOST 13-12
2024: Qualifying final against Melbourne – LOST 37-10
2024: Semi-final against North Queensland – WON 26-18
2024: Premilinary final against Penrith on Saturday
“It’s a credit to Nicho. He went the long way to get there, he didn’t have many opportunities after under-20s footy, but now he’s here.”
Hynes played in a qualifying and preliminary final for the Storm in 2020 before being a high-profile spectator on grand final night. He played in two finals in 2021, before leading the Sharks to September football all three seasons he has been at the club.
Last Friday’s 26-18 triumph over North Queensland was a morale-boosting and overdue finals’ win for Cronulla.
The 28-year-old had fond memories of his 50th NRL game when the Sharks defeated the Gold Coast in Coffs Harbour where he was joined by family and friends. There will be a healthy entourage at Accor Stadium where most neutral fans do not give Cronulla any chance against Penrith.
Hynes, who has also played Origin and Test football, said he still experienced nerves before kick-off.
“But you need to try and treat it like another game of footy, that’s how you’ve got to approach it – never ride the highs too high or the lows too low, and just got to do your thing,” Hynes said.
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