Nicho Hynes sends stunning message to Michael Maguire as calls grow for Origin’s return

Nicho Hynes seems to have one foot in the NSW State of Origin team after another masterful display to lead the Sharks against the Roosters on Saturday night. Hynes had two assists, three assists and a 40/20 as Cronulla proved he was a genuine premiership contender.

The Sharks have faced questions over their true credentials after reaching the top of the table. NRL scale without facing a particularly good team. But back-to-back wins over the Storm and Roosters proved the doubters wrong.

And Hynes’ performance against fellow heavyweights the Roosters should give NSW coach Michael Maguire plenty of confidence that the halfback can deliver in the Origin arena. Reports emerged last week that Mitchell Moses and Jarome Luai won the race to claim jerseys 6 and 7 of the Blues.

But Moses looks likely to miss the opening match through injury, leaving the door open for Hynes to get his NSW jersey back. The halfback was a controversial selection off the bench last year and failed to shoot when he took the field.

He was then dumped by then-coach Brad Fittler, which took a toll on his mental strength and confidence. But the 27-year-old is back to his best and is demanding selection in Maguire’s squad to face Queensland.

In the opening minute of the game, Hynes unleashed the final daring tackle that produced the Sharks’ first try. His one-two pass with Britain’s Nikora on the right edge allowed Will Kennedy to score after Dom Young escaped Jesse Ramien’s kick.

Hynes caught James Tedesco napping later in the half with a precise 40/20 kick, then sent Teig Wilton over for a try with a well-placed pass. He also sent Tom Hazelton crashing over for the winning try late in the second half and had a hand in everything the Sharks did.

“(Hynes) did really well,” Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon said afterward. “He had a really selfless attitude while playing (after his calf injury). It was a slight risk, but the doctors did a good job with him.”

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Hynes said he is more than ready to return to the Origin arena. “Yes, of course, I learned a lot and had to eat shit and learn from it over the last few years,” he said after the match.

“It put me in a position to perform and be where I am for this club, this team. I wouldn’t be in this position without this club and my teammates.

“The lessons I learned. There will be people who say I’m not the man for the job, right now I need to focus on making this calf as good as possible for next week. Then, if I’m ready, the coaching staff will pick me, we’ll wait and see.

The half-back said of his calf injury: “When you feel a little strain in your calf, it’s always a risk to push it too early. Clinically, with the number of days it takes to recover, I’m not sure how many days it usually takes.

“The physios had to work out whether they were going to risk playing me or not, it felt good during the test and the training session I did. It’s always a risk when you have something tense in a boring area, and I guess players play on it quite a bit.

“But I felt like the team needed me and the club needed me to succeed and put in a performance. I want to be on the ball, I want to be everywhere for my teammates… I wasn’t going to play if I couldn’t play my natural game.

with PAA