Hynes hunting big game player status in Sharks' finals footrace

Sharks halfback Nicho Hynes hopes a 2023 finals campaign can prove he has what it takes to be a ‘big game player’ after accepting selectors’ decision that he wasn’t ready for the Origin arena.

Snapping a three-game losing streak with a potentially finals-defining 26-16 win over the Rabbitohs, Cronulla returned to form in Perth on Saturday in what was not only an important confidence-booster for the Shire but also for their State of Origin debutant.

Admitting his confidence took a beating after being dropped from the Blues squad following his 12-minute stint at centre in Game One, 27-year-old Hynes said he’s ready to prove his composure and resilience as a playmaker in the Sharks' fight for a top four finish.

“If I was the right man for the job at that point, they would have picked me but I wasn’t and I can take it,” Hynes told the media at training on Tuesday.

“People talk about the big game experience and I haven’t had to play too many big games, they don’t know whether I can be a big game player yet. Last year’s semi-final didn’t show it because we lost.

“So I’m here to prove the doubters wrong and I think that was a big game on the weekend we provided. I just went to back to simple, basic things.

“We started well, we completed sets, we played the end to end footy we wanted to play and it worked.

“I think I went away from what works for our team in a couple of games previously so it’s just so much better when you have a simpler, clearer game plan and you go out and execute it.

"That’s the blueprint now for the rest of the season.”

Hynes has faced his fair share of off-field adversity, having spoken publicly about his mother’s time in prison and personal battles with culture and identity.

However, the Indigenous All Star said he struggled to rediscover his form on field for the Sharks after the emotional rollercoaster that came with being selected and dropped in the recent State of Origin series.

“I said I was ready for it (Origin) before I was and I still thing I am but one little moment in a big game can bring you back down to earth,” he said.

“Origin, the back-to-back losses, that all probably just threw me out of whack a little bit and I was internally frustrated with myself.

“This is the first time I’ve been challenged on-field in my career, I barely lost a game at the Storm and then I came here and rode a high for 18-months at Cronulla.

“Did I deal with it to the best of my ability? I’ve tried but I probably haven’t over the last month. I missed out on doing my routines and sticking to the strict structure I’d stuck to the last 18-months.”

Having a hand in three of his side's four tries and running the ball 108 at first receiver in Saturday's slide-halting victory, Hynes’ execution and simple brand of attacking football left every Cronulla dreaming of a top four finish again.

“I think in previous games I've been guilty of trying too hard, trying to search for wins in moments,” he said.

“The game of rugby league, it's already hard enough and if you try too hard things keep snowballing.

“It’s just about finding what I do best and sticking to a structure every single day because I don’t I know how hard it is to get back to.

“There was a bit of confidence lost in me and I’m a confident player, I need that confidence to go out there and do my job."

Cronulla’s focus now turns to hosting the Titans on Friday night, before clashes with the Cowboys, Knights and Raiders who are all amongst the fight to be part of the September action.

For Hynes, the next month of football isn't about proving his wares as an Origin worthy playmaker but more about convincing himself he's still the same Dally M halfback the competition fell in love with last season.

“We’ve got four games to go and we’ve got to try and get ourselves in a position to be in that top four if we can but definitely top eight,” Hynes said.

“Hopefully we take a lot of confidence out of the weekend and play some good footy again.

“Every player gets brought back down to earth at some stage and all the greats goes through it and I’m not a great yet but I’d love to be a great one day.

“I’m just lucky I get to learn from it and become a better player from it and I just need to keep proving to myself that I’m a Dally M winner, I’m a great player in this competition and I need to keep believing that.

“I don’t need to prove anyone wrong I just need to prove myself right.”