Star Sharks half Nicho Hynes has left NSW coach Michael Maguire with a large determination to make after not getting back from the halftime break in his facet’s 42-0 thrashing by the hands of the Panthers.
In one other take a look at of the Sharks’ premiership credentials, Cronulla was discovered wanting because the Panthers put collectively a primary half masterpiece at PointsBet Stadium.
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In entrance of a pack crowd of Sharks followers, the Panthers ran in 5 first-half tries to blow Cronulla off the park in a 28-0 halftime rating.
Whereas the scoreline confirmed simply how a lot additional the ladder leaders must go in 2024, the large information got here simply earlier than the break when Hynes was ordered to depart the sector for a head damage evaluation after an unintended knee from possible Origin teammate Isaah Yeo.
Hynes was seen on his haunches in backplay earlier than being despatched for a break, however the information grew to become a lot worse when he didn’t return from the halftime break, citing a calf grievance.
Hynes missed the Sharks’ well-known win over the Storm a fortnight in the past with the damage and has talked about he hasn’t been coaching at full capability as he manages the grievance.
However in entrance of NSW Blues coach Maguire, whose choices at No. 7 have already been restricted by long-term accidents to the likes of Nathan Cleary and Mitchell Moses, one other blow is the very last thing he wants.
Simply after the break, Fox League sideline reporter James Hooper reported: “He was despatched for a HIA — which he has handed. However he has a calf problem, it isn’t a pressure, it’s merely tightness.
“And the Sharks have determined that given it was 28-0 at halftime, not risking their star No. 7.
“(NSW Origin coach Michael Maguire) now has a choice to make, whether or not he stays with choosing Nicho or he goes in one other path.”
Dan Ginnane added Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon had advised reporters the membership was “managing him by means of coaching” with the most recent damage exhibiting “it’s not there but”.
Quickly after, the Fox League cameras discovered the Sharks half trying dejected on the sidelines.
“Nicho Hynes, the face says all of it,” Ginnane mentioned on Fox League.
Even when Hynes’ damage isn’t too dangerous, the query for Maguire will likely be whether or not he needs to take injured gamers into his first Origin camp — notably if they will’t practice with the crew.
Put up-match, Fitzgibbon advised reporters Hynes was “not too dangerous”.
“In all probability with the quarter-hour day without work (for the HIA) he cooled down and tightened up so I feel he’s okay.
“I’ve to test, I haven’t spoken to him or the medical guys about it however I obtained the message by means of that by means of cooling down, it tightened up.”
Fitzgibbon added that if he was chosen for Origin: “Even when he obtained by means of, he’s nonetheless going to must be modified for it.”
He added he wasn’t positive of the extent of the damage.
With incumbent NSW five-eighth Cody Walker dominated out of his ultimate audition in opposition to the Eels as effectively attributable to a calf damage, it’s been a nightmare for Maguire in his first season as Blues coach.
Contenders and certainties for Origin equivalent to Moses, Cleary, Bradman Greatest, Cameron Murray, Tom Trbojevic and Ryan Papenhuyzen are all sidelined by means of damage.
Nonetheless, if Jarome Luai was nonetheless auditioning for a return to Origin, he’s put his finest foot ahead.
With 10 minutes remaining, the Panthers led 42-0, with Luai having run for 107m in 13 runs, a strive, a strive help, two line breaks and two line break assists, in addition to 9 deal with breaks in his finest efficiency of the season.
