One of the greatest halfbacks in history, Johnathan Thurston, admits he didn’t expect boom Cronulla recruit Nicho Hynes to make such an impressive switch to the No.7 jumper.
Hynes crossed from the Storm to the Sharks at the end of last season and in doing so became Cronulla’s specialist halfback, after playing as a fullback or utility with Melbourne.
The 25-year-old’s brilliant start to the season continued in a 36-12 thrashing of the Dragons on Thursday night, as he set up a try, scored one himself and taunted St George Illawarra with his running and kicking.
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“(Five-eighth) Matty Moylan and Nicho Hynes were on fire tonight, especially Nicho’s kicking game…” Thurston said on Nine’s coverage.
“To tell the truth, I didn’t actually see this coming from Nicho. I always knew he was a good footballer, but to play in the halves, especially halfback, you need to get your team around the park, you need to know when to kick, how to get your team back in games when you’re behind by points.
“But he’s started on fire.”
Hynes produced a superb piece of skill to set up a Siosifa Talakai try in the 36th minute.
Identifying a slim opening and nailing his precision, the New South Welshman kicked the ball into a gap between Zac Lomax and Mikaele Ravalawa, as Talakai took the footy and crashed over the line.
“He surprised me, too,” said former Sharks captain Paul Gallen after Thurston’s huge rap.
“He came up from the Melbourne Storm, long hair, surfy-looking, relaxed-looking type of guy…
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“… but I’ve got to say, from the moment he got to Cronulla… I don’t go there a lot. I go down there once a week, maybe once a fortnight, but I’ve got to say, from the moment he got there he was an absolute leader. And it’s something, I’ve got to say, that surprised me a hell of a lot. He talks in meetings, he gets on the field, he barks instructions, he tells the team what he wants. He’s a real halfback… and that really surprised me…
“Being down in Melbourne, obviously there were a few guys in front of him, so he wanted to go elsewhere, he wanted to control a team.
“That’s the reason he’s at the Sharks and, I’ve got to say, he’s done a terrific job in the off-season and he’s doing a pretty good job on the field.”
Hynes has only made 39 NRL appearances, but former Storm teammate Cameron Smith said he was playing like a 100-gamer.
“I was lucky enough to spend a fair bit of time with him in Melbourne and see him first-hand,” Smith said.
“He is a very calm young man and he is very mature for his age.”
Cronulla will meet Newcastle at Shark Park next Friday night.
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