Andrew Johns says rookie coach Craig Fitzgibbon deserves credit for acknowledging a selection mistake and correcting it the following week.
The Sharks were blown off the park by the Raiders in a shock Magic Round upset that came after Fitzgibbon shifted gun recruit Nicho Hynes from halfback to fullback.
While Hynes has plenty of NRL experience at fullback, having deputised for Ryan Papenhuyzen at the Storm, in 2022 he has established himself as Cronulla’s playmaking general and they sorely lacked direction in their 30-10 loss to the Raiders.
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Cronulla’s regular No.1 Will Kennedy is still serving a suspension for this Sunday’s clash with the Titans but rather than lean on Hynes’ utility value, Fitzgibbon has reinstated him to the No.7 jersey, opening the door to give former Rugby Sevens Olympian Lachlan Miller his NRL debut at fullback.
That move has drawn Johns’ tick of approval, although he is still tipping the Titans to win the game at CBus Super Stadium off the back of a gutsy 20-16 win over the Dragons on Saturday.
“The Rugby Sevens guy goes to fullback, lightning quick,” Johns told Wide World of Sports’ Freddy and The Eighth’s Tips.
“I thought it was maybe a mistake moving Nicho Hynes to fullback and well done to Craig Fitzgibbon, he’s probably seen that and put him back.
“It’s that old saying, don’t weaken a position to strengthen another.”
Brad Fittler also tipped the Titans, saying the Sharks needed to inject their bigger men into the game more.
“Sharks lose [Dale] Finucane (due to concussion), it’ll be interesting, I know Royce Hunt’s back or they’ll be playing Royce Hunt. Fifita, they need some size there,” Fittler said.
“I know it worked against the Warriors, but…”
Scroll below for the current leaderboard and Round 11 tips by Johns, Brad Fittler and all Nine’s expert tipsters!
Andrew Johns: Knights, Tigers, Eels, Dragons, Cowboys, Panthers, Raiders, Titans
Brad Fittler: Broncos, Tigers, Eels, Dragons, Cowboys, Panthers, Raiders, Titans
Darren Lockyer: Broncos, Panthers, Storm, Bulldogs, Eels, Dragons, Rabbitohs, Sharks
Peter Psaltis: Broncos, Tigers, Eels, Dragons, Storm, Panthers, Raiders, Titans
Allana Ferguson: Broncos, Tigers, Eels, Dragons, Storm, Panthers, Rabbitohs, Sharks
Billy Slater: Broncos, Bulldogs, Eels, Dragons, Storm, Panthers, Rabbitohs, Titans
Ruan Sims: Broncos, Tigers, Eels, Dragons, Storm, Panthers, Raiders, Sharks
Johnathan Thurston: Broncos, Bulldogs, Eels, Dragons, Cowboys, Panthers, Rabbitohs, Sharks
Michael Chammas: Broncos, Bulldogs, Eels, Dragons, Storm, Panthers, Raiders, Titans
Paul Gallen: Broncos, Bulldogs, Eels, Dragons, Storm, Panthers, Raiders, Titans
David Middleton: Broncos, Tigers, Eels, Dragons, Storm, Panthers, Rabbitohs, Sharks
The Mole: Broncos, Tigers, Eels, Dragons, Storm, Panthers, Rabbitohs, Sharks
Ben Glover: Knights, Tigers, Eels, Dragons, Storm, Panthers, Rabbitohs, Sharks
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