Star Sharks recruit Nicho Hynes has shut down the narrative suggesting departing Melbourne Storm players can’t thrive at other clubs.
Hynes made his first public appearance in Sharks colours yesterday during day one of Cronulla’s pre-season campaign ahead of the 2022 season.
The 25-year-old linked up with the club after signing a three-year deal in June in what’s set to be a new era for Cronulla, with new coach Craig Fitzgibbon taking over.
Hynes, who won a premiership with the Storm in 2020, landed his contract in part due to his breakout season where he was handed a number of starting duties at fullback and in the halves courtesy of Melbourne’s injury toll throughout the 2021 season.
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With Hynes now a first-choice halves selection for Fitzgibbon, he said he’s confident he can prove that departing Storm stars make good players elsewhere, despite not having legendary Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy behind them anymore.
“There’s going to be outside noise and me going to the Sharks in the halves where I haven’t played a lot of NRL is going to get people talking,” he said.
“There’s obviously a lot of noise about people leaving the Storm and going to other clubs if they don’t go as well, but I think that’s all pretty crap to be honest.
“If you put the work in, I don’t see why you can’t be as good as what you were at the Storm.
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“It was very vocal up in Queensland when I was being linked to the Broncos. People were saying that the Broncos needed to be careful buying Storm players.
“But I just don’t think that’s an appropriate thing to say.
“‘Bellza’ gets the best out of you at the Storm, but why can’t other coaches? If you put the work in, it doesn’t matter what happens.”
In 24 appearances for the Storm last season, Hynes had 17 try assists, 26 line-break assists and crossed over for seven tries.
While the bulk of Hynes’ game time last season came at fullback as a result of Ryan Papenhuyzen’s battle with concussion, he said he’s confident a spot in the halves is where his future will be.
“I’m thinking I’m in the halves somewhere — I’m not thinking anywhere else,” Hynes added.
“We’ve got Will Kennedy here at fullback, who is a really good player and I’ll fit somewhere in the seven or six.
“When I had that first phone call with Fitzy he mentioned me being in the halves.
“I grew up playing in the halves my whole life, so it’s not new to me at all.
“People might think that, but I only played fullback when I was at the Storm.
“It was pretty exciting for me to play in the halves here and get my hand on the ball a bit earlier, rather than second or third all the time.
“You can’t really control the game at fullback.”