Is Nicho Hynes struggling or just a convenient scapegoat?

The Age

2 days ago

The statistics support Gallen's view, suggesting Hynes has been at worst pretty good, without approaching the dominance he displayed in 2022 when he won the Dally M Medal as the game's best player.
On face value, it could be argued that, in terms of handling the ball, running and kicking, Hynes' output has been gradually decreasing since that spectacular first season in the Shire, after arriving from Melbourne.
But no player in the NRL has produced more line-break assists this year than Hynes (20), while his try-assists tally (13) is only two fewer than category leader Cameron Munster.
Perhaps it is a case of less is more, but also what should be factored in are the halves partners Hynes has played alongside.
In his first two seasons with the Sharks, his main sidekick was the enigmatic Matt Moylan, who was quite content to play second fiddle and allow Hynes to run the show.
Since Moylan's departure at the end of the 2023 season, Braydon Trindall has established himself as Cronulla's five-eighth, despite the claims of St George-Illawarra-bound Daniel Atkinson. And while Trindall wears the No.6 jersey he inherited from Moylan, his combination with Hynes is more of a 50-50 split.
During the past two seasons, Trindall has handled the ball on average 48 times a game, compared to Hynes' 58. But in terms of kicking, it's clear that Trindall has become Cronulla's first option.
This season Trindall leads the NRL for 40-20s (three) and field goals (two), is third on the list for attacking kicks (103) and sixth overall for metres gained from kicks. His grubbers have also forced opponents to make nine goal line dropouts, compared to one from Hynes.
Moreover, Trindall has delivered 12 try assists, only one fewer than Hynes. That's 25 in tandem, the same number as Munster and Jahrome Hughes have produced for Melbourne, and one fewer than pacesetters Isaiya Katoa and Kodi Nikorima have conjured up for the Dolphins.
In other words, is it too simplistic to judge Hynes by his numbers? Has the 29-year-old simply evolved and taken a step back so that the Sharks can get maximum value from Trindall? Would we be looking at them differently if they swapped numbers on their jerseys?
Sharks enforcer Addin Fonua-Blake argued this week that any blame for the loss in Brisbane should be collectively shared.
'I think it's not right that Nicho wears all the punishment and all the pressure is on his shoulders,' Fonua-Blake said.
'I'm on the field, too, and I let us down on the weekend. I'll wear that. I'm pretty sure that of the 17 blokes who took the field, 17 of us would put our hands up and say we weren't good enough.
'Nicho – unrightfully so – has been the easy scapegoat over a few years, but it's on all of us to put our hands up.
'Nicho is not the only one to keep making errors and missing tackles. We've just got to get around each other – and we have – and build for a tough Storm team this week.'
Gallen was of a similar view, arguing that while Hynes had some moments against Brisbane 'that weren't great', the Sharks made 13 errors and conceded seven penalties, which invited the Broncos back into the contest.
'It's just the fundamental errors,' Gallen said. 'Silly penalties. That's the issue for them.
'The difference between their best game and their worst game is too far at the moment. They've just got to narrow that gap.'
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Gallen had no doubt his former club, which has banked eight wins this season (only four teams have more), will be involved at the business end of the season. And when they get there, Hynes' experience, cool head and class will be invaluable.
'They're still where they need to be,' he said. 'On their day, they can beat anyone, and they've shown that.