Nicho Hynes’ stellar start to the season shows no sign of slowing down after the Sharks halfback inspired a second-half blitz that saw Cronulla run out 22-12 winners over the Roosters.
The Roosters had looked the better side late in the first half despite a Nat Butcher hip-drop tackle that saw him sent to the bin, but couldn’t deal with Hynes’ creativity as the second half wore on and ended up imploding completely.
Brandon Smith, for a high shot, and then Victor Radley for a professional foul, were both sat down, leaving the Chooks to finish the game with 11 men in a game in which they conceded 14 penalties, the most in an NRL game since 2020.
Things had looked rosy for the Roosters, who responded to their poor start – a 0-7 penalty count early on – with determination and were decent value for a halftime lead, but they didn’t contend with Hynes’ turning in the best 40 minutes of an already-impressive year.
Cronulla had dominated the ball in the first half, but failed to threaten a resolute Roosters line. In the second, they threw caution to the wind and got their rewards – with five line breaks to one and, of course, two points in their back pocket.
“It was about time he had a crack,” laughed coach Craig Fitzgibbon about his superstar half, who recently signed a bumper new deal.
“The show of faith from the club is a sign of how much we believe in him. The thing that’s most impressive is every day he walks through the door, he works hard. He doesn’t stop.”
Trent Robinson was angered by a no-try call on Lindsay Collins, with the Roosters boss insisting that the prop had grounded the ball.
“Lindsay’s try was disappointing,” he said. “It was pretty clear from the angles that I saw that the ball was on the line.
“I thought that was a poor excuse (to support) the on-field decision. There were enough angles to say it was on the line. I think they missed it, to be honest.”
The hip-drop has been rugby league’s biggest talking point for a few weeks now, and it reared its head again early in this one with Nat Butcher binned for one on Briton Nikora.
This might go down as the peak of the hip-drop craze: it was hardly a pure example, far from the worst you’ll see and almost certainly an accident – but nobody seemed to dispute it at all. This where we are now with this tackle.
It’s for the best, too. Pretty much every coach has had their say, and claimed that they don’t coach it, and there’s not really any reason to doubt them. It’s both liable to incite injury and highly ineffective as a tackle.
The difference in Butcher’s was that it happened after just 15 minutes. Speaking to coaches, they largely put hip-drops down to accidents caused by fatigue and the larger, more powerful frames of players in the modern age.
There’s no doubt that the strength of athletes is now up, and that the bulk of hip-drops come when a tired tackler attempts to use momentum or their own leverage to ‘win’ a tackle that, in fact, they have already lost.
That was what was strange about this one. Just a quarter of an hour in, it’s hard to say that Butcher would be overly fatigued. He tries to hold Nikora, falls off as the Sharks man gets underneath and, in the process to attempting to hold on, lands on the back of his legs.
It’s not really a hip-drop in the traditional sense. It’s certainly not a deliberate attempt to injure. But it is, in 2023, a sin bin every day of the week.
Nicho Hynes won the Dally M Medal last year, and it was really difficult to argue with it. But, at the same time, it was also hard to say that he was the best player in the NRL, especially when it mattered most.
When compared with the likes of James Tedesco, Harry Grant, Latrell Mitchell and Nathan Cleary, Hynes seemed just a spot behind.
It could have been argued that his actions in the games where you need your star player to be the difference, Nicho wasn’t always at his best.
He’s got the clutch gene, as proven by late kicks against the Eels and Bunnies in particular standing out, but in terms of a truly dominating performance, where he was unquestionably the best player on a field filled with elite players…less so.
Tonight might be the first time that Hynes has manage it. This game was meandering without anyone taking it by the scruff of the neck for a long time until Nicho wrested it to his will.
He made a major impact with two line breaks of his own – one a superb piece of heads up play – and was the crucial part in the try that ultimately won his side the game.
It was also Hynes’ pass that could have put Braden Hamlin-Uele in, and the final score came from the subsequent play the ball.
For 20 minutes, this was perhaps the strangest game of the season so far. These are two of the better sides in the league, with plenty to play for, in decent enough conditions for footy. Yet it was, diplomatically, uninspiring stuff.
The Roosters conceded a frankly ridiculous seven penalties to none, but the Sharks did very little to fire back and threaten. It was a total false start.
Eventually, after the Butcher binning, Cronulla did kick into gear with a Matt Moylan try, but playing with 12 seemed to galvanise the Roosters more: they cleaned up their play and as soon as Butcher returned, they kicked on with two tries in close succession.
The late-half blitz laid bare a major criticism of the Sharks this year: their goalline defence. Luke Keary tore a huge hole in the sliding D for Egan Butcher, while Brandon Smith’s close range effort was excellent stuff from the Cheese, but softer than soft for the tacklers.
It’s something that plenty have noticed. In conceding plenty to the Eels and Warriors, the resilience and organisation were far from the standards that they need to be if Cronulla want to compete later in the year.
farkurnell
Roar Rookie
It was the Chooks trying to be too clever. Apparently it was a deliberate penalty so as to claim a CC from a previous Sharks error.The only problem was the Ref was having none of it ,and rightly,saw it as a cynical abuse of the rules.
Worlds Biggest
Roar Pro
Pedestrian second half from both teams really. The Sharks turned it over 3 or 4 times in the space of 10 minutes and the Roosters still couldn’t capitalise. Hynes the difference in the end. He has to be in the Blues squad but bet Boofhead Fittler will pick an out of form Wighton ahead of him.
Cam
Roar Rookie
You are really close to the money with this one. I reckon the Roosters, who have dominant playmakers in Keary, Walker and the Cheese and absolute weapons out wide, would improve their attacking structure with a more sweeping edge-attacking fullback (like a Papenhuyzen or even Gutherson style player). Teddy's stop-start, spin around 4 times, run back into the middle play kills the ball for Sua'ali'i, Manu and Tupou. For years all their attack went through Tedesco, but the 2023 iteration of the Roosters probably just needs him to link the middle to their edges.
RedcliffeFan
Roar Rookie
The Roosters deserved all the penalties against them.
WA Sharks Fan
Roar Rookie
It is a professional foul to slow down the play the ball. Certainly worth a sin bin based on the circumstances
mushi
Roar Guru
Yep the two markers where in position. He's an embarrassment to the club.
Muzz Manyana
Roar Rookie
The Chooks were horrible when the game was in the balance and there to be won. I've pretty much given up on young Walker. Sure he has some ability and gives 100% but we need a game manger/general who knows the script and can demand his team mates attention. Hastings had his flaws and rubbed people up the wrong way but they should've persevered with him! He's a fantastic game manager. This is something Robbo coached teams need.
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
Dave when you see how late it was, like it was soooo late. And they were down and didnt have time to waste anyway. It was just bizarre.
mushi
Roar Guru
Hard to say it was the full 80. The sharks leaked metres and points on little possession or pressure in the first half. But they had more starch in the second
mushi
Roar Guru
It was very late and a patented deliberate Radley head scratcher. He also should have been binned late in the first half.
Dave
Roar Rookie
What you just described is not a sin bin offense - if that is all that happened, it is the ref who should be sanctioned.
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
Its pretty bizarre. Roosters go a short kick off which is claimed by the Sharks. Two roosters lay on him for the tackle. Radley comes from metres away after the tackle is complete to wrap up the ball carrier. Its so late you're wondering if Victor thinks he is playing in the later game. Its not dirty or anything. Its just late and dumb.
farkurnell
Roar Rookie
Yeah Nicho’s in form - but Freddy won’t give him a jersey
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
Augurs well for NSW in the upcoming origin series. Will any Blues players be in form?
Dave
Roar Rookie
Anyone know why Radley as sent to the sin bin, didn't look like anything happened and the ref didn't explain what he had done? If was really strange from the ref.
farkurnell
Roar Rookie
To me the Sharks won that game on Defence .That was there best defensive effort this season.Sure they scored some good try’s in the 2nd half and Chooks ill discipline cost them dearly.The chooks star studded back line was completely blunted by solid 80 mins Sharks pressure.
Ferret
Roar Rookie
It's almost sacrilege to say but "I think in attack, less would be more for Teddy". Don't get me wrong, I think Tedesco has been the heart and soul of the Chooks for the past 2 seasons. He's single-handed hauled them across the line in numerous games before but, his "pinball" attacking style now seems to stifle the attacking brilliance the Chooks have in the outside backs. Also looks like the hooker, Keary and Walker are a bit too deferential to Tedesco in attack. With free flowing attacking weapons like Suaalii and Manu I think he'd be best served backing them up rather than trying to initiate the break. But anyway, what would I know, never been an NRL coach or player, just saying ....
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
Sensational observations. Trent Robinson hasnt been able to get Victor to improve his discipline. Imagine how many sin bins Victor would have copped if he had a dud coach and not Trent Robinson? He would have reached his half century in bins
Cam
Roar Rookie
Couple of observations, the Shark’s winger were outstanding diffusing the Roosters bombs. Radley is now the equal most sin binned player in NRL history and looks like setting a record that won’t be broken this millennium. Lastly, I’m still not sure if that was Matt Lodge in jersey 17 or a bloke who had swallowed Matt Lodge?