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Opinion
Nicho Hynes seems to float more than run. Gliding through defence with his luscious locks bobing in the wind, like some sort of majestic rugby league demigod. Millions of middle-aged men feel weak at the knees with the sheer thought of his cut out pass.
Despite this, I wouldn’t pick him at 6 for NSW. And Brad Fittler won’t either.
Why? He is too dominant, which is a weird reason to not be picked in a team.
Hynes averages 69 touches of the football a game. This is the most of any halfback in the entire NRL, and significantly more than any five-eighth.
And for now, the NSW Origin team is the Nathan Cleary show. In his five-eighth, he needs a partner to follow his command, not an outrageously handsome renegade.
Hynes at 6 may work but it would be a gamble – and not one that Brad is willing to make.
So, what about Nathan’s right hand man Jarome Luai?
Off the back of NSW losing the last series, there must be some casualties. Unfortunately for Luai, he will be the scapegoat. Or sacrificial lamb. Or the mouse that sunk the boat.
Point is, the Blues were outplayed last year. And short of blaming Cleary himself (God forbid) there needs to be an explanation as to why he didn’t reach his normal lofty playing standards: Luai didn’t take the pressure off his halfback.
So, who will be able to take the pressure off Cleary?
Enter the man with the biggest boot in the NRL, Matt Burton.
The Burton bomb is a truly unique weapon. It has the ability to completely rattle the confidence of the opposition back three, and change the momentum of the game.
It is the single skill that no other half can bring to the table, not even Cleary himself can replicate it.
Burton has already proven he can handle the origin arena. He has experience playing with Cleary in the NRL. He also has a running game good enough to win him a Dally M centre of the year award. And you best believe that man can kick a football.
Nicho is a NRL demigod destined for greatness. Luai is Nathan’s right hand man destined for more NRL premierships.
But Burton is the man destined to play 6 for NSW in 2023.
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