Brad Fittler has defended his decision to leave Dally M Medallist Nicho Hynes out of his NSW Blues squad for Game 2 of State of Origin, telling reporters that it was purely a tactical choice regarding his bench rotation rather than a reaction to his performance in the first Origin game or for Cronulla.
It comes after Phil Gould claimed Hynes was “a bit fragile” after his disappointing Origin debut and that’s why Fittler dumped the Sharks star for game two with Mitchell Moses getting the nod for the vacant halfback jersey.
“These days with the bench, with the HIAs, it’s tricky,” said Fittler.
“Queensland showed that sometimes you just have to put guys in those positions and give them a shot. At the end of the day, you can’t cover every position. There’s just not enough versatile players. So you have to go in with a plan, and if Plan B doesn’t work, you have to do your best. That’ll be the mindset.
“He’s had such an incredible year on and off the field, but we felt after the weekend’s round and with the way we wanted to play, there’s more certainty about getting a second hooker on than getting a versatile player on. There’s more certainty about what we can do and if things go wrong we’ll adapt.”
Hynes was considered the early frontrunner to replace Nathan Cleary when the Penrith No.7 tore his hamstring but after lacklustre performances for Cronulla against Brisbane and then Sunday’s 54-10 thumping in Melbourne, he was dropped from the NSW squad.
The 2022 Dally M Medal winner also struggled in his limited minutes on debut in the 26-18, getting palmed off by Cameron Munster in the lead-up to Queensland’s try to Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow which put them in front in the closing stages.
Moses was handed the starting spot with Cowboys hooker Reece Robson called up to make his debut as the bench utility ahead of Hynes for next Wednesday’s clash in Brisbane.
Nicho Hynes. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
“My mail was that after the Origin in Adelaide he was a bit fragile after that game,” the former NSW coach said on Nine’s 100% Footy. “He was upset that he was thrown in there late, missed a tackle that maybe cost them the game, he kind of came back lacking a little bit in confidence.
“So it wasn’t just last week’s performance, it was probably the one the week before too (against Brisbane) and how he responded to that.”
Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon, after the 44-point hammering by the Storm, said it would be unfair for Hynes to lose his Blues spot on the basis of that game and not the “strong body of work behind him” over the past 18 months.
“He was probably not at his best,” Fitzgibbon said. “Didn’t have much support there today. You need to be part of a strong team line-up to play well.”
Gould also believes Queensland have gained a major advantage for the Blues’ must-win match at Suncorp Stadium by going into camp a day earlier. The Blues had to wait until after Monday’s Eels-Dogs clash to name their squad because it contained several Blues selection candidates.
“It’s a huge advantage, the first 24 hours is crucial, they’ve been sitting there reviewing and previewing and we’re still twiddling our thumbs and haven’t got a team yet,” Gould said.
“We won’t be getting together until probably Wednesday so you’re already giving away two days, it’s really important.”
He added that the Maroons squad looks stronger with the addition of Xavier Coates, Jeremiah Nanai and Moeaki Fotuaika for injured trio Selwyn Cobbo, Tom Gilbert and Jai Arrow.
astro
Roar Rookie
Yep, as false as Hynes being fragile.
Ben Pobjie
Expert
Oh. So they wouldn’t pick him.
Farmyard Friend
Roar Rookie
Historically, if NSW lose, Plan B is to blame the referee.
rakshop
Roar Rookie
Yes – they would have picked him as Munster’s cover in game three last year (which is the exact situation NSW finds itself in now) and as 18th man this year.
Farmyard Friend
Roar Rookie
At least he’s not a muppet like those pesky journalists who annoy Ricky.
Ben Pobjie
Expert
“ do you think if Queensland had access to the reigning Dally M and the form half back of the competition, would they “not” pick him because he wasn’t “ready”?????” No, they wouldn’t pick him because they’ve been winning with the half they’ve got.
Ben Pobjie
Expert
One wonders what would have happened in Game One, had either Tedesco or Luai, with their team in front, successfully made an extremely easy tackle on Cobbo, instead of rolling out the red carpet to the try line. Some missed tackles are more equal than others.
Ben Pobjie
Expert
That is his reputation and it’s a false one
farkurnell
Roar Rookie
And no backline replacement on the bench for any of those backs carrying injuries.
Fairdinkum
Roar Rookie
Isn't plan B to call a taxi.
Carlos Marrickvillian
Roar Rookie
If Qld had access to pick Hynes do you really think they're dropping Munster DCE or Hunt ... there's no way. There's no real difference between the forwards and backline but IMO QLD definitely has a key edge. Last year's series and game 1 reflected generally how close the two teams are and it could've gone either way in both instances. In game one If Turbo is on the field QLD probably doesn't get the ball back from that drop out and Hammer probably doesn't score that try... Those 2 moments probably lost us the game, but the point is the games are a good contest with the slightly better team winning tightly. The real difference between the teams is Grant/Hunt, DCE and Munster and the experience and solidity of that spine gives them a key edge over NSW. If i was picking the Australian spine I would 100% pick that cohesion over Cook Api Cleary Luai or Hynes or a mix of the 2 teams any day. As long as they're good, the forwards and backline don't matter that much and both teams have plenty of good players to choose from. Carrigan v Yeo or Martin V Nani, Hass v Tino, Hammer V Turbo these match ups (are F-ing great but...) wont decide the match in the way that key group of playmakers will.
matth
Roar Guru
I thought it was Finally Out of Commentary. Wishful thinking I guess.
Lance Boil
Roar Rookie
Your last sentence is the best explanation I've seen. It is the "secret" hiding in plain sight.
Maxtruck
Roar Rookie
Qld did not train Monday, they played golf and got on the drink
Emcie
Roar Guru
Gotta make hay while the sun shines :stoked: Don't stress, at least you've got a back up 9 now to cover your 80 minute hooker and the 3 backs that can't train this week instead of one of those "versatility" types
Emcie
Roar Guru
His best selections always come after his preferred ones fall flat..
The Barry
Roar Guru
I’m enjoying your comments, but also feel you’re having a little bit too much fun with this… :laughing: :laughing:
The Barry
Roar Guru
If NSW do win with a Roosters, Panthers, Eels, Souths/Cowboys spine it will show up the “combinations” nonsense for the myth that it is…
Andrew01
Roar Rookie
I enjoyed Brandy on NRL 360 last night when asked how the Moses, Luai combination would work and his repsonse was, "one will be mainly on the left, one will be on the right, so the combination isn't really that important". I like Brandy but that was a laughable response given the justification for selections over the last couple of years. Fittler would have been better off just saying, they got the selection wrong. If NSW win the series, he keeps his job, if they don't, he loses it, so there is no harm in being honest. And the truth is, they picked Hynes because they thought they had to and had no plan on how to use him. The truth is, he should have been selected ahaead of Luai for Game 1 (irrespective of whether in hindsight Luai had a decent game or not in Origin 1) because he deserved to be. But instead they set him, and the team up for failing by picking him in a utility role when he can only really play halves or fullback (in a team that already had 3 starting fullbacks selected in it).
Emcie
Roar Guru
To be fair, it would appear that Plan B was Hynes replacing an injured player, which would have been pretty disruptive to his Plan A which I can only assume was not to use him at all.