Nicho Hynes is free to play on Saturday evening when the Cronulla Sharks face the Sydney Roosters in a knockout NRL semifinal, after the league downgraded Hynes’ hip-drop charge in a sensational backflip.
Incredibly, the NRL appears to have overruled the impending suspension — which the Sharks had planned to challenge — because Bulldogs winger Marcelo Montoya was less injured than first feared.
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The NRL read a letter sent by Bulldogs medical officer Dr Peter Lorentzos, which suggested “the injury is far less serious than initially expected” and went on to confirm Canterbury are now expecting Marcelo “will still be able to participate in finals… at some stage.” The injury, the letter added, appears to be a low-grade ankle ligament sprain, capsular strain, and joint effusion.
Hynes would have been banned for a single match (or two if found guilty), but is now free to play.
“The match review committee remains satisfied that there is sufficient evidence to justify a charge for the offence of dangerous contact against Nicho Hynes,” the NRL wrote in a surprise statement sent around to clubs on Monday.
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“When initially ascribing a grading to that offence, the MRC considered the contents of a medical report provided by the injured player’s club, which offered preliminary details as to the nature and extent of the injury. Subsequently, the committee has received a further report which materially alters the nature and extent of the injury.
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“Following due consideration… the match review committee has reviewed the charge against Hynes and, in accordance with the code, has forwarded the player an amended notice of charge for the offence of dangerous contact (Grade 1).”
At the end of all this, Hynes will simply be fined $1,000.
And, the Sharks star is now, of course, to be named on Tuesday to play the sudden-death final.
That match will be played at Shark Park on Saturday evening. The winner will face Brisbane or Canberra.
