Shark Park was the staging ground of an emergence last year: Nicho Hynes. The rugby league world already knew Melbourne’s fill-in fullback turned star Cronulla halfback was a game-changer, but once he was plugged into the heart of Craig Fitzgibbon’s project he showed just how dominant he could really be.
All that came undone in the 2022 NRL finals with a shock semi-finals exit, but Hynes and the Sharks still enjoyed a scorching run.
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Not much has changed for the Cronulla lineup heading into the new season and with all the lessons of Fitzgibbon’s first year—and Hynes has grown in confidence—this next year could be ever better for the Sharks. After all, if your key playmaker is arguably the best in the game, confidence billows into training, play, and every match.
Last year’s finish: 2nd, 18 wins and six losses
Last ten NRL campaigns: 2nd (Semi), 9th, 8th (Qualifying), 7th (Qualifying), 4th (Prelim), 5th (Qualifying), 3rd (Premiers), 6th (Semi), Spoon, 5th (Semi)
Predicted Round 1 lineup
- Will Kennedy
- Sione Katoa
- Jesse Ramien
- Siosifa Talakai
- Ronaldo Mulitalo
- Matt Moylan
- Nicho Hynes
- Toby Rudolf
- Blayke Brailey
- Braden Hamlin-Uele
- Briton Nikora
- Teig Wilton
- Dale Finucane
- Cameron McInnes
- Oregon Kaufusi
- Royce Hunt
- Wade Graham
Coach: Craig Fitzgibbon
Biggest loss: Andrew Fifita, Aiden Tolman Biggest gain: Oregon Kaufusi
How 2023 is looking for Cronulla
The pressure is already on Nicho Hynes to replicate his Dally M form in 2023 and the Sharks’ fortunes will be closely tied to the halfback guiding the sky-blue squad around the park.
So, the fact Hynes is in doubt for the opening rounds is a big worry.
Regardless, whether he starts in round one or round four makes little difference—all eyes will be on the 26-year-old, and not least his Cronulla teammates. If he can get right back to the quality he was bringing out each and every week last season, the whole team will lift beside him again and can quickly build into a 2023 title challenger.
There are a few issues with the Sharks list, including Matt Moylan never getting back to his past heights and several stars like Siosifa Talakai and Will Kennedy being rocks and diamonds across the two dozen NRL rounds.
That said, all that goes away if Hynes plays to his best. He is so good at the peak of his powers that he can make up for other players’ shortcomings; it’s just about whether Fitzgibbon can get him roaring like that, or even hitting higher powers in 2023. Scary thought that he may still have prime years ahead of him as he heads towards his 30s.
Predicted 2023 finish: 4th
First five: Rabbitohs (H), Eels (A), Raiders (A), Dragons (A), Warriors (H)
TopSport odds: Premiers $12, Make Top 4: $2.80, Make Final 8: $1.42, Miss The Top 8: $2.70
Pass mark: Put up more of a fight in the postseason.
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