Sharks players believe a refreshed Nicho Hynes is set to provide a significant boost to their finals campaign as they prepare for the return of the star playmaker.
Hynes has been named in an extended squad for Saturday night’s clash with the Warriors and is expected to be a late inclusion after rupturing his syndesmosis in a training mishap seven weeks ago.
At the time, both Cronulla and Hynes were struggling; Craig Fitzgibbon’s men having lost four of their previous five matches, while the 2022 Dally M Medallist was coming to terms with his axing from the NSW team after Origin I.
However, the Sharks have since won their last four consecutive matches to sit in third place and fullback Will Kennedy said team-mates were eagerly anticipating Hynes’s return while they’re striking form.
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“Nicho's a real energy buzz and he leads our team around,” Kennedy said.
“We've missed him and he's just an exciting player to play with. I love playing with Nicho, he brings a big energy to the team, as well”.
Sharks captain Cameron McInnes, who will play his 200th NRL match on Sunday, said the external pressure on Hynes to end the team's losing streak had been unfair and team-mates wouldn't be relying on him when he returns.
"Whether he plays or not this week, I just want to give him a wrap because during a time in the season where we weren't performing to our capabilities, I feel like he took a lot of bullets for everyone," McInnes said.
"He's such a strong person because when we play well, he gets the accolades. But when we don't at all, it generally falls on him, so a lot of other guys can keep their head underwater and not get found out.
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"He takes that for everyone, so I'm so proud of him and the way he's carried himself through all of that.
"When he does get back on the field, he'll have nothing but support from us because we owe that to him."
Playmaker Braydon Trindall, who also made his return last week after a hamstring injury, added: “Nicho will be a massive inclusion for us”.
Terrific Trindall
Fitzgibbon said after last Sunday’s defeat of St George Illawarra that he was giving serious sign consideration to keeping rookie five-eighth Daniel Atkinson in the squad and Trindall suggested the Italian international could play a No.14 role.
“Dan can cover all positions; he played centre in the World Cup, he’s played fullback, five-eighth, hooker - wherever he gets put he can do a job.
“Dan has come in and done a brilliant job, as everyone knows. He has been that little bit of glue that we needed, and he has performed well. He has stood up when we needed him to, and he has got the rewards.”
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The Sharks also welcome back Siosifa Talakai (calf) in the centres in place of the suspended Jesse Ramien and winger Sione Katoa (concussion protocols).
Despite the importance of a top-four spot to their premiership hopes, Kennedy was reluctant to discuss where the Sharks were aiming to finish at the end of the regular season.
"It's there in the background but I think we just focus on week to week," Kennedy said. "We focus on that and then everything will go to plan for us.”
