'People want to bring you down': Nicho Hynes admits unwanted 'tag' may linger

Nicho Hynes admitted he may carry the "tag" of being that guy who never wins when it matters for the rest of his career as the Cronulla halfback shrugged off claims he's the NRL's most scrutinised player.

The Sharks' 37-10 defeat to Melbourne on Saturday led to former Kangaroos playmaker Greg Alexander to call for Hynes to be axed from the halves for Friday's semi-final against North Queensland.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Hynes responded to suggestions he typically struggles to step up in big games.

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The under fire Cronulla halfback said he wasn't aware of Alexander's comments, having scrapped social media since returning from an ankle injury last month.

However, it's clear in his mind a narrative is forming around his failure in big games.

"It's a tag that will forever be there for the rest of the career," Hynes said.

"From 2022, I was still fresh and had only played halfback for 20 games. In that Cowboys [qualifying final] I felt like I played a pretty good game but we didn't get the result.

"The Roosters game last year was similar, we only lost by a field goal as well.

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"The game on the weekend was one where I probably needed to be better and I'll own that performance.

"But as a team as a whole, we need to be better. I think (Melbourne) had 73 per cent possession and completed 44 of 46 [sets] and we had 12 errors."

The Cronulla shot-caller said he's not dwelling on the loss, and being off social media has helped. Hynes said he has not engaged in any platform this year as much as he has in the past.

"I don't want to go on [social media] and search for someone to talk negative about me or positive. It's just pointless.

"[The scrutiny] comes with the job, it comes with the profile.

"All I try and do is wake up every day happy and try and make a positive impact on people's lives and play some good footy.

"And some people want to bring you down for it.

"That is their problem. It is what it is, I can't change that. I can only control what I can control and be a positive person."

The one-time NSW half defended his performance against the Storm, saying his biggest blemish was failing to find touch from a penalty in the first half.

"That's probably the one thing that I can look back on and think that's where I made an error," Hynes said.

"I can't see any other time.

"I think the ball found me on the last when we were on our own 40 [metre line], but I didn't take the short side.

"I'm probably getting ridiculed for that as well.

"It is what it is. Everyone is going to talk about my game and the game control, but I don't think we were in that game for a lot of it. Everyone will keep speculating."

The Sharks need to beat the Cowboys at Allianz Stadium to keep their premiership dream alive.