'Getting a bit weird': Sharks coach hits back at ongoing Nicho Hynes criticism
Updated . First published at
Craig Fitzgibbon has hit back at the "weird" criticism surrounding Nicho Hynes in the wake of Cronulla's round two win over the Cowboys.
The oft-maligned playmaker starred for the Sharks, producing three linebreak assists and running for 120 metres as the visitors got the chocolates in Townsville.
Hynes also nailed four conversions in the 36-12 victory over North Queensland.
READ MORE: Raiders drown out Broncos coach after stunning upset
READ MORE: Coach grilled on Wallabies ambitions after crucial win
READ MORE: 'Not AFL standard': Swans great blasts sloppy display
However, as it so often does, the topic of Hynes came up in the post-match presser, where Fitzgibbon was quizzed about the continued criticism of the halfback, coming off the back of a season-opening loss against the Panthers.
Nicho Hynes during Cronulla's win over the Cowboys. Getty
"I thought he was alright last week," the Sharks coach said.
"It's getting a bit weird all of that [criticism]. Last week in the last 20 minutes, he called all the sequences of play, fired the shots and did the short kick off to get us back into the game and he got Tricky [Braydon Trindall] off the ball.
"They are still learning how to combine. Trindall's last try assist tonight for Stoney [Sam Stonestreet] in the corner, Nicho got on the ball for him. I thought he was strong and he showed signs of that last week … he played stronger and both improved tonight.
"But they're still not where we need to be."
Watch the 2025 NRL premiership live and free on Nine and 9Now.
Cronulla were rated as one of the top premiership hopes before a ball was kicked this year and through their first two outings, have showed glimpses of being right up there.
The side even managed to overcome an incredibly rough Las Vegas "hangover" after 10 of their players were struck down by illness upon their return to Australia.
Kayal Iro celebrates a try with Sharks teammates. Getty
"Post-Vegas, I'm really pleased with tonight," Fitzgibbon said.
"You can't say it before the game, because it's an excuse, but five players had COVID and five got influenza A and we couldn't prepare or train.
"We were the only Vegas team that had to travel, so I was a bit wary about the hangover of that, but tonight was an important night for us."
Fitzgibbon also relayed the significance of the win over the Cowboys, which marked the 100th career game for Siosifa Talakai and also the Paul Green Medal, which honours the late player and coach who had ties to both clubs.
Sharks skipper Cameron McInnes was the recipient of the award post-match.
