'Get out of your room': Brad Fittler responds to Nicho Hynes admitting he struggled to bond with Origin teammates

Brad Fittler has offered some simple advice to Nicho Hynes and other potential State of Origin players when it comes to bonding with teammates in camp.

The oft-maligned Sharks halfback was a guest on Nine's 100% Footy earlier this week when he revealed his struggles from the sport's toughest arena.

Hynes played one game each in the 2023 and 2024 series, before being dropped and seemingly getting shuffled down the pecking order for halves or bench spots.

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The 29-year-old admitted while it was a "good experience" to represent the NSW Blues, there were things he would do differently next time around.

"If I was to get picked again I guess I would put myself out there more," Hynes said.

"I probably didn't bond as well with some of the team as I could have.

"It was definitely a good experience. I would never have a rep jersey and say it was a bad experience. If I never played for NSW again at least I can say I wore the Blues jersey proud, and I tried my best.

"Sometimes your best isn't good enough and so be it."

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The comments about his time time in Blues camp took Fittler - who gave Hynes his debut two years ago - by surprise during this week's edition of Freddy and The Eighth.

While the former Blues coach can't recall exactly how things transpired with Hynes in the lead-up to his first Origin, he did explain the importance of bonding with teammates.

"The one bit of advice I'd give to any player is just get out of your room," Fittler said.

"Be with the team, don't be in your room - if you're in your room, you're on your own.

"I can't go back, I'd have no idea how Nicho was in those camps or if he got on with people or if he had some friends going in there, which sometimes helps.

"You've just got to force yourself to be with other people and learn about them.

"He played in the Origin game where (Joseph) Suaalii got sent off early and they ended up getting beat - he started in that game. We picked him in a game where he came off the bench for the last 10 or 15 minutes (in 2023), but I can't remember the actual camp.

"You can be pretty hard on yourself and if you get to play a rep game and you lose, it's a bad experience because it's intense and you want to win so bad.

"Just keep playing well and you will get another chance."

Andrew Johns admitted it could be "intimidating" at times for playmakers to step into the Origin arena and immediately need to bark orders at more experienced players, while former Blues hooker Api Koroisau said the 10-day camps made things tricky.

"You don't get much time, so your ability to bond quickly and get on the same page is really important," the Wests Tigers captain said.

"One moment can change everything - it can be a great experience or the best thing ever or it can be really hard on you." 

Hynes, who took out the 2022 Dally M Medal in his first year with Cronulla, has also played three games for the Kangaroos in his representative career.