Nicho Hynes' bleak admission amid 'disappointing' 27-12 win over Rabbitohs
Nicho Hynes has conceded Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon will be far from impressed with his team's second half effort, despite beating the Rabbitohs 27-12 at Shark Park.
The Sharks dominated the opening stanza, but fell asleep and lost the second 12-7.
Speaking to Fox Sports post match, Hynes said he'd take the two points, but conceded the squad needed to be better.
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"It's a game of two halves. The first half was awesome we stuck to our plans and executed it, but far out I'm very disappointed with that second half," he told Fox Sports.
"I don't think Fitzy (coach Craig Fitzgibbon) is going to be too happy with us."
Nicholas Hynes wasn't impressed with his team's second half performance against the Rabbitohs. Getty
Hynes said the side's first half performance was the blueprint from which the rest of their season would be built, but they couldn't afford to go to sleep like they did.
"If you want to be a top team in this competition, you've gotta do that for the whole 80," he said.
"But at the end of the day, a win's a win."
His side's first home game of the season was also soured by a concerning knee injury to big bopper Braden Hamlin-Uele.
Hamlin-Uele came out of a tackle gingerly early in the second half. He played the ball, but then came straight off the field and up the tunnel.
Braden Hamlin-Uele will be sent for scans after suffering a knee injury against the Rabbitohs. FOX Sports
He was ruled out not long after, and will be sent for scans on Saturday night. Cameras caught him on the sidelines with a large ice pack strapped to his knee.
Hamlin-Uele spent large chunks of 2024 playing for the Newtown Jets in the NSW Cup as he battled injuries. He played no part in the Sharks' NRL finals campaign.
The Sharks burst out of the gate with a try for Hynes in the opening minutes. Briton Nikora made it two not long after.
But it was the second two tries that really brought the Shark Park crowd to its feet.
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The first was finally scored by Kayal Iro after the side went 110m to score one of the all-time great team tries.
Ronaldo Mulitalo took the ball in the in-goal and got it back into the field of play before offloading to Will Kennedy, who in turn got it away to Iro who was able to run away to score.
"They're on fire, the Sharkies. You won't see a better try than that," Steve Roach said in commentary for Fox Sports.
But they basically did. Less than 10 minutes later, Will Kennedy crossed in the corner, but the play was once again set up some 80m back up field.
Sam Stonestreet took the kick on his own 20m line. He then fired the ball towards the opposite wing, where it first found Kennedy, then Mulitalo again, then Iro.
Jye Gray put a stunning tackle on Iro that looked like it might've saved the try, but Kennedy and Hynes were on hand to salvage the situation and score anyway.
"You can't draw it up like that, but it's good to watch. Unbelievable," Warren Smith said for Fox Sports.
In the second half, Braydon Trindall scored in the 45th minute, but then the Sharks virtually went to sleep. They barely looked an attacking chance, and the Bunnies were able to score two consolation tries.
Trindall's field goal on full time was their only further score for the game.
The Sharks will host the Bulldogs next weekend.
