Sharks Coach Responds to Persistent Criticism of Nicho Hynes: ‘It’s Getting Quite Strange’

Craig Fitzgibbon has responded to the “strange” criticism surrounding Nicho Hynes following Cronulla’s round two triumph over the Cowboys.

The frequently scrutinised playmaker excelled for the Sharks, recording three linebreak assists and covering 120 metres as the visitors claimed a 36-12 win in Townsville.

Hynes also successfully converted four goals during the match.

However, as is often the case, Hynes’ performance became a point of discussion in the post-match press conference, where Fitzgibbon was asked about the ongoing critiques directed at the halfback, especially after their season-opening defeat to the Panthers.

“I thought he played reasonably well last week,” the Sharks coach commented.

“The criticism seems a bit strange. In the final 20 minutes last week, he orchestrated all the plays, executed the shots, and even executed the short kick-off that allowed us back into the game and got Tricky [Braydon Trindall] off the ball.

“They are still figuring out how to play together. Trindall’s assist for Stoney [Sam Stonestreet] in the corner tonight was facilitated by Nicho getting involved. I thought he was solid and exhibited improvements from last week. Both players showed improvement tonight.

“But they’re not quite where we need them to be yet.”

Watch the 2025 NRL premiership live and free on Nine and 9Now.

Cronulla was considered one of the top contenders for the premiership before the season commenced, and in their first two matches, they have demonstrated flashes of that potential.

The team also managed to bounce back from a challenging Las Vegas trip after 10 of their players fell ill upon their return to Australia.

“After Vegas, I’m very happy with tonight’s performance,” Fitzgibbon remarked.

“You don’t want to make excuses before a match, but we had five players affected by COVID and another five with influenza A, which hampered our preparation and training.

“We were the only team from Vegas forced to travel, so I was concerned about a potential hangover from that, but tonight was crucial for us.”

Fitzgibbon also underscored the importance of the win against the Cowboys, marking Siosifa Talakai’s 100th career match and the presentation of the Paul Green Medal, which commemorates the late player and coach with ties to both clubs.

Cronulla’s captain, Cameron McInnes, was awarded the medal following the match.