Is Nicho Hynes overrated?

[Bazal]

Nah, he’s just a fullback.

He should be wearing 6 and popping up either side of the field

This and this.

He's a very good footballer, he's just not a halfback. Plenty said it when he was signed too. Probably best at 1 or 6. He's got plenty of skills and you wouldn't say he's really lacking in any skill area, he's just not even close to a game manager and he doesn't know how to get the team around the park. So when you need that from him, he "goes missing" as NRL fans like to put it.

 

[Captain Apollo]

Maybe but what a head of hair. Perpetually wet and makes him look effortlessly handsome.

So, you're saying he's zero chance of being the next head coach of the Parramatta Eels?

 

[Valheru]

It's hard to assess him at rep level to be completely fair. Playing in the centres was a debacle and last week he played in a 12 man side for 70 minutes.

Having said that he comes across to me as mentally fragile and you can see that his origin debut has had a profound effect on him even though he had a genuine excuse. In the lead up to origin 1 this year he kept talking about it in a manner which suggested it haunted him.

A club level, it's very difficult to argue that he doesn't drop his lollies in the biggest moments. That conversion attempt last night is the perfect example. It was right next to the side-line so missing is not a problem but he is a 90%+ kicker and he absolutely shanked it because the moment got to him.

 

[dogslife]

Love to hear Buzz's thoughts on this when he stumbles out of bed at 3 o'clock this afternoon

 

[Billythekid]

I think some of these claims are pretty unfair. His origin career barely exists at this point, he’s played one game in the halves whilst having 12 men. Give him some time.

Personally I generally find the claims about players who fall apart in the big games a little overblown. Shit even Pearce copped too much flak, he played almost his entire origin career playing for a NSW side no one gave any chance of winning.

He has faltered in a few big moments but he’s young and hasn’t had that many big opportunities.

One of those rare bad decisions from Bellamy to put Paps right back in imo

Honestly not sure anyone really makes that call though. IMO we were absolutely better with Hynes but how often do you see a star player like that get dropped to a young gun with so few games under his belt? It just doesn’t happen really.

 

[Bobby DIGital]

The modern day Kevin Hastings.

 

[Captain Apollo]

Love to hear Buzz's thoughts on this when he stumbles out of bed at 3 o'clock this afternoon

"This afternoon"?! That's being generous for sloth. It'd be more like 3'oclock Sunday

 

[Steel Saints]

Probably best suited at five- eighth.

 

[mongoose]

Maybe but what a head of hair. Perpetually wet and makes him look effortlessly handsome.

He's got the Heath Ledger from Two Hands look down pat.

 

[Chins get the wins]

He's a weak kicker and defender at club level he's not an NRL 7 let alone a rep one

 

[Rising from the Ashes]

He's a weak kicker and defender at club level he's not an NRL 7 let alone a rep one

Dally M Half Back of the Year and 2nd, 6th, 1st on the ladder the 3 years his been at halfback isn't bad for someone that sucks so bad... C'mon now...

 

[Haffa]

Needs the Umina coached out of him.

 

[Fangs]

It's hard to assess him at rep level to be completely fair. Playing in the centres was a debacle and last week he played in a 12 man side for 70 minutes.

Sums it up.

His two games for Australia were off the bench as well. So we don't have a great sample of how he performs at that level.

Having said that he comes across to me as mentally fragile and you can see that his origin debut has had a profound effect on him even though he had a genuine excuse. In the lead up to origin 1 this year he kept talking about it in a manner which suggested it haunted him.

A club level, it's very difficult to argue that he doesn't drop his lollies in the biggest moments. That conversion attempt last night is the perfect example. It was right next to the side-line so missing is not a problem but he is a 90%+ kicker and he absolutely shanked it because the moment got to him.

Against Penrith at Shark Park he kicked the ball out on the full after getting pressured by Luai at marker. I find it remarkable that the very next set he kicked it out on the full again after getting pressured from marker by Lindsay Smith. He was taken off the field shortly after. Carrying a niggle or not you shouldn't make the same mistake twice.

Might be best served skipping Origin completely in 2025. He is a chance to be dropped by Madge which will really shake him up and probably tank the Sharks season once again.

 

[Vic Mackey]

I suppose it depends where you rate him. Hes clearly a very good first grader, yet a rung or so below the top halves in the game. Hes not in the DCE, Cleary, Munster, Hughes class. Id have him slightly below Reynolds and Moses. He does look like hes carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders in pressure situations, he doesn't really go into his shell, is still very involved but just cant get it done.

 

[Valheru]

Sums it up.

His two games for Australia were off the bench as well. So we don't have a great sample of how he performs at that level.



Against Penrith at Shark Park he kicked the ball out on the full after getting pressured by Luai at marker. I find it remarkable that the very next set he kicked it out on the full again after getting pressured from marker by Lindsay Smith. He was taken off the field shortly after. Carrying a niggle or not you shouldn't make the same mistake twice.

Might be best served skipping Origin completely in 2025. He is a chance to be dropped by Madge which will really shake him up and probably tank the Sharks season once again.

It's not just a chance, it's happening. Moses need only get through tomorrow night uninjured and he will get picked.

Moses ain't the greatest 7 ever but he doesn't seem to get overawed by the big moments and continues playing footy.

Nicho seems a real confidence guy so I agree, I don't think he is one of those players that will play with a point to prove after being dropped from NSW.

 

[Fangs]

It's not just a chance, it's happening. Moses need only get through tomorrow night uninjured and he will get picked.

I'd be surprised if Madge did that. He gave Hynes a start in the 7, booted our captain in Tedesco (Much to your chagrin) and even dropped Korisau. All of them were let down by a private school RU player in the end.

Right or wrong Madge picked his own team for this series and he has a one year deal. I think he will back the same spine again.

 

[TheDMC]

Dally M at halfback and led a side to 2nd, 6th and currently 1st in the 3 years at Cronulla... C'mon now he clearly struggles in pressure moments but he'd be one of the best halfbacks over the past few years.

At some point he will get the bogey off his nostril by nailing a clutch big-game high-pressure winning moment, and all good from then on.

 

[Rising from the Ashes]

I suppose it depends where you rate him. Hes clearly a very good first grader, yet a rung or so below the top halves in the game. Hes not in the DCE, Cleary, Munster, Hughes class. Id have him slightly below Reynolds and Moses. He does look like hes carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders in pressure situations, he doesn't really go into his shell, is still very involved but just cant get it done.

Statistically he gets more Try Assists and LB Assists then the lot you mentioned.

Try Assists 2023
Hynes - 26
Hughes - 21
DCE - 18
Cleary - 17

Try Assists 2024
Hynes - 12
Hughes - 8
DCE - 6
Cleary - 5

LB Assists 2023
Hynes - 31
Hughes - 24
DCE - 19
Cleary - 15

LB Assists 2024
Hynes - 13
DCE - 9
Hughes - 9
Cleary - 4

 

[SBD82]

Seems like a nice bloke. Good footy player.

As a clutch halfback he ranks somewhere around Ben Hunt and Mitchell Pearce.

 

[Rising from the Ashes]

Seems like a nice bloke. Good footy player.

As a clutch halfback he ranks somewhere around Ben Hunt and Mitchell Pearce.

Ben Hunt would be a gun in a good side which he shows year in year out for QLD.