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Nicho Hynes in brutal blow before Origin amid telling Jarome Luai development for Blues

The drama around Hynes came after a masterclass from his Panthers opposite.

andrew reid
·4-min read

As far as Origin auditions go, it couldn't have gone much worse for Nicho Hynes on Saturday night in the NRL. The Sharks halfback saw his side destroyed by 42-0 by the Jarome Luai-inspired Panthers, with Hynes leaving the field due to an HIA before halftime and never returning for the second half after tightness in his troublesome calf.

The calf complaint saw Hynes miss his side's win against the Storm two weeks ago but he returned to help the ladder-leaders defeat the Roosters last week. There was concern surrounding Hynes before Saturday night's match with Penrith but the No.7 did ultimately play, only to be outshone by his Penrith opposite and fellow Blues Origin hopeful Luai.

Jarome Luai put in a huge audition for Blues Origin selection as Nicho Hynes was troubled by a tight calf. Pic: Getty
Jarome Luai put in a huge audition for Blues Origin selection as Nicho Hynes was troubled by a tight calf. Pic: Getty

Even before Hynes was forced to go off for an HIA test that he ultimately passed, the halfback and his Sharks side had a first half to forget. Hynes kicked the ball out on the full twice in quick succession and his men were denied field position by a relentless Penrith side led by the superb Luai, who stepped into the No.7 jersey normally worn by the injured Nathan Cleary superbly.

Penrith grabbed the first try through James Fisher-Harris, before Luai's brilliant footwork saw him step his way across the tryline for the visitors' second. The impressive Panthers crossed for three more tries to blow the Sharks away and all but wrap up the contest in the first 40 minutes, with Luai setting up Paul Alamoti before another Blues hopeful Dylan Edwards scored to strengthen his case for Origin selection.

Jack Cole's fortuitous four-pointer helped make it a 28-0 lead at halftime but it was the absence of Hynes after the break that had Blues fans and the NSW coach Michael Maguire watching from the stands - more than a little worried. Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon played down the calf complaint from Hynes as just tightness caused from the mandatory 15-minute break he had to take for the HIA.

“With the 15 minute time off it cooled down and tightened up, but I think he’s okay, I’ve got to check because I haven’t spoken to the medical guys,” Fitzgibbon said. “I just got the message that with cooling down, it tightened up... even if he got through he’d still have to be modified for (Origin training).

Nicho Hynes never returned to the game after going off for an HIA for the Sharks against Penrith before halftime. Pic: AAP
Nicho Hynes never returned to the game after going off for an HIA for the Sharks against Penrith before halftime. Pic: AAP

“But it was more to do with cooling down and tightening up than anything.” Regardless, the issue is still surely a massive concern for Maguire, who said earlier in the week that he wants players "up and running to start with" because he won't have too much time with them in Origin camp. Another one of Maguire's potential halves options Cody Walker did not feature for Souths later on Saturday night as he nurses a low-grade calf strain.

The concerning situation leaves Luai potentially fighting with Matt Burton for the Blues No.6 jersey and the Bulldogs star was superb in Canterbury's victory over a disappointing Dragons on Thursday night. But as far as Origin statements go, they don't come much more impressive than Luai's against the table-topping Sharks and his ability to play No.7 could give Maguire more food for thought.

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"It's been a clinic - he has just been so deliberate and relentless. He has been patient and doing all the right things," NRL great Michael Ennis said on Fox League. Panthers coach Ivan Cleary said Luai was "more than ready" to answer the call for the Blues after rediscovering some of his best form in recent weeks.

"The last couple of weeks he has really stepped it up for us, which we really needed to," the Penrith coach said. "If as we all think and he does go into Origin, he is certainly going in feeling pretty good about his form. Particularly in his kicking, which is an important factor in Origin. It's a great opportunity and I thought his kicking tonight coasted the game. He's definitely more than ready to go in, which he would've been anyway, but it's nice to go in off the back of some good form."