Cronulla Sharks rocked by massive new blow amid Nicho Hynes' injury absence in NRL
The fresh blow comes with the Sharks already missing their star playmaker.
Cronulla's push towards the NRL finals has taken another hit, with star winger Ronaldo Mulitalo set to be ruled out for several weeks with a knee injury. The Sharks are already without injured playmaker Nicho Hynes, who was ruled out for more than a month after suffering a syndesmosis ligament injury at training and is not expected back until the end of the regular season.
But the Sharks' top-eight hopes have been dealt a further blow with reports winger Mulitalo is likely to be ruled out for up to a month with what appears to be an MCL injury. The NRL Physio account reported the Cronulla flyer has been in a knee brace since picking up the injury in the last 10 minutes of the Sharks' round 21 defeat to the Cowboys.
News Corp reports that Mulitalo looks set to miss his side's home clash against the Rabbitohs on Saturday night, and could be out for the next month. Mulitalo is one of the NRL's leading try scorers and is an integral part of Craig Fitzgibbon's side, who led the competition earlier in the season before tumbling down the ladder after some patchy recent form.
Ronaldo Mulitalo is expected to miss 4 weeks after suffering a knee injury in Round 21 (via @MCarayannis).
Likely moderate grade MCL sprain with that timeframe + need for knee brace - partial tear of the ligament needs some “protection” from brace in short term to scar up.— NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) July 29, 2024
Mulitalo's injury blow is another headache for the Sharks, who will be hoping to cement their spot in the top four during a crunch clash against South Sydney. Samuel Stonestreet would appear to be the most likely replacement for Mulitalo after making his NRL debut for the Sharks in round seven. The Sharks will get back Will Kennedy for the clash with Souths after the fullback served his one-game suspension for colliding with referee Adam Gee.
Cronulla hit with second major injury blow ahead of finals push
However, Fitzgibbon's side will now have to continue their NRL finals push without two of their biggest strike weapons in attack, with Hynes not expected back until the penultimate game of the regular season against the Warriors, at the earliest. The halfback's injury was expected to throw Cronulla's season into turmoil but the Sharks have proven they're capable of getting results without the former Dally M Medallist.
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The Sharks boast an 8-5 record with Hynes in the side so far this season but their record without the halfback is 3-2 after last weekend's defeat to the Cowboys. The numbers don't tell the full story though, with the Sharks claiming some big scalps in the absence of Hynes. Fitzgibbon's men beat Brisbane on the road and also knocked off the ladder-leading Storm at AAMI Park, before thrashing the Wests Tigers in round 19.
After Hynes' injury, fans questioned whether the Sharks could maintain their push for finals footy and an all-important top-four finish. The 2022 Dally M winner is instrumental for the Sharks and the loss left many questioning whether Braydon Trindall and Daniel Atkinson could step up in his absence, but the pair have combined well and shown their ability to steer the side around the park.
Cronulla have been forced to deny suggestions they're a one-man team but admit the absence of Hynes is a big loss to the team. "Nicho is a big part of our team and the success we've had," forward Braden Hamlin-Uele admitted about the playmaker. "Holding up that trophy has been out of our grasp and the stigma around us and finals series hasn't been great, but without Nicho we wouldn't have got there.
"Everyone that comes into our team is there to do a job and it's given Daniel Atkinson the chance to show what he's capable of. We all love Nicho but this whole thing of us being the Cronulla Nicho Hynes Sharks is unfair to us, but also to him because there's 16 other guys who are out there with him."
