Nicho Hynes' return locked in as Melbourne Storm reveal huge news about Ryan Papenhuyzen

Nicho Hynes has been confirmed to make his return for the Cronulla Sharks on Saturday night, eight weeks after fracturing his leg and suffering a syndesmosis injury. In a huge boost for the Sharks ahead of the NRL finals, Hynes will start at halfback against the Warriors.

The 28-year-old got through the Sharks' major training session on Thursday, and was elevated from the reserves to halfback in the 24-hour update on Friday night. Daniel Atkinson will switch to centre after originally being named in the halves, with Siosifa Talakai ruled out.

Atkinson and Braydon Trindall have combined nicely in the halves over the last two months, with the Sharks back in the top three and still a chance of a home final. But coach Craig Fitzgibbon said there was no concerns about disrupting the cohesion of the team by bringing Hynes back in.

"He (Hynes) is an important part of what we do," Fitzgibbon said on Friday morning. "He's in the elite category of players ... we want to get him back in sooner rather than later.

"To have a player of Nicho calibre getting ready to play, it's important for the team. The injury has healed itself, and with the amount of training time he has had, he has built that progressively. He is looking strong enough that if he is available, we will put him out there."

Hynes' return against the Warriors will give him a two-week tune-up for the finals, with the Sharks to face Manly in Round 27 before the playoffs begin.

"He will try and keep things simple, after an extended period out," Fitzgibbon said. "He has to keep the basics of the game right, and so does the whole team. You can't skip on the basics and hardest parts of the game.

"That's what we want out of Nicho. But knowing Nicho, if he feels good, he'll go after the game. That's the way he plays. He is a front-foot player, and he's come back into a team that is going well."

Ryan Papenhuyzen cleared of serious leg injury

Meanwhile, the Melbourne Storm have revealed Ryan Papenhuyzen only suffered a bone bruise on Thursday night and is a chance to play in Round 27. The fullback had to leave the field in the first half against the Cowboys after copping a knock to his leg.

Scans later revealed he had suffered bone bruising, and he'll be monitored ahead of next Thursday's clash against Brisbane in the final game of the regular season. Sua Fa'alogo looms as the obvious replacement if Papenhuyzen is put on ice before the finals. "Our medical staff will see how the issue settles over the next few days before making a decision on whether he plays against the Broncos next Thursday night," said Storm director of football Frank Ponissi.

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Coach Craig Bellamy was optimistic after Papenhuyzen's latest injury on Thursday night. "Medical staff don't seem to think it's too bad," he said. "Don't know whether it's a cork or he's done something to that (leg). We'll see when he has a scan how bad it is, but they don't think it's too bad."

Papenhuyzen has endured an injury-plagued couple of seasons after shattering his kneecap in 2022 and missing over 12 months. He fractured his leg at the end of the 2023 regular season and again earlier in 2024.

with AAP