Nicho Hynes' teammate shuts down Greg Alexander over axing call ahead of Cowboys clash
The Penrith legend claimed the Sharks halfback should be axed in the must-win clash.
Ronaldo Mulitalo has jumped to the defence of under pressure teammate Nicho Hynes having hit back at Panthers great Greg Alexander for suggesting the halfback should be dropped this weekend. Panthers legend and commentator Alexander caused a stir on Monday when he suggested the Sharks would benefit from dropping Hynes due to his form.
Daniel Atkinson had played halfback in Hynes' absence this year, which included when their talisman went down injured in training ahead of NRL round 19. Hynes returned in round 26, but has lost two of the three games since returning.
His performance against the Storm in the preliminary final also raised more questions around Hynes' performances in big games. And Alexander suggested Craig Fitzgibbon should turn back to the more successful halves pairing, so far in 2024, for the must-win clash against the Cowboys this Friday night.
Hynes showed his mettle to front the media on Tuesday and acknowledged the criticism. While Hynes did his best to quell doubts surrounding his performances, Roosters five-eighth Braith Anasta took aim the Sharks and felt the halfback should have stayed 'quiet' ahead of the must-win clash.
While the Sharks talisman may have dismissed the criticism and put on a brave face, teammate Mulitalo took aim at the critics. The Sharks winger slapped down suggestions the team is better without him wearing the No.7 jersey.
He also feels the criticism levelled at Hynes is unwarranted - which included 'Brandy' Alexander - and claimed he has been an easy target for the critics. “Everyone is going to have their opinion on certain things, but Brandy isn’t in our four walls,” Mulitalo said.
“His opinion is his opinion and everyone’s allowed to have their own opinion. We’re a better team with Nicho in it, and that’s all that matters. We all have his back. Everyone is quick to blame Nicho, but I didn’t catch four balls, I jammed (in defence) when I shouldn’t have and they scored on me, so I don’t know how that’s Nicho’s fault. I’ve got to take some responsibility and so does everyone else for that game – it’s not on one person.
“I don’t know if Nicho even cares or if he’s listening (to the criticism). He just wants to get his job done. The club and all the boys love him to death and know he has to be in the squad for us to even go close.”
Sharks seeking to snap NRL finals losing streak
The Sharks are also looking to break a seven-game losing streak in the NRL finals. The last time the Sharks won a finals game was in 2018 against the Panthers.
And Mulitalo said it is up to the whole squad to shut down the doubters against the Cowboys. “It’s there. Everyone has got a job to do. The media points it out, but it’s our job to focus on what it means to us,” Mulitalo said. “For us, it’s about playing a game of footy. I don’t see it as that deep.
Braith Anasta calls out the Sharks after Hynes interview
Hynes showed his intent this weekend when he opted to face the media on Tuesday afternoon following all the criticism. However, Anasta called out the Sharks for allowing him to front the media, instead of blocking out the criticism. “He said he’s off social media and he’s not listening to the noise — but he referenced the noise on two or three occasions,” Anasta said on NRL 360.
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“At one point he said ‘I’ve got a good life, people who are criticising me must have issues in their own’. I thought ‘hang on, you’re actually talking to the noise and listening (to it).’ You can’t control that. The only thing you can control are the controllables: turn your phone off, don’t watch NRL 360, put the papers away, make sure your preparation is good, make sure your meals are good, make sure your training sessions are good, get on the field and execute the game plan.
“They’re all the things that only he can control that are going to get the right result. I feel like he is impacted by the outside noise and he showed us that in that interview. I wouldn’t have even put him up (for media) today. If I’m the Sharks, don’t put him up, stay quiet, focus on training, focus on your preparation.”
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