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Find your Sport Nation frequencyBoom or bust: Hynes says critics aren't right on halves
Scott Bailey, AAP • July 15th, 2025 3:33 pm
Former Origin teammates Nicho Hynes and Nathan Cleary have both endured criticism in Blues colours | Photo: Bianca De Marchi/AAP
Nicho Hynes has hit out at armchair critics of NRL halves, sympathising with Nathan Cleary in the fallout from NSW's State of Origin series loss.
Cleary rebounded from the Blues' series loss with a starring role for Penrith over Parramatta on Sunday, after conceding he was yet to own an Origin series for NSW.
Hynes himself has become one of the most scrutinised halves in the NRL, copping the brunt of NSW's Origin I loss last year and Cronulla's stumbles in the finals.
His form and ownership of the Sharks No.7 jersey has also been heavily questioned this year, before the 29-year-old starred in last week's win over the Dolphins.
Nicho Hynes dives over for a four-pointer against the Dolphins | Photo: Dan Himbrechts/AAP
The 2022 Dally M Medallist has made a point to block out noise in recent years, tailoring his social media feeds while adamant he only needs validation from those close to him.
"I know what I'm doing and if anyone could do a better job they would be," Hynes said.
"They just sit on the couch and watch the footy and have their opinion when their opinion doesn't really matter.
"You guys in the media have your opinion because you have to, it's your job. You write about it and I don't listen to it.
"It's the Australian way sometimes. They want to bring people down all the time, whether you're at the top of your game or you're not, or you're a high-profile person.
"This is tall-poppy syndrome and in Australia it's real. They just want to bring everyone down."
Hynes said he had been particularly concerned by those questioning Cleary's game, after NSW failed to pull a punch in their shock 24-12 series-deciding loss to Queensland.
Nathan Cleary is wrapped up during a frustrating Origin decider for the Blues halfback | Photo: Dan Himbrechts/AAP
"I felt for Nathan the other night ... He's a four-time premiership winner in a row, he's tactically probably the best player in our game," Hynes said.
"Queensland just lifted for (Cameron) Munster. It goes like that sometimes.
"In our game there is only one winner and at the end of the day in October and only one halfback wins (the premiership) every year. Nathan Cleary's been that one.
"The people coming at me, are they saying every other halfback's a failure in this competition?
"Are they calling Mitch Moses a failure? I don't think so because he's a great player, won an Origin series last year and he hasn't won a comp yet."
Hynes and Cleary are close, with the Panthers No.7 making a private house visit in late 2023 to talk with Hynes on handling pressure, social media and winning big games.
Nicho Hynes and Nathan Cleary embrace after last season's NRL preliminary final | Photo: Dan Himbrechts/AAP
"I thought about messaging him over the last couple of days and saying 'you're the GOAT, don't worry about it'," Hynes said.
"But I know what it's like when people message you telling you not to worry about the things that are being said about you.
"You straight away think about what's being said.
"If he does see this, I honestly am thinking about him and I do love him as a person.
"He's a genuine, really good person. I'm scared for the competition now, how he's going to bounce back."
