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Why finals rival is happy NRL backflipped on Hynes ban
Jasper Bruce, AAP • September 9th, 2025 3:53 pm
No excuses: Angus Crichton (c) is glad Nicho Hynes (r) is free to play against the Roosters | Photo: Mark Kolbe/AAP
Angus Crichton says he's pleased the NRL backflipped on suspending Nicho Hynes because it means Cronulla will have no excuses to hide behind when the Sydney Roosters eliminate them from the finals.
The NRL on Monday made the unprecedented decision to rescind Hynes' one-game ban for a hip-drop style tackle on Marcelo Montoya, clearing the star halfback to play the Sharks' elimination final.
The league downgraded Hynes' punishment to a $1000 fine, citing a revised medical report that revealed the ankle injury Montoya suffered was not as serious as initially feared.
Nicho Hynes' tackle on Marcelo Montoya became the big story of the final round | Photo: Mark Evans/AAP
The decision has raised eyebrows across the NRL, including at the Roosters, whom Cronulla host at Shark Park on Saturday night.
"It's definitely something I haven't seen before," Hynes' rival halfback Sam Walker told AAP.
"But it doesn't faze us, If he plays, he plays, if not, it doesn't matter. We have to beat everyone at their best anyway. Why not start on Saturday night?"
Roosters second-rower Crichton agreed it was a "weird" situation, but welcomed the chance to face the Sharks with as many of their stars as possible.
With second-rower Briton Nikora returning from suspension, injured captain Cam McInnes is the only member of the Sharks' full-strength team missing Saturday's game.
Briton Nikora will be back from his three-match ban | Photo: Steven Markham/AAP
"It's good, I want to play them with Nicho," Crichton said.
"I want to beat them with Nicho in the team so they're not going to put their hands up and go, 'We didn't have our best team'. I'm keen to try and taken them down with Nicho there."
Walker acknowledged the match review committee had set a precedent by revising its charge sheet after the fact.
"It is a bit strange, to be honest with you," Walker said.
"It's a different time of year, the finals, the NRL don't want their best players missing out on games. I hope they do the same for me if that happens to me."
As the NRL considers altering its finals policy to prevent Shark Park from hosting finals after 2025, the Roosters were unfazed by the prospect of playing at the dilapidated stadium.
Shark Park was the site of the sides' last finals meeting in 2023, when Walker kicked the field goal that sealed victory and ended Cronulla's season.
The Roosters have great memories of their 2023 elimination final at Shark Park | Photo: Mark Evans/AAP
"It obviously fills you with a bit of confidence going out there, knowing that the last time you were there you were able to get the victory but obviously it's a new year, completely different teams," Walker said.
"It's a pretty cool place to play.
"It's not the biggest ground, it's not Allianz or Accor Stadium but they've put themselves in position to earn a home final.
"We'll play them in New Zealand for all I care. It doesn't faze me."
