Reunited in Kangaroos camp, Harry Grant can rest assured knowing former teammate Nicho Hynes has a clear plan as the bench utility in Saturday’s Pacific Championships match.
Having watched from the other side as his close mate navigated a rollercoaster Origin debut, Grant is confident Hynes’ maiden green and gold appearance will bring better memories for the 2022 Dally M Medallist.
With teammates confident that Cameron Munster (illness) will play, Hynes will likely play a similar role to the one he played at the Storm when Craig Bellamy used the rookie to add spark in attack when brought onto the field.
Grant, who will make his seventh Test appearance for the Gallagher Kangaroos on Saturday, knows better than anyone the value Hynes can bring providing impact off the bench.
“It’s been awesome to be back in camp together, friendships don’t change. We go to different clubs but it’s always good when everyone gets back together,” Grant told pan66.com.
“I’m just so happy to see Nicho get his gig this weekend and I know he won’t just be making up the numbers, he’ll be pushing for future selection so I’m looking forward to seeing how he goes.
“It’s such a benefit having him in that role. I think Nicho is just a footy player, no matter where he fits in, he’ll play to his strengths and play to the team’s strengths.”
Thrown into centre in the last 12 minutes of Origin I this year, it was clear for Grant that Hynes wasn’t used as good as he could have been for the Blues, with two Kangaroos teammates in Munster and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow combining to give the Maroons a late victory in Game One.
“It’ll be different to Origin where he looked like he didn’t really have a plan of where he was going to fit on the field and sort of got thrown into the deep end,” Grant said.
“It wasn’t his fault, he didn’t have a plan. It’s just good to see him bounce back from when things didn’t go so well.
“He faced a bit of adversity with criticism and that but has bounced back and look at where he’s got himself to.
“I know this time he’s got a plan for the weekends game and hopefully he can take some confidence from that.”
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