'We look after each other': DCE's role in rebuilding Nicho

Maroons captain Daly Cherry-Evans was among the first people to check on Nicho Hynes after the Blues halfback failed to finish last Saturday night’s match for the Sharks due to a calf injury.

Hynes, who sat out NSW training on Wednesday, was coming through the ranks at Manly as Cherry-Evans was establishing himself as one of the NRL’s top playmakers.

However, it's the bond the pair developed while in camp with Australia during last year’s Pacific Championships that Hynes credits with helping him to claim the NSW No.7 jersey for Wednesday night's series opener.

With injuries to Nathan Cleary and Mitchell Moses, Hynes was an obvious choice, but Cherry-Evans was concerned he had missed his chance after being ruled out at half-time against Penrith. 

“He texted me straight after the game to make sure I was okay,” Hynes said.

“We’ve got a healthy relationship, but this week I don't think we'll be speaking much. Hopefully we can shake hands and have a beer after the game.”

The pair have had contrasting careers, with Cherry-Evans bursting onto the scene in 2011 and going on to win a premiership and a place in the Kangaroos squad that toured England in his rookie season.

In comparison, Hynes didn’t stamp himself as a regular NRL player until 2021, when he was 25-years-of-age.

Since moving to the Sharks, he has won the 2022 Dally M Medal and last year made his Origin and Test debuts.

“We talk every now and then,” Hynes said. “We just check in and tell each other that we're playing good footy. We are just looking after each other, I guess.

“He had a couple of milestones - his 300th NRL game and he broke a record, 310 [games for Manly] – so I reached out to make sure I congratulated him.

“He's messaged me saying I'm playing some good footy too. I was only a young pup at Manly, I was only 18, so I didn't create a massive bond with him then.

“I was only there for the pre-season and a bit through the year, but since then we've sort of rekindled what we started then, and it's been nice.”

The selection of Hynes as Blues halfback is a massive step up from his Origin debut 12 months ago from the interchange bench at Adelaide Oval.

Hynes admits to thinking he wasn’t going to see any game time – and some would think he probably wishes he hadn’t.

After being thrust into action in the unfamiliar right centre position following the loss of Tom Trbojevic for a HIA in the 68th minute, the Maroons targeted him in defence and snatched a 26-18 win.

Hynes struggled with the criticism and didn’t take any further part in the series, but the 27-year-old, who is considered one of the game’s leading role models and ambassadors, admits that he is now a better player - and person.

“It just taught me a harsh lesson that you’ve got to be prepared for anything and I’ve now learned that it doesn't just all happen for you - you’ve got to go out there and do your job and do it in a great way,” he said.

“I had a really good experience of feeling a long high from my Melbourne Storm days, and at the Sharks not much went wrong, so I was on the highest of highs and then I hit the lows after that game.

“That's what you’ve got to experience, if you want to become one of the best in the game.

“It taught me how to react to things off the field, staying away from social media and going about my day-to-day business and my routines, living a happy lifestyle and being a good mate to my friends, as well.

“It taught me about more than just on the footy field. I'm such a better person player since moving past that.”