Mate vs Nate: Prelim final pits Nicho against a trusted advisor

Cronulla halfback Nicho Hynes has revealed the role Nathan Cleary played in helping him snap the Shark's finals hoodoo and how he plans to use it against the Panthers star in next week's preliminary final.

Hynes has been one of the most maligned playmakers in the NRL and carried a four-game finals losing streak into Friday's semi-final victory over the Cowboys.

The halfback well and truly smashed the hoodoo, combining with five-eighth Braydon Trindall to lead their side to a 26-18 win and silence plenty of doubters along the way.

Hynes and Cleary will now lock horns in a preliminary final and the Sharks playmaker credits his friend for providing the mental strategies to handle the intense scrutiny he has navigated this season.

"My ego's not too big that I can't ask my peers for help," Hynes told reporters. "It's just what you've got to do in life and in this sort of game.

"When you go through challenges, you try and get the help of someone who's been through something similar. Early in his career he went through a few challenges. I'd be silly not to try and build a relationship with someone like that.

"At one stage [the discussions] were more off field but there's now both [areas]. When we're together I always pick his brain and we talk about life in general. He's always happy to help and give me a hand."

Hynes and Cleary have developed a close friendship during their NRL careers, engaging in a number of intense battles on the field and forming a close bond off it. 

Hynes reached out to the Panthers star after watching Cleary orchestrate a stunning 18-point comeback in last year's grand final. 

It was Penrith's third-straight premiership after a loss to the Storm in the 2020 decider, in which Hynes was a member of the Melbourne side. 

The move to Cronulla saw Hynes enter the intense Sydney media and fan spotlight and made him appreciate just how impressive Cleary's ability to handle the scrutiny and expectations has been. 

The Panthers playmaker was happy to share his secrets, dropping by the halfback's house earlier this season. It's a move he may come to regret if Hynes is able to pull off a stunning upset next weekend. 

"He was in the area so he came over and I picked his brain a bit," Hynes said. "I have a great relationship with Nathan. I'm not ashamed to say I respect and idolise Nathan and what he's done in this game. 

"I really love the bloke, he's a genuinely nice person, he cares about me and I care about him. I'm grateful we can have those discussions to try and help each other out. 

"Next weekend it's going to be business as usual, I want to try and take him and his team down. He's going to try and do the exact same thing.

"Regardless of the result, we'll shake hands, share a beer together and whoever's going on to the next game, we'll wish them luck."

Hynes and the Sharks will have to bury the demons of a 42-0 loss to Cleary's men earlier in the season if they are to end the Panthers' dominance of the NRL.

It was a forgettable night for Cronulla players and fans at PointsBet Stadium, Hynes suffering a calf injury that impacted his preparation for the State of Origin series opener. 

Plenty has happened since that match, with the halfback fracturing his ankle at training before returning late in the regular season. 

With the finals monkey now off his back, Hynes is confident the Sharks can end the Panthers reign next weekend.