Cooper Cronk’s comments have come back to haunt Nicho Hynes and the Sharks as Melbourne ended their season in Friday night’s first NRL preliminary final at AAMI Park. Craig Bellamy’s side proved a class above as they won 22-14 to qualify for an 11th grand final in the past 20 years, while fans vented their frustrations with referee Ashley Klein after the whistle-happy referee blew a staggering 18 penalties for the match.
Cronulla coach Craig Fitzgibbon admitted the better side won on the night, as they fell at the prelim stage for a second-straight year. It came after Hynes and halves partner Braydon Trindall were unable to inspire their side, leading to fresh questions around their partnership and whether the Sharks have a squad capable of winning the premiership next season.
Cooper Cronk’s (L) words came back to haunt Nicho Hynes (R) and the Sharks in the NRL prelim final loss to Melbourne as referee Ashley Klein’s performance came under fire. Pic: Getty
Hynes and Trindall were superb in last week’s domination of Canberra, and combined superbly as the Sharks knocked out the minor premiers. It sparked a defiant response from Hynes who took aim at critics for writing off Cronulla’s premiership hopes and not giving the side enough respect.
But Cronk warned Hynes before Friday night’s prelim that they ‘haven’t achieved anything yet’ and that the true test would come against the Storm. The NRL legend’s words rang true after Jahrome Hughes returned from injury to inspire the Storm, with Cameron Munster and prop Stefano Utoikamanu also outstanding in the eight-point win. But Cronk rejected suggestions that personnel changes at the Sharks were required to see them take the next step in 2026, as focus again turned to the Hynes-Trindall partnership.
NRL great Cooper Cronk identifies where Sharks can improve
“They need to have a bit more confidence and stoic belief at the back end of the year so when September comes around they truly believe they can lift that trophy,” Cronk said on Fox League after the prelim. “I think for Craig Fitzgibbon and the Sharks, they’ve got a lot of good things happening at Cronulla that they can double down on and back. That’s two preliminaries, that’s a good team to get to back-to-back prelims but they just need to take that next step.
“I think the questions start coming for the Sharks if they get to another prelim next year. Once you get to three in a row and don’t deliver, I think a bit more heat comes. But there’s enough ingredients that says Cronulla are on the right path.”
Nicho Hynes’s Sharks fell in the preliminary final for a second year in a row as Cameron Munster and the Storm marched on to another NRL grand final. Pic: Getty
Critics have suggested that Hynes and Trindall’s games don’t compliment one another, with the pair frequently alternating between who the dominant playmaker is depending on how the game is going. On Friday night, Trindall took on the bulk of the playmaking responsibility and just about all the kicking, but the Sharks were generally more dangerous when Hynes got the ball on last-tackle plays.
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However, fellow NRL premiership winner Kieran Foran agreed with Cronk and believes the Sharks have a squad capable of winning a premiership in 2026. “I think it is a good enough roster to win a comp, albeit they’ve got to learn how to turn up when it matters,” Foran said on Fox League. “They do it each year and we’ve seen that where they perform well all season but when it comes to crunch time their big guns don’t quite deliver on the big stage.”
NRL world criticises referee Ashley Klein over penalty count
Melbourne’s classy win was somewhat overshadowed by referee Klein, who was widely criticised after blowing 11 first half penalties and failing to let the finals game flow. Fitzgibbon was among those to vent his frustrations but refused to use it as an excuse for their defeat.
“I am not sooking about the ref, Melbourne were the better side hands down,” the Sharks coach said. “But the first half was 22 minutes of ball in play. What are we doing for a prelim? What do the fans want? You want to see ball in play.”
However, he agreed that the only way for the Sharks to earn the respect they crave is by winning a comp. “I think we’re a really good side that just haven’t quite converted to becoming a great side at the moment and that’s what these pressure moments and situations are about,” Fitzgibbon added. “We haven’t earned the ultimate respect – you don’t do it unless you win the comp. It’s not up for debate.”
with AAP