{"id":651602,"date":"2026-05-05T18:09:22","date_gmt":"2026-05-05T18:09:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/651602\/"},"modified":"2026-05-05T18:09:22","modified_gmt":"2026-05-05T18:09:22","slug":"cronulla-star-nicho-hynes-makes-personal-admission-about-brutal-nrl-spotlight","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/651602\/","title":{"rendered":"Cronulla star Nicho Hynes makes personal admission about brutal NRL spotlight"},"content":{"rendered":"

Blissfully content off the field, Nicho Hynes hopes his new-found peace will help lead Cronulla<\/a> to an elusive second NRL<\/a> premiership.<\/p>\n

After years of enduring extraordinary levels of scrutiny, Hynes believes he has finally struck the right work-life balance as he strives to steer the Sharks to a second title – a decade after their landmark first.<\/p>\n

Hynes won the Dally M Medal as the game\u2019s best player and took Cronulla to the top two in his first season with the club in 2022.<\/p>\n

Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today Arrow<\/a><\/p>\n

The ensuing years have not been so kind, with the playmaker unfairly made the scapegoat for NSW\u2019s game-one State of Origin defeat in 2024 and seemingly maligned after each and every Sharks loss.<\/p>\n

But the 29-year-old says he has finally learnt to live with the pressures and often unfair spotlight on his performances.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat just comes with the job and being in an NRL No.7 and being a high-profile player at a club,\u201d Hynes said when asked by AAP if he felt like a more relaxed player ahead of his milestone 100th match for Cronulla on Saturday.<\/p>\n

\"AA more-relaxed Nicho Hynes is hoping to lead Cronulla to a second premiership. Credit: AAP<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve done a lot of work on myself and a lot of work on my performances, but also just off the field of living a happier, carefree life.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt just comes with the nature of the beast, right? And I watch a lot of NFL and a lot of documentaries and all their best players over there cop it just as much, or probably worse.\u201d<\/p>\n

Now engaged, Hynes believes his more settled personal life can only be beneficial for the Sharks.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve heard so many good quotes that stuck with me over the last couple of years that it resonates hard with me and I\u2019ve just learned a lot about life and there\u2019s more important things than a game of rugby league.<\/p>\n

\u201cI feel like I\u2019m a good human first and for the athlete. Obviously I want to win and I want to compete hard every single day to make sure we win, but I don\u2019t take that those divots home anymore.<\/p>\n

\u201cI want to be a good human first and not let 80 minutes define who I am as a person.\u201d<\/p>\n

With four big wins and four shockers, the Sharks have been hot and cold in 2026.<\/p>\n

Craig Fitzgibbon\u2019s eighth-placed side take on South Sydney this weekend and Hynes is more than happy to let the focus be on in-form Rabbitohs superstar Latrell Mitchell than him.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a huge game. They\u2019ve been playing some really good footy and obviously Latrell\u2019s on fire at the moment and they\u2019re sitting pretty in the top four,\u201d Hynes said.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut, look, no matter the team we\u2019re coming up against, it\u2019s about putting out back-to-back performances and playing some consistent footy and us leaders really driving that.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have been inconsistent and it\u2019s just about finding that.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut I feel like what we\u2019re doing at the moment in (making) back-to-back prelims, hopefully we can kick-start our year now and chase a grand final.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Latrell Mitchell ends media blackout but shuts down one question<\/p>\n

2 min read<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Tigers fullback commits after Jarome Luai\u2019s Chiefs decision<\/p>\n

2 min read<\/p>\n

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