Nicho Hynes reveals it’s been good to ‘hug Mum goodnight’ since she was released from prison for supplying heroin… as NSW star reveals touching family motivation ahead of Origin debut
- Hynes is happy that Mum is coming home from prison
- Star promised grandfather that he would play Origin
- Hynes will look to the sky as he runs into the park
Blues debutant Nicho Hynes has revealed it was great to have his mum home after narrowly avoiding jail time for heroin – as he prepares to fulfill a 14-year promise at Origin.
Hynes, 26, will make his start for New South Wales in next week’s series opener in Adelaide – but the past few months have been some of the toughest of his life.
The Cronulla star’s mother, Julie, was released from prison a few weeks ago and was serving a two-year sentence in the community after being convicted of knowingly participating in drug delivery.
Hynes hopes that his mother, who now lives with him, will be able to “reshape her life.”
“It’s just good to go home and give Mom a goodnight hug,” he told the Herald.
Blues debutant Nicho Hynes says it’s great that his mom is back from prison
Hynes hopes his mother, who now lives with him, will be able to ‘reshape her life’
“When we were home together that first week, we sat there watching movies like I did when I was a kid.”
Hynes isn’t sure Julie will travel to Adelaide for his debut in Australia’s most-watched sporting event, but he’s sure to be thinking of his family as he steps onto the pitch.
When the reigning Dally M Player of the Year was just 12, he made an emotional promise to a family member that he wants to keep.
“His grandfather was his sweetheart,” Hynes’s father Mick told me News Corp.
‘Dad’, who lived in Newcastle, would visit whenever he could.
“At the funeral, Nicho asked if I minded if he came up and gave a speech.
“He stood there and said, one day when I run to NSW in State of Origin, I will look at the sky, look at you Dad.
He’s always had that dream. I can’t believe he’s there today. I think I’m Australia’s proudest dad.’
When Hynes was just 12, he made an emotional promise to his grandfather who had recently passed away – promising to think of him when he played Origin
Hynes says he will be looking to the sky when he takes the field in Adelaide on Wednesday night
Mick was with Hynes when his son revealed he had been chosen to represent the Blues.
He, Nicho’s older brother Wade and Leesa (Nicho’s stepmother) will be in Adelaide for the game on Wednesday night.
“It was quite emotional when Nicho told us he had made it to the side,” said Mick.
‘It was a great feeling.
“I told Leesa the news and then said hopefully he remembers what he said that day and he looks up and says I did it Dad.”