Why Craig Fitzgibbon is backing under-fire Sharks star Nicho Hynes to become a big game player
- Craig Fitzgibbon has backed his halfback Nicho Hynes
- Sharks star missed easy field goal attempt against Bulldogs
- Fitzgibbon admitted Hynes needs to learn to ‘freeze’ the game
While many football fans still doubt the temperament of Nicho Hynes, Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon has no doubts that his halfback is a player capable of playing big games.
This came after Hynes missed a simple field goal attempt for Cronulla on Friday night that would have given his team the win against the Bulldogs.
Rival Matt Burton then showed Hynes how it was done, moments later scoring a decisive goal from almost 40 meters for Cameron Ciraldo’s team.
Hynes, 28, has also had a tough month of football mentally.
The former Dally M winner was dropped from the NSW Blues Origin team after the first match and subsequently missed a sideline conversion against the Dolphins which could have seen the match end in golden point.
Fitzgibbon still has faith in his playmaker to bounce back and seize big moments in the future.
‘It [disappointment] will shape him,’ he said.
‘He’s going to have to go through it. It’s part of his responsibility and he accepts it much better than he did in the past.
While football fans still question Nicho Hynes’ temperament, Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon has no doubt his halfback is a player who can play in big games
It comes after Hynes missed a simple field goal attempt for Cronulla on Friday night that could have given his team the win against the Bulldogs.
βHe’s been stung before and he’s worn his turf a little bit, but I feel like he’s acknowledged it in the last few weeks.
βIt will hurt β of course it will hurt β but I feel like after those moments he’s ready to move on.
‘He didn’t shy away from it and put himself in positions, but he has to get the hang of it.’
In a classy response, man of the moment Burton said he couldn’t help but feel sorry for Hynes, who he had come to know well during their recent time together in Origin camp.
“He had a chance to freeze it, but that’s only going to make him better. I’ve been through the same thing and it only makes you better,” he said.
‘He is a top class player and I have no doubt he will improve for it.’
After Friday’s impressive 15-14 win at Accor Stadium, the Bulldogs now sit fifth on the NRL ladder, giving their fans the courage to dream of semi-final football after a lean few years at Belmore.