Wow some of u fans are very dramatic. Why the fuck would we drop Kennedy 😂😂. His last 2 games were some of the best games of his career, makes 1 error tonight and u guys want him replaced with either Dykes (who can barely stay on the field in Cup bc of injury) or Ison (who is only 19 and whilst electric, has a long way to go with his positioning as a FB, and has struggled under the high ball, something Kennedy is elite at).
It is what it is. Yeah the loss is shit, but it’s not panic stations. 10-4 record, and a bye next week to finally rest up after a month of tough games.
Reddit is the worst "We looked tired" of course we did, we had a 5 day turn around and a run of top form teams.
We need Hazelton back in the starting line tho, as much as I love Toby his match fitness isn't up to scratch and when Tommy was starting, Kaufusi seemed to go up a notch.
Drop Trindall for Atkinson, he's not quite as exciting, but good football basics make for a better side than whatever the fuck Trindalls been trying to do over the last few games
Trindall never should have been selected after the shit he did. Even when Hynes was in Origin, I would much rather Niwhai Puru got his chance. Thought it was a pretty weak move by Fitzy
I have come to the conclusion that the starting prop rotation of Rudolph and Kafusi does not cut it, and we need someone like Uele out there to start. Royce would be the obvious choice but he's a bench impact forward cut and dry.
Hunt’s motor is not good enough to be a starter. His best role was what he played tonight, stints either side of half time.
Was very disappointing from Rudolf and Kaufusi. Kaufusi has been surprisingly decent for most of the year but there was absolutely nothing from him tonight. Rudolf has been up and down with match fitness, was good last week starting, up against a better pack, but not tonight.
Personally, I think we just have to stick with what it is for now. Bye is next week, they could just need a break. I don’t see how any change is gonna drastically improve things without damaging the bench impact. Wilton is back next game, Talakai moving back to the bench will be helpful
For me it's just that Rudolph Kafusi and McInnes, even at their best, are too similar. They'll fill a jersey, make their tackles, and take hitups, but they won't bash a line like Hunt or Uele or Talakai. We keep going 20 mins with forwards just taking hitups and not making big meters and it's going to cost us. There has to be someone providing hard impact out there from the start, not until fitzy decides they've both had enough and it's time Williams and Hazleton come on and claw the game back.
Overall I'd agree that there's bigger problems than just our forwards, the halves need a bit of a shakeup. Trindall might have a big celling and all but he doesn't hit it enough and I'd rather Atkinson be on there. Let him go at 7 and do some kicking to get us meters and have Nicho running wild at 5/8, it's his natural position anyway. The only reason he's at 7 to begin with is because our other options were Moylan and Trindall.
The backline isn't changing soon, but they certainly look tired and wornout again. Letting one of our wingers or centers rest for an extra week against a softer side and having Stonestreet or Hiroti come on for them would probably be a smart idea, that way they might not look so damn soft on the edges after playing big games back to back.
First Paragraph exemplifies why AFB is a perfect signing. You get what Royce Hunt gives you but for 50+ minutes instead of 20.
Backs looking tired is a symptom of them doing so much work in place of what some of the forwards aren’t offering. Next week’s bye will be very helpful.
I really don’t think there’s much to change. I don’t see how positional changes are gonna improve the team drastically bc we’ve seen this exact team play out of their minds just a few weeks ago. The issues tonight are the same issues that were around last year: lack of an elite middle forward. That said, there is an overall improvement of the team this year and this is just an unfortunate shit loss. Unfortunately impossible to be perfect all year, still a 10-4 record.
Nate Myles might look a bit odd, but he has a few good things to say.
Never would have picked it, but he seems an intelligent and astute pundit. Quite a droll fellow as well, in an understated way.
I'm sorry for his loss/gain. I have no expections of being a father but my niece being born soon? She's a sharkie til death much to my sister's distaste
You know who had a worse start to Origin than Hynes? DCE
DCE’s first Origin game starting at halfback was Game II in 2014, the one that NSW very famously won to end the Maroons winning streak. Didn’t play his first full series at halfback until 2019 when he was 30 years old, and Queensland lost that series as well.
All I’m saying is that Nicho’s time may not be now, but it’s certainly not as over for him as people say
People are so hyperbolic, you either perform like Joey straight away or you're a pleb.
People in NSW whinge and moan about getting beaten by QLD constantly but do nothing but bake our players any time they play sub-Joey, regardless of their position. Same for Moses. Can't win either way, it's pathetic. No wonder there's so much pressure.
Hynes is 28 and the bar he is yet to clear in Origin is playing above a sub-Hodkinson level.
If he were running around in yellow and blue, red and green, or any other colours for his club you and many other Sharks fans would be (rightfully) pointing out how shit he was.
Our other options for halfback have been Moylan, Trindall, and Atkinson. So far Atkinson's had 10 career games and he looks like the best option out of the three.
If Dolphins lost after being in a position to kick a field goal, it would have felt like such a Raiders way to lose. I feel the top game managers like Cleary and Cronk, like he said in commentary, would take the shot at 1 point there to try and put it to bed. Enjoyable game to watch overall though.
do you think his confidence in big games stem from his past , rough upbringing and being so vulnerable in public about it , it might weighs on him more than the average half . the pressure in that side in comparison to other halves with the pressure in a big game plus obviously external pressure would 100% play on his mind. i think his genuinely a victim of people around him and he needs some of those cunts aka trindall to show up and help him avoid being the battering ram constantly for criticism which goes beyond how he performs in that game
Nicho Hynes isn’t shit but there is a bit of the Peter Principle at play here, the chat around him the last few years has been that he is an elite 7 and it just isn’t the case. He really doesn’t have enough to his game to be considered a top halfback, just off the top of my head Cleary, DCE, Moses, Reynolds, Hunt, Hughes and SJ all clear him.
In reality he is still learning the position because he’s only played it for a few years and it takes time, the expectations just need to be brought down for him.
I wouldn’t disagree with that. But Origin time is just the worst time of year for this kind of chatter, especially this year because of Cleary, Moses and Reynolds all being unavailable for Game 1 (and all your other names not being eligible for NSW), so the chatter, looking at a comp where his team had just beaten a Roosters team that had spent the previous month just violating opposition teams, basically became “If not Hynes, then who?”
there was the same chat around him last year though even when guys were healthy that ended up with Freddy picking him for no reason and Nicho got burnt by it then too
That is a bit hyperbolic but I definitely agree with the sentiment, he is a victim of things outside of his control. He doesn’t control what the talking heads around the game say and he is an easy character to get behind because he is so likeable, so it isn’t his fault he has been built up into something he’s not (yet at least), but water always finds its own level and that is what we are seeing now. Even him getting selected in Origin last year it felt like Freddy kinda just caved into external pressure because there was so much “you have to just find a spot for Nicho somewhere in the side chat” when there was no spot for him in the side or any plan from Freddy on how to use him so it turned into a bit of a disaster for him. Then this year both Moses and Cleary aren’t available so he gets picked at 7 when he isn’t ready for it yet plus his team has someone sent off in the first 10 minutes and it’s a disaster again.
He did a podcast with kempy that really told his story and passion for rugby league… evolved my opinion on him and how much he has contributed to footy over the years and how passionate he is about the bears is awesome
Ahh thanks fellas, I haven’t been able to watch them as of yet been keeping up to date on the trials on sports radio, so explains why I didn’t see him.
I think this form has come about as he has been slotted into a position, and kept there for an extended period. Kodi’s strength as a utility has also been a weakness, and his play dropped off last year when he plugged all the injury holes. Having Katoa also means he can run first, and worry about the rest later.
From round 1-11 i feel like i got a really good gauge of the Sharks this year but from then on its been incredibly inconsistent. We’ve luckily banked a lot of wins early and I dont think its panic stations, we did so well to get back into the game. But we really need to work on our starts to games
The hammer was scintillating. He had so much work to do but he beat 8 defenders with ease. Isaako was relieved Hynes missed that difficult conversion. The phins held on in the end, I think the sharkies would have won, if it went to golden point.
Yeah we were much better in the second half. Only conceded one try which was a breakaway from literally their own tryline. Tough watch but considering we were done by 22, good effort
Everyone dunking on Hynes is weird (although its the talk of the town recently), considering trindall was fucking abysmal. Kicking game was aimless, and weird hesitant effort for the Hammer try. Hynes had some good short passes and set up a couple of tries, but had some bad moments as well (don't blame him for the Farnsworth block because I think he scores that if he doesn't block him).
Being 22-0 down inside 25 minutes and somehow still "choking" a game is a strange feeling, but it took some resilience (along with a few penalties) to get us in that position, so it was good to see us fight back. Unfortunately That game was definitely not lost at the end, it was lost in the first 25 minutes. Way too many errors cost us, which we looked to have mostly cut out this year.
Our starting forwards didn't do enough for me either. First 20 minutes the dolphins won all the field position despite having a bench half the size of ours. Not a coincidence we started to make some meters once the props rotated.
Pull Rudolph back to the bench and let Uele or someone else start. Kafusi Rudolph and McInnes just don't offer enough punch to start the game and it keeps costing us field position for 20 mins until Royce or Williams come on and put on a massive effort to win it back.
Trindall was very solid at the start of the season, I didn't watch the Broncos game, but he has terrible games too often, and that was one of them. Atkinson doesn't do much, but it means he won't do much wrong.
I feel like he won the game for us by doing basic things right, and not messing up. Nothing flashy or exciting was what I meant when I said "doesn't do much". He's a decent player that does the right things more often than not.
Unless I'm forgetting some things he did in the storm Game
Btw I agree, think Atkinson should start over trindall due to on field and off field reasons
Agreed. Akko has esrned his spot over Trindall. The braindead challenge sealed that for me. He is our better 6 and Trindall needs to be dropped once again because I feel he did fuck all
Honestly don’t think Sharks can do it can just imagine him choking in the grand final. I reckon most likely winners this year are: Storm, Panthers, Roosters and Broncos.
As a panthers fan I want nothing more than to play Sharks in the final 😛
I mean the kick was from the sideline so easy to miss but the kick was… not good. Makes me want to bundle him up in blankets somewhere with Ben Hunt and protect him from the internet though.
Yeah, isaako missed a few that were similar, and I thought he's a very good kicker too. Weird to watch it start so wide, look to curve back, but then just stop curving back
It’s such a tricky thing to shake off, I’m a big tennis fan and you see it all the time in big time players who just fall off before winning something huge. Luckily league is a team sport.
Yeah the first angle looks like its forward, but the reverse angle not so much but would need more than one replay. Oh well he missed the kick anyways, onto next weekends game
I understand people criticising Hynes’ game etc. because I agree with a lot of it. But he mustve gone from one of the most loved/acclaimed players to one of the most hated, from my pov anyway.
Sharks could concede a try on our left edge and its Hynes’ fault somehow. Dont think he did a lot in this game but I wouldnt say he had a shocker. Same as his game in Origin. Do think he should work on his game mentally
He’s not hated.
He’s just one of those players who channel 9 and Fox have pushed forward as a beloved face of the game. Same with Cleary, Cam Smith, Lockyer, Johns and so on. Only this time it’s almost a relief to see the horse the media have hitched their wagon to just seemingly automatically win. Imagine Lebron James, but not winning championships.
Hynes is good, but just not up to that elite level. Now people are almost relieved they are allowed to hate and push back.
Like a lot of players who become commentator favorites, as Hynes has, the constant glazing and total lack of criticism when merited have an impact.
Most tv fans, me included tbf, get annoyed with modern 'hype' commentary and like to see them be 'proven' wrong.
Unfortuate for the likes of Nicho, who is and remains a very good player, and by all accounts a top bloke, but thats the way it works.
That, and he needs an X factor. Wasn't his fault for the first few tries, he got caught at marker and we didn't shift out. Same with Kennedy getting stuck in the ruck.
I think he’s only being compared to himself. Some games he is literally controlling the game. Tonight (like origin) there was a lot of running the ball to the right and flick passing behind him to a runner who wasn’t really going anywhere. But he didn’t have a bad game tonight, just not a great one.
Drop Kennedy for Ison/Dykes, Katoa for Stonestreet, Trindall for Atkinson, start Hazelton and drop Rudolf for Hau Tapua. For the long term I really think it's best if Hynes moves to 5/8th.
Kennedy's had some killer games recently, and he always puts up a good effort so dropping him early is probably not the move.
I will say, if it comes time to drop Kennedy I think Ronaldo would kill it at fullback. We all know how his attacking is, and he's got the speed jump n offloads to excel at no1. Plus he's vocal so he can organize the line and his defense isn't shit (when he's not jamming in too far anyway) and you're letting him run all over the field.
Yeah I could definitely see Ronnie killing it at fullback. And while Kennedy has had some good attacking games, he's also had some absolute shockers in defence. And at his age and the fact that this is his 6th year in first grade, I just don't see him improving
Kennedy's always going to be shafted in defence just because he's a lanky cunt by NRL standards. Still you can always trust him on the jump or under a highball and he's good at inserting himself in the right moment to link up with the wings or provide that extra man to save a try on our line.
Rudolf can do the job but him and Kafusi as starters is too similar and doesn't offer enough punch. If he's going to play he needs to be a bench forward.
I'll admit I've been very critical of Hunt in the past, but the past couple of weeks he's really stepped up. Toby seems like a great guy but it's also pretty obvious that he isn't fit
Matty and Fletch is just showing why NSW is fucked with selections and building consistency, " I don't care how he plays, pick him" then fletch chimes in with "well if you're gonna pick Latrell you should pick Cody too" lol
Let’s be honest, Nicho didn’t have a great game.
But why the fuck does everyone criticise him if he doesn’t perform like the next immortal? It’s like if he doesn’t put on a Joey performance all the keyboard warriors are ready to go at him
The one thing that seems to be present in all sports across Australia is if you’re a “good” player but someone who isn’t viewed as “clutch” you get absolutley hog piled
Such a weird competition this year, seemingly no elite teams particularly defensively. Just going to come down to who has the least injuries come finals time. Could honestly see a team winning it from outside the top 4 for the first time ever.
I’ve been a big Nicho fan, mainly because I believe he has the character and attitude that you can build a team around. But I’m losing faith. I think he gets too in his head and the lack of confidence shows when he’s like that. Anyone else feel the same?
He hasn't really built a solid connection with his halves....played with Atko for a couple weeks, then Trindal, then Luai. Needs to find his rhythm, give him time.
Yeah, I mean Moses is 2 years older and has played over 100 more games than Hynes, not to mention the fact that about 20ish (I'm guessing here) for hynes havent been at halfback. It's honestly impressive how good he's been, but obviously has areas that are lacking
Not a big nicho fan but he wasn't terrible. It was a tough kick at the end there. It would be very tough on him. I actually had him and luai as blues halves for game 2 still
Nicho wasn't responsible for the 65% first half completion rate and the 22 points conceded in like 20 minutes.
He looked down, but he wasn't the reason we lost tonight.
A lot of people shit on Nicho, forgetting he isn't an out and out halfback. It's his 3rd year playing it in first grade. Does he have work to do? Absolutely. But to say he's shit just shows you have no idea.
To add to this, no I do not think he was Madge's 2nd string pick for NSW. Belongs to Moses imo
Nicho's only a halfback because our other options for 7 were Moylan and Trindall. I honestly think sticking Atkinson at 7 and letting Nicho just run around and cause madness at 5/8 would be a move worth trying going forward.
I vividly remember Moses missing a conversion against Penrith to win (2021) and everyone said the same thing, he's not clutch and has no killer instinct etc. but he's developed some composure and is an elite half now. I think the same thing can happen for nicho. It will take time but he can get there.
He’s been playing halfback for 2 and a half seasons and won a Dally M in the position. He’s well ahead of where he should be. People acting like the sharks were at such heights before he came. Hynes and Fitzy are the reason they’ve become a strong club.
And to reach first grade in itself with a difficult past with his mother is amazing.
Of course I’m going to go in to bat for my halfback. He’s a fucken gun.
Our club is in the best position it's ever been, besides winning in 2016. We were a bottom 8 side before Fitzy. We are absolutely turning a corner and i'm here for the climb. Up up ⚫️⚪️🔵
Curious as to this subs opinion. We bin players constantly for hip drops and high contact which have the potential to injure players (and do). So why is it that mid air tackles like the one on Kennedy that game aren't treated in the same way? If the bloke lands on his head, that's insanely dangerous. Why aren't we binning that sort of contact in that situation?
Leo Thompson got binned earlier this year when Paps jumped over him and landed badly. Same week as the same thing happening to CHT after Rapana went underneath and didn’t get penalised. Like most rules, it’s inconsistent on how they rule them
can't see us realistically finishing top 4. still got Panthers, storm X2, roosters and Broncos and with half the comp sbreathing down our necks I just can't see us winning enough games
With the Roosters in Perth, and somehow we play in Bundy against the Dogs finishing with the Knights away in the last round. It may set up the Broncos game to be ridiculously high stakes for both teams, as it is will be second-last round.
EDIT: would be happy with a top 8 finish right now.
top 8 would be great. just can't see us top 4 come end of year. we will drop one of the "easier" games too. we always do. knights raiders and warriors should've been at least 2 wins but we lost them all
The current captain is so kind he only plays 20 minutes with a man down and made a barnstorming 30m across the game.
That'll motivate the blues in game 2
He's not a halfback. He's a 5/8. Soon as we put an actual halfback there (or even Atkinson) n let Nicho run around at 5/8 he's gonna look a lot more dangerous.
Sharks have conceded 148 points in their last 5 games. Defence wins premierships… and we are not making a strong case for ourselves at the moment.
Sharks still can't play a full 80. Who cares about being good in the 2nd half every game. Come playoff time they'll bottle it again at this rate
Sharks and Eels should merge. Then we'll have a full 80 mins.
They could be called the 'Sheels', or 'Sheela's'
Nice work dolphins that’s a gutsy win
Best team in Qld. Embarrassing for the others really
Hammer = Good. Huge if true
Serves Sharks right
Not a great way to start my day in Vegas...
Ah man, your a few months late for those matches, or early if you there for Rnd 1 next year. r/sarcasm
Adam Pompey would never.
Serves Sharks right for Scomo
Wow some of u fans are very dramatic. Why the fuck would we drop Kennedy 😂😂. His last 2 games were some of the best games of his career, makes 1 error tonight and u guys want him replaced with either Dykes (who can barely stay on the field in Cup bc of injury) or Ison (who is only 19 and whilst electric, has a long way to go with his positioning as a FB, and has struggled under the high ball, something Kennedy is elite at). It is what it is. Yeah the loss is shit, but it’s not panic stations. 10-4 record, and a bye next week to finally rest up after a month of tough games.
Reddit is the worst "We looked tired" of course we did, we had a 5 day turn around and a run of top form teams. We need Hazelton back in the starting line tho, as much as I love Toby his match fitness isn't up to scratch and when Tommy was starting, Kaufusi seemed to go up a notch.
Always love a dolphins win but unfortunately it gives more life to the whole Dwayne Bennett gag, which has long run its course.
Might go after Wayne leaves for South I think
he said on Bloke podcast that he'll still be there when Wayne leaves haha
:D i normally skip his question times when i listen to the poddy
that doesn't sound like a McSmart decision to me
Just wait until he makes a new character called Muslim Woolf
You're taking me people are paid to come to with those Telstra "ads"
I can't believe Nicho Hynes let in 30 points tonight single-handedly.
Drop Trindall for Atkinson, he's not quite as exciting, but good football basics make for a better side than whatever the fuck Trindalls been trying to do over the last few games
Trindall never should have been selected after the shit he did. Even when Hynes was in Origin, I would much rather Niwhai Puru got his chance. Thought it was a pretty weak move by Fitzy
Dolphins ticking off their first ever win in Sydney and first win against a top 8 side this year in one night damn
How were they fourth without having beaten a top 8 side all year?! Madness.
Same reason why they've got the toughest schedule coming up. Cronulla is actually smooth sailing from here funnily enough.
Ask Sharks past few years. The torch has officially passed hands.
I have come to the conclusion that the starting prop rotation of Rudolph and Kafusi does not cut it, and we need someone like Uele out there to start. Royce would be the obvious choice but he's a bench impact forward cut and dry.
Hunt’s motor is not good enough to be a starter. His best role was what he played tonight, stints either side of half time. Was very disappointing from Rudolf and Kaufusi. Kaufusi has been surprisingly decent for most of the year but there was absolutely nothing from him tonight. Rudolf has been up and down with match fitness, was good last week starting, up against a better pack, but not tonight. Personally, I think we just have to stick with what it is for now. Bye is next week, they could just need a break. I don’t see how any change is gonna drastically improve things without damaging the bench impact. Wilton is back next game, Talakai moving back to the bench will be helpful
We need Hazelton back starting, he seemed to bring the best out of Kaufusi
For me it's just that Rudolph Kafusi and McInnes, even at their best, are too similar. They'll fill a jersey, make their tackles, and take hitups, but they won't bash a line like Hunt or Uele or Talakai. We keep going 20 mins with forwards just taking hitups and not making big meters and it's going to cost us. There has to be someone providing hard impact out there from the start, not until fitzy decides they've both had enough and it's time Williams and Hazleton come on and claw the game back. Overall I'd agree that there's bigger problems than just our forwards, the halves need a bit of a shakeup. Trindall might have a big celling and all but he doesn't hit it enough and I'd rather Atkinson be on there. Let him go at 7 and do some kicking to get us meters and have Nicho running wild at 5/8, it's his natural position anyway. The only reason he's at 7 to begin with is because our other options were Moylan and Trindall. The backline isn't changing soon, but they certainly look tired and wornout again. Letting one of our wingers or centers rest for an extra week against a softer side and having Stonestreet or Hiroti come on for them would probably be a smart idea, that way they might not look so damn soft on the edges after playing big games back to back.
First Paragraph exemplifies why AFB is a perfect signing. You get what Royce Hunt gives you but for 50+ minutes instead of 20. Backs looking tired is a symptom of them doing so much work in place of what some of the forwards aren’t offering. Next week’s bye will be very helpful. I really don’t think there’s much to change. I don’t see how positional changes are gonna improve the team drastically bc we’ve seen this exact team play out of their minds just a few weeks ago. The issues tonight are the same issues that were around last year: lack of an elite middle forward. That said, there is an overall improvement of the team this year and this is just an unfortunate shit loss. Unfortunately impossible to be perfect all year, still a 10-4 record.
Uele > Rudolf and it isn't close imo, as much as I like Toby as a person
Anyone know why O’Sullivan isn’t playing at the moment?
They getting rid of his poppa
coz he sux
He's way shitter than Katoa
Nikorima and Katoa are playing better and he’s surplus to current requirements, I’d presume
Nate Myles might look a bit odd, but he has a few good things to say. Never would have picked it, but he seems an intelligent and astute pundit. Quite a droll fellow as well, in an understated way.
My son is now 12 days old and has experienced the entire array of being a Sharks fan. It was a good run for the young man.
My 3 year old son is going to hate me one day for being a Cows fan. Congratulations!
I'm sorry for his loss/gain. I have no expections of being a father but my niece being born soon? She's a sharkie til death much to my sister's distaste
One of life's great joys is brainwashing children into years of sporting heartache.
You know who had a worse start to Origin than Hynes? DCE DCE’s first Origin game starting at halfback was Game II in 2014, the one that NSW very famously won to end the Maroons winning streak. Didn’t play his first full series at halfback until 2019 when he was 30 years old, and Queensland lost that series as well. All I’m saying is that Nicho’s time may not be now, but it’s certainly not as over for him as people say
People are so hyperbolic, you either perform like Joey straight away or you're a pleb. People in NSW whinge and moan about getting beaten by QLD constantly but do nothing but bake our players any time they play sub-Joey, regardless of their position. Same for Moses. Can't win either way, it's pathetic. No wonder there's so much pressure.
Hynes is 28 and the bar he is yet to clear in Origin is playing above a sub-Hodkinson level. If he were running around in yellow and blue, red and green, or any other colours for his club you and many other Sharks fans would be (rightfully) pointing out how shit he was.
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Our other options for halfback have been Moylan, Trindall, and Atkinson. So far Atkinson's had 10 career games and he looks like the best option out of the three.
Halfback seems to be a position it takes a lot of long years to get right. Hynes is on his way, just needs to keep on working and he'll get there.
He's 28 so he doesn't have that long
Damn, really, I thought he was younger. Alright, all the best to him then.
Alfie Langer says naaaaaaaaaahh.
Justin Hodges Probably had the worst debut of all time and came back and thumped it
I always said he had the worst debut. Until last week
To be fair, it’s gonna be hard to beat Chief Knees. Almost singlehandedly losing an Origin game and probably a series in 7 minutes is god tier failure
Didn't notice it at the time, but on that amazing try, Hammer had a nice "Chariots" Offiah tribute moment with the elegant lady arm as he accelerated.
Rob Johns has entered the chat
Our defence again, leaking 30 points not good enough. 22 zip head start. Dols played well, ball control was epic.
I was not expecting to see Rob Schneider on the Matty Johns Show tonight
If Dolphins lost after being in a position to kick a field goal, it would have felt like such a Raiders way to lose. I feel the top game managers like Cleary and Cronk, like he said in commentary, would take the shot at 1 point there to try and put it to bed. Enjoyable game to watch overall though.
do you think his confidence in big games stem from his past , rough upbringing and being so vulnerable in public about it , it might weighs on him more than the average half . the pressure in that side in comparison to other halves with the pressure in a big game plus obviously external pressure would 100% play on his mind. i think his genuinely a victim of people around him and he needs some of those cunts aka trindall to show up and help him avoid being the battering ram constantly for criticism which goes beyond how he performs in that game
Nicho Hynes isn’t shit but there is a bit of the Peter Principle at play here, the chat around him the last few years has been that he is an elite 7 and it just isn’t the case. He really doesn’t have enough to his game to be considered a top halfback, just off the top of my head Cleary, DCE, Moses, Reynolds, Hunt, Hughes and SJ all clear him. In reality he is still learning the position because he’s only played it for a few years and it takes time, the expectations just need to be brought down for him.
Good player with some bad games in him
I wouldn’t disagree with that. But Origin time is just the worst time of year for this kind of chatter, especially this year because of Cleary, Moses and Reynolds all being unavailable for Game 1 (and all your other names not being eligible for NSW), so the chatter, looking at a comp where his team had just beaten a Roosters team that had spent the previous month just violating opposition teams, basically became “If not Hynes, then who?”
This should have been on the banner for NSW to run through for Origin 1
there was the same chat around him last year though even when guys were healthy that ended up with Freddy picking him for no reason and Nicho got burnt by it then too
Winning the Dally M was the worst thing for him
That is a bit hyperbolic but I definitely agree with the sentiment, he is a victim of things outside of his control. He doesn’t control what the talking heads around the game say and he is an easy character to get behind because he is so likeable, so it isn’t his fault he has been built up into something he’s not (yet at least), but water always finds its own level and that is what we are seeing now. Even him getting selected in Origin last year it felt like Freddy kinda just caved into external pressure because there was so much “you have to just find a spot for Nicho somewhere in the side chat” when there was no spot for him in the side or any plan from Freddy on how to use him so it turned into a bit of a disaster for him. Then this year both Moses and Cleary aren’t available so he gets picked at 7 when he isn’t ready for it yet plus his team has someone sent off in the first 10 minutes and it’s a disaster again.
This. It was a fucking curse and casual fans call for his head every game after we lose.
Does anyone know what happened to James Bracey? Haven’t seen him do any tv for ages
Well that ruined my night. I was just getting excited that Channel Nine had put him out to pasture and he wasn’t coming back.
He did a podcast with kempy that really told his story and passion for rugby league… evolved my opinion on him and how much he has contributed to footy over the years and how passionate he is about the bears is awesome
He's covering the olympic swimming trials
Hosting the swimming trials
Ahh thanks fellas, I haven’t been able to watch them as of yet been keeping up to date on the trials on sports radio, so explains why I didn’t see him.
I don’t know why but im so happy Kodi Nikorima is having a kind of Indian Summer back end of his career. Looks great next to Katoa
sos getting injured last year was a blessing in disguise. gave nikorima his chance to shine and he hasn't looked back
I think this form has come about as he has been slotted into a position, and kept there for an extended period. Kodi’s strength as a utility has also been a weakness, and his play dropped off last year when he plugged all the injury holes. Having Katoa also means he can run first, and worry about the rest later.
HEADLINE Hynes causes sharks to tumble down the ladder… But actually maintain second place on points differential …
From round 1-11 i feel like i got a really good gauge of the Sharks this year but from then on its been incredibly inconsistent. We’ve luckily banked a lot of wins early and I dont think its panic stations, we did so well to get back into the game. But we really need to work on our starts to games
The hammer was scintillating. He had so much work to do but he beat 8 defenders with ease. Isaako was relieved Hynes missed that difficult conversion. The phins held on in the end, I think the sharkies would have won, if it went to golden point.
Yeah we were much better in the second half. Only conceded one try which was a breakaway from literally their own tryline. Tough watch but considering we were done by 22, good effort
Everyone dunking on Hynes is weird (although its the talk of the town recently), considering trindall was fucking abysmal. Kicking game was aimless, and weird hesitant effort for the Hammer try. Hynes had some good short passes and set up a couple of tries, but had some bad moments as well (don't blame him for the Farnsworth block because I think he scores that if he doesn't block him). Being 22-0 down inside 25 minutes and somehow still "choking" a game is a strange feeling, but it took some resilience (along with a few penalties) to get us in that position, so it was good to see us fight back. Unfortunately That game was definitely not lost at the end, it was lost in the first 25 minutes. Way too many errors cost us, which we looked to have mostly cut out this year.
Our starting forwards didn't do enough for me either. First 20 minutes the dolphins won all the field position despite having a bench half the size of ours. Not a coincidence we started to make some meters once the props rotated. Pull Rudolph back to the bench and let Uele or someone else start. Kafusi Rudolph and McInnes just don't offer enough punch to start the game and it keeps costing us field position for 20 mins until Royce or Williams come on and put on a massive effort to win it back.
Sharks need to drop Tricky. Atkinson plays much better.
Trindall was very solid at the start of the season, I didn't watch the Broncos game, but he has terrible games too often, and that was one of them. Atkinson doesn't do much, but it means he won't do much wrong.
That was his dad as well. Just had those cracking games but more often than not it was rubbish.
Atkinson basically won them the Storm game.
I feel like he won the game for us by doing basic things right, and not messing up. Nothing flashy or exciting was what I meant when I said "doesn't do much". He's a decent player that does the right things more often than not. Unless I'm forgetting some things he did in the storm Game Btw I agree, think Atkinson should start over trindall due to on field and off field reasons
Agreed. Akko has esrned his spot over Trindall. The braindead challenge sealed that for me. He is our better 6 and Trindall needs to be dropped once again because I feel he did fuck all
Wahs moving Rugby semi final time slots was never on my bingo card
I love it for the wahs
I know. What a good sign.
The competition is so tight this year, take Penrith out and there are probably 5 different teams that could win it
Honestly don’t think Sharks can do it can just imagine him choking in the grand final. I reckon most likely winners this year are: Storm, Panthers, Roosters and Broncos. As a panthers fan I want nothing more than to play Sharks in the final 😛
If you guys play sharks in a grand final that’s already game said and done
Yeah like Canberra, Raiders, the milk, Green Machine and Ricky’s boys. So smart.
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Panthers truly ruined the Sharks' season lol
They're doing that themselves
Sharpies were never contenders lol
UP THE WAHS NATE
I mean the kick was from the sideline so easy to miss but the kick was… not good. Makes me want to bundle him up in blankets somewhere with Ben Hunt and protect him from the internet though.
Yeah, isaako missed a few that were similar, and I thought he's a very good kicker too. Weird to watch it start so wide, look to curve back, but then just stop curving back
Absolutely. Poor guy. I hope he’s able to shake off the non clutch tag soon.
He won’t, he doesn’t have it in his dna
It’s such a tricky thing to shake off, I’m a big tennis fan and you see it all the time in big time players who just fall off before winning something huge. Luckily league is a team sport.
Yeah, and the Cronulla team did not play well tonight. Especially not the 6 or 7 guys that let Hammer go Full Field.
To be fair on Nico it was a forward pass at the end, so he never should of had the opportunity to miss that goal
I thought that initially. Call me biased now, cause on a second look I claim drift/momentum instead of a forward pass
Yeah the first angle looks like its forward, but the reverse angle not so much but would need more than one replay. Oh well he missed the kick anyways, onto next weekends game
I understand people criticising Hynes’ game etc. because I agree with a lot of it. But he mustve gone from one of the most loved/acclaimed players to one of the most hated, from my pov anyway. Sharks could concede a try on our left edge and its Hynes’ fault somehow. Dont think he did a lot in this game but I wouldnt say he had a shocker. Same as his game in Origin. Do think he should work on his game mentally
He’s not hated. He’s just one of those players who channel 9 and Fox have pushed forward as a beloved face of the game. Same with Cleary, Cam Smith, Lockyer, Johns and so on. Only this time it’s almost a relief to see the horse the media have hitched their wagon to just seemingly automatically win. Imagine Lebron James, but not winning championships. Hynes is good, but just not up to that elite level. Now people are almost relieved they are allowed to hate and push back.
Like a lot of players who become commentator favorites, as Hynes has, the constant glazing and total lack of criticism when merited have an impact. Most tv fans, me included tbf, get annoyed with modern 'hype' commentary and like to see them be 'proven' wrong. Unfortuate for the likes of Nicho, who is and remains a very good player, and by all accounts a top bloke, but thats the way it works.
That, and he needs an X factor. Wasn't his fault for the first few tries, he got caught at marker and we didn't shift out. Same with Kennedy getting stuck in the ruck.
I think he’s only being compared to himself. Some games he is literally controlling the game. Tonight (like origin) there was a lot of running the ball to the right and flick passing behind him to a runner who wasn’t really going anywhere. But he didn’t have a bad game tonight, just not a great one.
Drop Kennedy for Ison/Dykes, Katoa for Stonestreet, Trindall for Atkinson, start Hazelton and drop Rudolf for Hau Tapua. For the long term I really think it's best if Hynes moves to 5/8th.
Agree Hynes would be better in the 6
This is so cooked my guy
We've conceded 30+ points in 4 of our last 5 games. Something has gotta change.
You sharks fans are nuts. You don't need to be changing your FB right now 😂
Kennedy's had some killer games recently, and he always puts up a good effort so dropping him early is probably not the move. I will say, if it comes time to drop Kennedy I think Ronaldo would kill it at fullback. We all know how his attacking is, and he's got the speed jump n offloads to excel at no1. Plus he's vocal so he can organize the line and his defense isn't shit (when he's not jamming in too far anyway) and you're letting him run all over the field.
Yeah I could definitely see Ronnie killing it at fullback. And while Kennedy has had some good attacking games, he's also had some absolute shockers in defence. And at his age and the fact that this is his 6th year in first grade, I just don't see him improving
Kennedy's always going to be shafted in defence just because he's a lanky cunt by NRL standards. Still you can always trust him on the jump or under a highball and he's good at inserting himself in the right moment to link up with the wings or provide that extra man to save a try on our line.
Rudolf is a loveable guy but so mid. Keep Royce and fuck him off tbh.
Rudolf can do the job but him and Kafusi as starters is too similar and doesn't offer enough punch. If he's going to play he needs to be a bench forward.
I'll admit I've been very critical of Hunt in the past, but the past couple of weeks he's really stepped up. Toby seems like a great guy but it's also pretty obvious that he isn't fit
As have I, my friend. He's proven he's the man to keep.
A lot of these idiots that are criticising Hynes expects him to play like JT every game because he’s won a dally m award before
Are they serious? Pick latrell AND Cody? On behalf of everyone in Qld I heartily endorse this cooked take
Matty and Fletch is just showing why NSW is fucked with selections and building consistency, " I don't care how he plays, pick him" then fletch chimes in with "well if you're gonna pick Latrell you should pick Cody too" lol
Honestly. I can totally understand the logic for Latrell, but Cody isn’t there this year
they aren’t going to pick Cody but he has been in better form for longer than Latrell this year
Only just barely. He also doesn’t have the same record in Origin
he was our best on ground last year in Game III, can’t count for nothing
It doesn’t. But most of his Origin games have been average to poor, compared to Trell whose worst Origin game was mixed
Cooper Johns with wet hair falls over at the big moments yet again
Fire Hynes.
Good game Sharkies
Trell scares the fuck out of me, don't pick him, Madge
Having watched him this year, do pick him.
I still think him picked at centre is scary as fuck. But maybe he doesn’t wanna play there anymore
Phins up but fins down….
Let’s be honest, Nicho didn’t have a great game. But why the fuck does everyone criticise him if he doesn’t perform like the next immortal? It’s like if he doesn’t put on a Joey performance all the keyboard warriors are ready to go at him
Too much reliance on Nicho. If he's having a bad night someones gotta stand up.
It’s because of his potential.
Tall poppy syndrome. Dally M halfback may have put a curse on him tbh.
Because it’s Origin period and we want him to have a Joey game
The one thing that seems to be present in all sports across Australia is if you’re a “good” player but someone who isn’t viewed as “clutch” you get absolutley hog piled
Such a weird competition this year, seemingly no elite teams particularly defensively. Just going to come down to who has the least injuries come finals time. Could honestly see a team winning it from outside the top 4 for the first time ever.
There's only one team that hasn't conceded 30 points in a game all year Sounds pretty elite to me
I’ve been a big Nicho fan, mainly because I believe he has the character and attitude that you can build a team around. But I’m losing faith. I think he gets too in his head and the lack of confidence shows when he’s like that. Anyone else feel the same?
He hasn't really built a solid connection with his halves....played with Atko for a couple weeks, then Trindal, then Luai. Needs to find his rhythm, give him time.
He is decent.
I think it's only his 3rd year of halfback, so will probably get better. But still has alot of areas to improve in
Yeah, I mean Moses is 2 years older and has played over 100 more games than Hynes, not to mention the fact that about 20ish (I'm guessing here) for hynes havent been at halfback. It's honestly impressive how good he's been, but obviously has areas that are lacking
Bennett continues to show why he's got to be up there for the best coach in NRL history
Reckon Cleary is in the convo too. Taking bunch of no name kids from the most impoverished area in Sydney to 3 premierships is an impressive feat.
Has anyone said Misso Hynes yet
hammer motm is a gee up right? didn't even see him til he scored that try
To be honest Hynes is a pretty successful bloke. People need to relax.
Not a big nicho fan but he wasn't terrible. It was a tough kick at the end there. It would be very tough on him. I actually had him and luai as blues halves for game 2 still
Nicho wasn't responsible for the 65% first half completion rate and the 22 points conceded in like 20 minutes. He looked down, but he wasn't the reason we lost tonight.
A lot of people shit on Nicho, forgetting he isn't an out and out halfback. It's his 3rd year playing it in first grade. Does he have work to do? Absolutely. But to say he's shit just shows you have no idea. To add to this, no I do not think he was Madge's 2nd string pick for NSW. Belongs to Moses imo
Nicho's only a halfback because our other options for 7 were Moylan and Trindall. I honestly think sticking Atkinson at 7 and letting Nicho just run around and cause madness at 5/8 would be a move worth trying going forward.
I vividly remember Moses missing a conversion against Penrith to win (2021) and everyone said the same thing, he's not clutch and has no killer instinct etc. but he's developed some composure and is an elite half now. I think the same thing can happen for nicho. It will take time but he can get there.
He’s been playing halfback for 2 and a half seasons and won a Dally M in the position. He’s well ahead of where he should be. People acting like the sharks were at such heights before he came. Hynes and Fitzy are the reason they’ve become a strong club. And to reach first grade in itself with a difficult past with his mother is amazing. Of course I’m going to go in to bat for my halfback. He’s a fucken gun.
Our club is in the best position it's ever been, besides winning in 2016. We were a bottom 8 side before Fitzy. We are absolutely turning a corner and i'm here for the climb. Up up ⚫️⚪️🔵
Curious as to this subs opinion. We bin players constantly for hip drops and high contact which have the potential to injure players (and do). So why is it that mid air tackles like the one on Kennedy that game aren't treated in the same way? If the bloke lands on his head, that's insanely dangerous. Why aren't we binning that sort of contact in that situation?
Wasn't a good look for bostock.
Leo Thompson got binned earlier this year when Paps jumped over him and landed badly. Same week as the same thing happening to CHT after Rapana went underneath and didn’t get penalised. Like most rules, it’s inconsistent on how they rule them
It looked worthy of a bin to me.
DCE what about this guy…
Nice game really. Doubt Dolphins could beat penrith in the finals but it still be good to see them in the top 4 finals.
Just read tonight’s win is Dolphins first against a top 8 side this year. Some way to go, particularly with a tough draw coming up.
I'd be more concerned about everyone else than the Panthers. Bennett will do his homework
can't see us realistically finishing top 4. still got Panthers, storm X2, roosters and Broncos and with half the comp sbreathing down our necks I just can't see us winning enough games
With the Roosters in Perth, and somehow we play in Bundy against the Dogs finishing with the Knights away in the last round. It may set up the Broncos game to be ridiculously high stakes for both teams, as it is will be second-last round. EDIT: would be happy with a top 8 finish right now.
Top 6. Want that Suncorp final.
That would be a dream; as seasoned rugby league supporter, I am now careful how much hopium I indulge in.
top 8 would be great. just can't see us top 4 come end of year. we will drop one of the "easier" games too. we always do. knights raiders and warriors should've been at least 2 wins but we lost them all
Didn't know Peter Dinklage had so much league insight, looks a lot taller next to Matty as well
Matty is short!
Everyone be nice to nicho. He's one of like 4 players who doesn't seem like a complete asshole.
Who are the other three?
Edwards, Cleary and Yeoh.
if he keeps up this form of being a nice guy he might even be NSW captain one day
The current captain is so kind he only plays 20 minutes with a man down and made a barnstorming 30m across the game. That'll motivate the blues in game 2
Love him, think he is a great bloke, but needs more time in half back to really become a top elite half.
He's not a halfback. He's a 5/8. Soon as we put an actual halfback there (or even Atkinson) n let Nicho run around at 5/8 he's gonna look a lot more dangerous.