Storm superstar Cameron Munster has hailed former teammate and the reigning Dally M Medallist Nicho Hynes “the game’s best player”.
The Sharks fullback played his first game of the 2023 season in Round 4, masterminding a massacre of the club’s cross-town rivals the Dragons.
Hynes finished that clash with a staggering four try assists and Munster explained he is amazed with how much time the halfback has on the ball.
“He’s the game’s best player at the moment with what he is producing and how he is playing and how much time he has got,” Munster said to the SMH.
“It’s crazy to think how fast the game is, yet someone like that has so much time.
“He works so hard on his game, and he reminds me of ‘Slattsy’ (Billy Slater), he’s always working on his game and trying to find ways to pick apart the defence.
“He knows what kind of person he is, what kind of player he is, and he sticks to his strengths.
“He is the best right now. I don’t want to put too much pressure on him, and I’m sure he’d try to dial that down, but the confidence and playing with that carefree attitude ...
“The way he’s going about it all, he’s still got a long time in the game, which is exciting for him and the Sharks.”
Hynes’ form will likely give NSW origin coach Brad Fittler a headache regarding the make-up of his side for Game 1 on May 31.
Whilst he plays halfback for the Sharks, Hynes wouldn’t look out of place with the number six on his back for the Blues, with Nathan Cleary a sure bet to be named halfback.
That would set up a mouth-watering clash opposite Munster who, barring injury, is locked into the Queensland No.6 jersey after an excellent start to the season himself.
Several other Sharks players also reportedly rate Hynes as the game’s best player, and head coach Craig Fitzgibbon said that will only bring the halfback more confidence.
“If you want to be a star player in the game, you have to deal with expectation and pressure anyway,” Fitzgibbon said.
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“When a peer talks about you like that, it can bring confidence as well.”
Hynes will be out to continue his scorching start to the season as the Sharks take on the Warriors at PointsBet Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
