Nicho Hynes is one of the glamour boys of the NRL but the question has to be asked – are the Sharks a better team without him?
Hynes was missing in Saturday night’s gritty 10-8 win over the Warriors.
Nicho Hynes of the Sharks talks to referee Ashley Klein. Getty
And it proved to be the Sharks’ 11th win in their last 12 games without their classy halfback.
When Hynes is out, the under-rated Braydon Trindall gets free rein with the ball and so it was in wet and slippery conditions in Auckland as the Sharks carved out a gutsy win.
Trindall’s kicking game in the slippery conditions was superb, not to mention his match-winning two point field goal, and he also marshalled the attack with great efficiency.
Hynes will come straight back when he is over his injury – but it will be interesting to monitor just how the team goes when he is in there calling the shots and Trindall plays a lesser role.
Dolphins emerge as premiership threat
Can the Dolphins win the premiership in only their fourth season in the big league?
The answer seems a resounding YES after their awesome 48-10 defeat of the Roosters at Suncorp on Friday night – their sixth win on the bounce.
Sure, the Roosters had plenty of talent out, but the Phins were missing five Origin stars – Tom Flegler, Max Plath, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Selwyn Cobbo and Kulikefu Finefeuiaki – and still nearly hit the half century in what appeared an even-money game.
With Isaiya Katoa, Kodi Nikorima, Herbie Farnworth and Trai Fuller sparking their dynamic backline, the Dolphins scored tries for fun and the Roosters simply had no answer.
Katoa looks a 20-Test veteran and is without doubt the next big thing in the NRL with his cool playmaking skills.
The Dolphins are red-hot currently in the NRL. Getty Images
Add their Origin stars to the team that played the other night and you have a team capable of worrying the likes of the Panthers and Warriors.
Full marks to coach Kristian Woolf – he has the Phins playing the best football in the league and they are a team that is just great to watch.
Luai answers Tigers critics
Jarome Luai served it up to his many critics with a slick hat trick in the Tigers’ 36-28 win over the Titans at Leichhardt on Sunday.
Luai has been copping it ever since he signed a lucrative contract with the PNG Chiefs from 2028, with the Tigers crashing and burning immediately he put pen to paper.
The hit rock bottom last week in a 68-0 loss to the Panthers, with Luai well and truly off his game.
But in a must-win match on Sunday, Luai led the fightback as the Tigers snatched the two points in the second half in dramatic style.
The win keeps the Tigers’ finals hopes well and truly alive – a loss at home to the lowly Titans on top of last week’s mauling would have been catastrophic.
Eels finally find some grit
An edict from coach Jason Ryles to his Parramatta players to get their defence in order paved the way for Saturday night’s hard-fought win over the Raiders.
It ended a thee-game losing run and in the past two games, the Eels have now conceded only 26 points.
Compare that to 33, 36, 30, 34 and 28 in the previous five games and you can see the drastic improvement.
They just fell short 14-12 against the Bulldogs last week and were finally rewarded for their defensive resolve with a 15-12 win over the free-falling Raiders on Saturday night.
Missing several key players, the Eels stood up, withstanding several attacking waves on their own line to the delight of the home fans.
A finals spot may be beyond them now, but with their defence finally appearing in order, they may cause a few more boilers against more fancied teams in the weeks ahead.
Walker ages like a fine wine
Veteran Rabbitoh Cody Walker turns 37 in a few months – but may well have earned himself a new deal for 2027 after he put premiers Brisbane to the sword on Friday night.
Walker gave his finest display of the year with three try assists in the first half to end the game as a contest at 30-0.
On his day, there are few more creative playmakers in the league and Walker was way too smart for an embarrassing Broncos outfit.
On an emotional tribute night for Jai Arrow, the Bunnies showed their recently-retired forward just how much he means to them with a stunning 48-6 win.
Both teams had plenty of players missing, but only one turned up to play.
It was a night that will go down in Souths folklore – there was barely a dry eye in the house as Arrow rang the bell to start the game, Alex Johnston scored four tries and Tallis Duncan and David Fifita carved up the Brisbane defence.
The Broncos missed 41 tackles and conceded eight linebreaks and don’t deserve to make the finals, let alone the top four.
