The Sharks No. 7 was unable to stop the Dolphins from shooting to a game-defining 22-0 lead after 26 minutes on Thursday night. However, after Cronulla shifted right on their final set of the night, Sione Katoa crashed over to trail 30-28 and give Hynes the chance to send the game into extra time with his conversion. The Dolphins held off the fast-finishing Cronulla and confirmed a 30-28 upset win that looms as another blow to Nicho Hynes’ hopes of keeping the NSW halfback jersey for State of Origin II.
The Dolphins held on at Shark Park as Hynes, who had kicked well all night, missed his attempt from the right-hand touchline significantly.
The Dolphins’ victory over the Sharks, who are in second place, solidifies their ranking in the top eight, as their 7-5 start to the second season has alarmed some of their detractors.
Before Thursday, Wayne Bennett’s team had not defeated a team now ranked in the top eight this season, nor had they yet required travel to Sydney via 14 rounds in 2024.
They will now bring home their biggest victory of the year from Harbour City.
Though the hosts mounted a valiant comeback, Hynes had a quiet night on the field as the Dolphins ran out to an early lead, squandering Cronulla’s lone red zone opportunity and watching as the second-rower knocked on. Hynes had a lot on the line going into the game, too, with a freshly fit Mitch Moses threatening to usurp him as NSW’s halfback.
Hynes’ right edge was the scene of two of the Dolphins’ four early tries; but, Kodi Nikorima, his opposite, also made many a defender look silly with his early running.
Late in the first half, Hynes found Royce Hunt with a flat pass, setting up the in-form prop to open the Sharks’ account.
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However, Hynes was essentially invisible over the remainder of the half, save from his four conversions that gave the Sharks their first lead at 53 minutes.
After returning from Origin action, Queensland star Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow scored a vital individual try to put his team, behind by two points, ahead.
Less than ten metres from his own line, the Dolphins fullback fielded Hynes’ bomb and danced away from Braydon Trindall, the five-eighth, to start a rundown of the pitch.
“The Hammer” broke free from the grasp of four more opponents and scored a 95-meter try to give the Dolphins their first lead back, which they would never give up.
