Craig Fitzgibbon has firmly dismissed any speculation regarding a potential shift of Nicho Hynes from the halves position as pressure mounts on the Cronulla Sharks playmaker. Hynes, the highest-paid player at the club, has come under scrutiny following a series of performances that have sparked doubts about his ability to recapture the form that earned him the Dally M Medal in 2022.
There have been discussions suggesting that a transition to fullback might help rejuvenate Hynes’ game, particularly in light of his impressive early career at the position with the Melbourne Storm. However, Fitzgibbon has quashed that idea, insisting that Hynes will remain in the halves. “No, he’s not playing fullback, no,” Fitzgibbon stated during a post-match press conference, referencing the past as irrelevant to their current strategy.
Following a disappointing 30-6 defeat to the Melbourne Storm, Fitzgibbon acknowledged that some of his key players have failed to meet expectations. Despite this setback, he remains optimistic about the Sharks’ trajectory, emphasising the need to maximise the potential of his star players. “We’ve just got to get the best out of our best players and work hard at that,” he explained.
Fitzgibbon recognised that execution issues contributed to the team’s struggles and stressed the importance of refining their approach. “The execution of some things was definitely off today,” he pointed out, urging for improvement in their attention to detail as they prepare for upcoming matches. He reassured fans that while the scoreline may be discouraging, there were signs of improvement in various aspects of their play.
With a bye week on the horizon, the Sharks plan to regroup and prepare for their upcoming match against the Dolphins in round 19, aiming to turn their fortunes around. The focus remains on harnessing the strengths of their roster to reclaim a competitive edge as the season progresses.