Craig Fitzgibbon believes Nicho Hynes will grow stronger from the "intense" scrutiny that comes with being a State of Origin player as debate continues over his spot in the NSW team for game two.
And the Cronulla coach has backed his halfback to respond better from Origin disappointment than he did following his debut in 2023.
Called into the halves amid a string of injuries, Hynes struggled to spark the Blues' attack after Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii's send-off reduced them to 12 men early in Origin I last Wednesday.
Hynes has since returned from his second Origin appearance to Sharks training, finally shaking off a niggling calf injury and the disappointment that came with a 38-10 loss to Queensland.
"Based on the way he walked in yesterday, smiling, back to himself, confident, trained well, all the signs there are he's fine," Fitzgibbon said on Wednesday.
After his quiet showing in game one, Hynes' spot in the team has come under scrutiny as NSW prepares to travel to Melbourne for Origin II on June 26.
Three-time NSW halfback Mitch Moses has recovered from his broken foot and is available to take Hynes' place if Michael Maguire feels a change must be made to keep his first series as coach alive.
Hynes and Cronulla's form dipped immediately after his debut in game one last series, the 27-year-old later admitting the disappointing performance and subsequent axing had rocked his confidence.
But as history threatens to repeat itself, Fitzgibbon is unafraid of the possible ramifications for Hynes or the Sharks.
"He learned from it last year, he won't want to feel that way again," Fitzgibbon said.
"Take the lessons and apply where it went sideways with distractions, focus on what he's got to do and do his job. He's better equipped this time around.
"I see no reason as to why he can't stay consistent with the Sharks and focus on what's important to him."
An 11-time NSW representative and long-term Blues assistant coach, Fitzgibbon said pressure would always be a reality for an Origin half like Hynes, whether on game day or at the selection table.
The coach is hopeful his star player can make the best of the situation.
"There's always a narrative. It's intense for the whole period," he said.
"The narrative will swing and move in relation to who wins, who doesn't win, who's under pressure and it's always selection pressure.
"It's always hotly debated and if you want to walk and play in that environment, it's all part of the deal.
"It's actually good for him. To go through it, it's only going to make you stronger. You've got to deal with it. I think Nicho's done a good job of that so far."
Rested from Saturday's win over Brisbane, Hynes has one chance to reaffirm his NSW credentials when Cronulla host the Dolphins only days before Maguire picks his game-two team.
He will partner Braydon Trindall in the halves on Thursday night, Fitzgibbon explaining Trindall's long-term chemistry with Hynes had won him the spot over incumbent five-eighth Daniel Atkinson.
"Definitely a hard call," Fitzgibbon said.
"Ultimately with 'Tricky', the majority of the pre-season and then up until 'Tricky' was taken out (suspended for drink and drug driving), he'd done a lot of combination work with Nicho."
