Halfback Nicho Hynes has urged his Cronulla teammates to look in the mirror if they want to fulfil their potential and be anything more than just NRL finals fodder.
After being named in the Prime Minister’s XIII side that will take on PNG next week, Hynes said he was “in a depressed mood” after the Sharks’ elimination final defeat to the Sydney Roosters last Saturday.
The playmaker conceded he could have stood deeper to attempt a field goal which was charged down in the dying stages before the Roosters snatched a late victory.
But the loss ensures the Sharks’ September record with Hynes at the helm reads 0-3 after they were bundled out with back-to-back defeats last year.
Hynes said his team had the potential to go deep into a finals series but warned collective change was needed to ensure they did more than just make up the numbers.
“We have the right players to do it, but we need the right players on the field consistently playing their best footy," Hynes said.
“I don’t think we had our main 17 on the field as much as we should have.
“We need to stop having patches and moments in the year where we play well for five weeks, then have a few weeks off.
“It’s about an attitude adjustment and being willing to play our best footy from round one through to round 27 and the finals series.
“We’ve got to have a good hard look at ourselves and see what we want to do in this competition, because the best teams are consistent and don’t have those patches.”
Hynes has been open about his own impact on the club’s fortunes this year after struggling with being dumped from the NSW State of Origin squad after a 12-minute cameo debut.
The 27-year-old, who won last year’s Dally M Medal, hopes a good showing in Port Moresby next week will help strengthen his case to win Kangaroos selection later this year.
But the Sharks playmaker concedes his form after his Origin axing may hamper his chances.
“I don’t think I’ll be selected this year,” Hynes said.
“I can play fullback or in the halves but what happened in Origin probably didn’t help me put my best foot forward.
“I would love to wear the green, that's something that I dream about.”
