‘Have you watched his previous 10 games?’: Maguire backs Hynes to shine

The thing that pleased Michael Maguire the most during his first week in NSW camp is the growth of Nicho Hynes, whose last game in clubland – and only game in the Origin arena – will leave him with no mental scars ahead of Wednesday night.

There is no pressure in rugby league like the pressure that comes with wearing the NSW No.7 jersey.

And Hynes could not have played a worse game for Cronulla late last month when he kicked out on the full, was forced to undergo a head injury assessment, and then ruled out with a calf injury.

The Maroons are expected to target Hynes at Accor Stadium, especially given the concerns around his calf, but Maguire singled out his new halfback for special praise.

Maguire also had no issues with what he saw from Hynes just nine days earlier at PointsBet Stadium.

“Don’t worry about that one – have you watched the previous 10 games that he’s played?” Maguire said.

“You roll in, he’s a human being. No doubt he was thinking about that Origin [that night]. You’re thinking about all sorts of things.

“I’ve had many players go through exactly what he went through in that last game. It’s actually irrelevant.

“He’s been 100 per cent at training. He’s been excellent. The way he’s grown through the week and the camp; I’m really proud of him, and what he’s shown us. I can’t wait to see him out there on the field.”

Hynes has been excellent for Cronulla, but knows he needs a big game against the Maroons, especially with Parramatta’s Mitchell Moses now back from injury.

The Blues were due to have their captain’s run at Accor Stadium on Tuesday morning, and were greeted by a horde of young Matildas fans as they departed their team hotel. The Matildas, who defeated China 2-0 on Monday night, were staying on the same floor as the NSW team.

Maguire and new skipper Jake Trbojevic were never going to say anything outrageous to fire up the Maroons, and were not bothered by claims north of the border from the likes of Gorden Tallis who said it would have been “embarrassing” for James Tedesco to walk back into camp after being overlooked initially for Dylan Edwards.

Former Blues skipper Paul Gallen was bemused and said as much in his Wide World of Sports column: “Some of the rubbish I’ve heard over the past 24 hours isn’t all that surprising, to be honest. Maybe they’re a little nervous?”

Maguire said of the Queensland complaints: “I haven’t paid attention to anything [said], and I haven’t cared about what’s going on around us – it’s all about what we’re doing in camp.

“I’ve been talking to Teddy about Origin from the day I got the job. He’s been great. He’s one hell of a player to bring in during a moment like this.”

Maguire said there would be no late changes to his 17, with Isaah Yeo and Hudson Young to come off the bench.

Hynes is expected to shoulder the goalkicking duties, but Zac Lomax will be the go-to man if field goals are required.

Queensland coach Billy Slater also spoke on early Tuesday and saved his own praise for Reece Walsh, admitting: “I’m like five-and-a-half million Queenslanders, I am looking forward to watching Reece Walsh play out there tomorrow night.”

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