Hynes in serious doubt for Origin as Penrith crush Cronulla

He passed his HIA, but a calf injury he carried into the game flared up, which ended his night. Maguire has made it clear he needs players who can complete all training sessions given the Blues only have a limited amount of time together.

Hynes looked a shattered man on the sidelines, which was not helped by his side getting thumped 42-0 by a Luai-led Panthers. It was a good old-fashioned ambush.

Luai was close to the Panthers’ best in a losing side against the Warriors at Magic Round. He looked more than comfortable moving into the halfback role for Nathan Cleary.

And he was in the thick of everything at PointsBet Stadium, terrorising Sione Katoa with his kicking game early, forever barking orders at his teammates, and scoring a try when stepping off his lethal left foot. He just looks like a bloke who is playing with so much confidence and at peace with his own game.

You almost have to laugh at how unlucky Maguire and the Blues’ are when you consider Cleary, Mitch Moses (foot), Adam Reynolds (biceps) and Hynes – our first, second, third and fourth halfback options for Origin – are unavailable.

But Luai will not care as he takes it to Queensland with a point to prove after being dropped for Origin III last year.

Luai was meant to partner Hynes in the halves. Matt Burton looms as the likely No. 6 option given South Sydney’s Cody Walker is already out.

Or does Maguire go with a guy such as Luke Keary, who is a right-footer and an experienced campaigner who knows he has nothing to lose because it is his last year in the game?

Now Luai is almost certain to play halfback, will it bring fellow Panther Dylan Edwards right back into the race for the fullback spot?

Maguire was giving nothing away before kick-off. Plenty of rumours were swirling on Saturday afternoon, including talk Reece Robson had got the nod over Api Koroisau, while even big Tom Hazelton was an outside chance of get a Blues’ call-up into the squad.

You have to love this time of year.

Cronulla coach Craig Fitzgibbon would have been seething with his side’s performance, which was almost as bad as their round-two flogging against an upbeat Wests Tigers in round two.

That night they were out-enthused. On a cool Saturday evening in May, Cronulla were out-classed. It was all over by half-time when Jack Cole kicked and regathered for himself to make it 28-0.

If the Sharks faithful were ever entitled to boo their own side at half-time, this was it. But they resisted.

When it came to Katoa being targeted, maybe it had something to do with Penrith coach Ivan Cleary was in the box before the game and spotted Katoa receiving treatment for a leg injury during warm-up.

Cronulla did not help themselves by dropping the ball early in the count, along with a couple of Hynes’ kicks that sailed out over the touchline on the full.

When Daniel Atkinson finally put through a kick that stayed in the field of play, the crowd let out an ironic cheer.

Sharks lock Cam McInnes was solid, as was Penrith No. 13 Isaah Yeo.

Hearts will break for Hynes. Hopefully Luai can be the Maroons’ heartbreaker.