Cronulla halfback Nicho Hynes has opened up on the role Cameron Munster played in his development as a young playmaker after paying tribute to the Storm star's late father in Friday night's win over the Dolphins.
Munster carried a heavy heart into Wednesday's State of Origin decider after his dad Steven died last weekend and produced an inspirational performance to lead the Maroons to victory.
Hynes formed a close bond with the playmaker during their three years together in Melbourne and acknowledged Munster with his post-try celebration on Friday night.
Sharks v Dolphins – Round 19
"I looked up to him," Hynes said. "I've looked up to him ever since I met him. He's just someone I idolise.
"Even now, seeing the way he's handled it and went out and performed the other night, I don't think I've seen and played with a better rugby league player live. Cameron Smith, obviously, but Cam Munster, honestly, what he's gone through to do that and deliver, I'm just so proud of him.
"[The post-try celebration] was just a little dance that we used to do every time we had a couple of beers together.
"I've just been thinking about him a lot. I've been talking to my girlfriend about it. It's like, that could have been me. That could be anyone waking up without their dad or a parent.
"I’m sending lots of love to his family. I just remember after games at Melbourne, seeing his old man and old lady in the sheds, always smiling and happy.
"It touched me a lot, big time."
Match: Sharks v Dolphins
Round 19 -
home Team
Sharks
6th Position
away Team
Dolphins
8th Position
Venue: Sharks Stadium, Sydney
Munster and Hynes first crossed paths when the latter signed a train and trial contract with the Storm and joined the club for the pre-season leading into the 2019 season.
At the time, Hynes was a Queensland Cup battler who had spent the previous two years playing for the Mackay Cutters while working as a teacher's aide. By that point, Munster was already a premiership-winning five-eighth who had played for both Queensland and Australia.
Cam Munster on an emotional week
That, however, didn't stop the playmaker from taking Hynes under his wing and showing him what it took to make it in the NRL.
Fast forward seven years and the halfback has moved to Cronulla, is a Dally M Medal winner who has also represented NSW and the Kangaroos. Hynes knows it's success he wouldn't have had if it wasn't for the support of Munster throughout those first few months in Melbourne.
"I think he was meant to be on the Aussie tour that year and something happened and he ended up coming to pre-season, my first pre-season there," Hynes said.
"I was a nobody. I was literally there on a train and trial and he didn't have to give me any time of day, which that's not the Melbourne Storm way. They do give everyone time of day.
"He ended up having me at his house for a couple of weeks and whenever he wanted to go for a feed, he'd ask me to go for a feed. He was just someone who was so nice and caring and wanted to help out and make me better."
Nicholas Hynes Try
Hynes produced an outstanding performance on Friday night as the Sharks held off a fast-finishing Dolphins to snap a two-game losing streak.
The halfback scored two tries, had a try assist, two lines breaks and kicked four crucial goals in the 24-12 win.
The result helped lift the side back inside the eight in a tight race to play finals.
Cronulla's preparation was not without hiccups, with a trio of key players almost missing the match.
Nicholas Hynes Try
Briton Nikora's wife gave birth to their third child on Friday, with the edge forward rushing from the hospital to Sharks Stadium to play, before making a quick post-game exit to be with his new baby.
Addin Fonua-Blake missed multiple days of training after the death of a grandparent and produced an inspired performance to honour them, running for 128 metres with 25 tackles to lay the foundation up front.
Finally, skipper Cameron McInnes was in and out of hospital throughout the week as he managed an infection on his chest. The issue flared up on Friday morning, with the lock requiring treatment before the match.
Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon said there was a high chance all three players would miss the clash and praised his side for navigating a challenging few days to secure the win.
"They're the stories you don't see before the game," Fitzgibbon said. "I'm really proud of those guys to turn up and the team knows it. We're really thankful they all managed to turn up and play, it was important for us.
"It was really hard. We were going to play [Dan Atkinson] but we weren't sure whether Brit was going to make it. We had to cover Cam, Addin and Brit so we needed to go with four forwards for that reason.
"We were confident they both wanted to [play] but whether they were able to was a different story. Thankfully it all worked out."
