Cronulla Sharks playmaker Nicho Hynes has revealed the role Nathan Cleary played in helping him snap the Sharks’ finals hoodoo and how he plans to use it against the Panthers star in next week's preliminary final.
Hynes and Cleary will faceoff this week in the second preliminary final and the Sharks playmaker credits Cleary friend for providing the mental strategies to handle the intense scrutiny he has navigated this season.
Hynes says his ego is not too big that he can not ask his peers for help as it is just what we have got to do in life and in this sort of game.
Hynes and Cleary have developed a close friendship during their NRL careers, engaging in a number of intense battles on the field and forming a close bond off it.
Hynes reached out to the Panthers star after watching Cleary orchestrate a stunning 18-point comeback in last year's grand final.
The Panthers playmaker was happy to share his secrets, dropping by the halfback's house during the off-season and it is a move he may come to regret if Hynes is able to pull off a stunning upset this weekend.
Hynes says this weekend it is going to be business as usual and he will want to try and take Cleary and the Panthers down and Cleary is going to try and do the exact same thing.
He says regardless of the result, they will shake hands, share a beer together and whoever's going on to the next game, they will wish them luck.
The Sharks will take on the Panthers at 9.50pm this Saturday.
In another preliminary final, the Storm will take on the Roosters at 9.50pm this Friday.
[Source: NRL News]
