‘Everyone is quick to blame Nicho’: Ronaldo Mulitalo hits back at Hynes’ critics as Sharks look to end finals drought

A frustrated Ronaldo Mulitalo has hit back at suggestions that Nicho Hynes should have been dropped for their semi-final clash against the Cowboys, with the winger declaring “he has to be in the squad for us to even go close”.

Speaking on SEN on Monday, Panthers legend Greg Alexander said he would have picked Braydon Trindall and Daniel Atkinson in the halves for Friday’s clash after Hynes had a quiet game in Melbourne and failed to find touch from a penalty.

Hynes was made aware of the comments on Tuesday and brushed them off, but they didn’t sit well with his teammates who have staunchly defended the halfback who has attracted criticism for not delivering in big games.

It comes just two years after Hynes won the Dally M Medal, with the halfback playing well enough to start this year’s State of Origin series in the No.7 jersey.

“Everyone is going to have their opinion on certain things, but Brandy isn’t in our four walls,” Mulitalo told the NewsWire.

“His opinion is his opinion and everyone’s allowed to have their own opinion.

“We’re a better team with Nicho in it, and that’s all that matters. We all have his back.

“Everyone is quick to blame Nicho, but I didn’t catch four balls, I jammed (in defence) when I shouldn’t have and they scored on me, so I don’t know how that’s Nicho’s fault.

“I’ve got to take some responsibility and so does everyone else for that game – it’s not on one person.

“I don’t know if Nicho even cares or if he’s listening (to the criticism). He just wants to get his job done.

“The club and all the boys love him to death and know he has to be in the squad for us to even go close.”

Hynes can silence some of his critics with a big game against the Cowboys as the Sharks look to snap a seven-game losing streak in finals.

Their most recent win was back in 2018 when they beat Penrith 21-20, with Jesse Ramien the only survivor from that squad, although Valentine Holmes was fullback that night and will run out for North Queensland this time around.

“It’s there. Everyone has got a job to do. The media points it out, but it’s our job to focus on what it means to us,” Mulitalo replied when asked about the record.

“For us, it’s about playing a game of footy. I don’t see it as that deep.

“We’ve lost to field goals and things like that, so it’s about parking that and moving forward. That noise is always going to be there if you win or not, but we need to get on with it.

“It’s a privilege to be in this position and feel this pressure. We get another crack at it, so I don’t see it as a negative – I see it as a great opportunity to start something bigger.”

Friday’s game will feature awesome battles across the park, including Mulitalo going up against Kyle Feldt in what could be his last game in the NRL.

Feldt has scored a career-high 23 tries this season – including 12 in his past seven games – while Mulitalo has 17 tries and is keen to make a statement after he was kept quiet by the Storm.

“I pride myself on changing games, so a bit of it is on me putting myself in situations to change it in a positive manner,” he said.

“All those little things I’m disappointed about.

“Everyone thinks wingers just stand there and do nothing, but for me, I want to be different. I want to change a game and break it open when I can. I feel like I didn’t bring that on the weekend.”