Why Craig Fitzgibbon is backing under-fire Sharks star Nicho Hynes to become a big game player

As many footy fans continue to question the temperament of Nicho Hynes, Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon has no doubt his halfback is a big-game player.

It comes after Hynes missed a simple field goal attempt for Cronulla on Friday night that would have won his side the game against the Bulldogs.

Rival half Matt Burton then showed Hynes how it was done, nailing a clutch one-pointer from almost 40 metres for Cameron Ciraldo’s team moments later.

Hynes, 28, has also endured a testing month of footy mentally.

The former Dally M winner was dropped from the NSW Blues Origin side after game one – and then missed a sideline conversion against the Dolphins which would have sent the game into golden point.

Fitzgibbon is still backing his playmaker to bounce back and own big future moments.

‘It [disappointment] is going to shape him,’ he said.

‘He’s going to have to go through it. It’s part of the responsibility for him and he’s accepting of it far better than he was in the past.

It comes after Hynes missed a simple field goal attempt for Cronulla on Friday night that would have won his side the game against the Bulldogs

‘He’s been stung before and he’s carried his divots a bit, but I feel in the past couple of weeks he has acknowledged it.

‘It’ll sting – of course it’s going to sting – but I feel like he’s ready to keep going after the moments. 

‘He didn’t shy away from it and put himself in positions, but he’s got to ice it.’

In a classy response, man of the moment Burton said couldn’t help but feel sorry for Hynes, who he got to know well through their recent time together in Origin camp.

‘He had the opportunity to ice it, but that’s only going to make him better. I’ve been through the same thing and it only makes you better,’ he said.

‘He’s a class player and I have no doubt he’ll bounce back and be better for it.’

After Friday’s impressive 15-14 victory at Accor Stadium, the Bulldogs now find themselves in fifth spot on the NRL ladder – leaving their fans daring to dream about semi-final football following a number of lean years at Belmore.