LeagueNews.co | Jason Patrick
Cronulla Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon is urging star halfback Nicho Hynes to strip things back to basics as the pressure mounts on his NSW selection prospects.
With his spot in the Blues lineup on shaky ground, Hynes is set to make his return for the Sharks on Thursday night with a clear directive from his coach to block out the distractions.
Fitzgibbon wants Hynes to channel his inner self and focus on his game amidst the scrutiny following his performance in the first State of Origin match.
There have been whispers that Hynes could lose his jersey to Mitchell Moses from Parramatta for the upcoming clash against Queensland at the iconic MCG.
However, the Sharks coach insists that handling the pressure is all part of the Origin experience and is confident that Hynes can rise above it.
Having missed the Sharks' previous game against the Broncos due to a calf injury, Hynes is now back in full swing after training hard to recover.
As the spotlight shines brighter on him to impress Blues coach Michael Maguire, Fitzgibbon's advice for Hynes is crystal clear.
"Just be yourself out there, play your game, control the flow and keep it simple," Fitzgibbon expressed ahead of the Sharks' showdown with the Dolphins at Shark Park.
"Let's see the real Nicho shine through for the Sharks and put everything else out of your mind."