Burning desire: Can Hynes end Storm's finals dominance?

Nicho Hynes and Braydon Trindall have formed a strong bond over shared meals, including burnt steak and chicken wings. Their off-field connection is yielding results as they prepare to face the Storm, a team with a formidable finals history over the last decade.

Initially, the season started with questions surrounding who would take the lead as Cronulla's primary playmaker. However, the duo has now achieved a balance that has propelled the Sharks to the preliminaries against the Storm at AAMI Park this Friday night.

Both players began their professional careers in Melbourne. Trindall was part of the Storm's Under 20s in 2017, while Hynes was part of the team that won the premiership in 2020, although he did not play in the grand final.

Hynes left the Storm to step out from under Cameron Munster's influence and is now focused on guiding the Sharks to their first grand final since their victory against Melbourne in 2016.

Since that championship, the Storm has made it to four grand finals, winning two, and has participated in eight preliminary finals out of the last nine seasons, with Munster being instrumental in their achievements.

Munster, who led Queensland to victory in this year's Origin series, is expected to team up with 2024 Dally M Medallist Jahrome Hughes at halfback for the game.