Talakai flips script on Hynes after NSW Origin pain

Scott Bailey | September 8, 2023

Siosifa Talakai has revealed how he stressed to Cronulla teammate Nicho Hynes that 12 minutes in State of Origin should not define him, drawing on his own NSW disappointment.

A Blues debutant himself last year, Talakai was limited to stints of 17 and 23 minutes as bench utility in the final two games of 2022 as they surrendered the series.

The Cronulla centre was then left out of Brad Fittler’s squad for the start of this year’s series, with Hynes taking up the bench role.

Played out of position when he came onto the field at centre in game one, Hynes missed a tackle in the lead-up to a Maroons try in Adelaide and was dropped for the final two matches.

Hynes has since admitted his confidence was shot after the Origin axing, with the Sharks half conceding it was the first time his on-field game had been challenge.

For Talakai, it was easy to relate.

The pair spoke in depth last year when Talakai was going through a similar rough patch, having formed a close bond in their first year together at the Sharks.

“When he came to me, I knew straight away that I could relate, and pretty much what he was saying to me I was saying back (this time),” Talakai said.

“It was more about encouragement and not letting that one game define who he is as a person and a player.

“Look what he’s done since he’s been at the club. 

“He was the Dally M player and led us into the finals series last year, even though it didn’t go too well he still did a lot of stuff leading up to it.

“That was at the Storm as well where he was on a train and trial deal and then ended up playing fullback for a couple of games where he absolutely killed it.”

Hynes has returned to form in the run to Saturday’s elimination final against the Roosters, setting up 16 tries and scoring four in his last 10 games.

Regardless, Talakai could understand why the 27-year-old had felt like he had let people down during Origin and been affected by the series-opening loss.

“I feel like because he takes a lot of responsibility with our team, he probably felt the same in Origin,” Talakai said.

“Origin is the biggest stage – apart from grand finals and World Cups – so the pressure is always going to be there regardless of what’s going on.

“It’s all about your perception of it. With the expectation, the perception and the environment of it, I think it weighed down on him.

“Look at him now, though. He’s come back in good form again and he’s leading us around the park very well.

“We haven’t looked back since (that chat). He’s been charging forward.”