Sleep-deprived Hynes’ relief as ‘common sense’ prevails
Scott Bailey |
Relieved Cronulla halfback Nicho Hynes says common sense prevailed when the NRL took the unprecedented step of downgrading his hip-drop charge, freeing him to play finals.
A little over 24 hours after being told he was set to be banned from playing in the Sharks’ elimination final against the Sydney Roosters, Hynes was offered a reprieve on Monday in the form of a $1000 fine.
Hynes initially copped a grade-two sanction from the match review when a preliminary medical report indicated Canterbury winger Marcelo Montoya had suffered a syndesmosis tear in Saturday night’s tackle.
But Canterbury received good news on the injury front on Monday, with the winger a chance to play again in the finals with the injury only a low-grade sprain.
That prompted the NRL to change their charge to a grade one, just as Cronulla were weighing up whether to contest it at the judiciary and risk having Hynes sidelined for a second match if he lost.
“At the end of the day common sense prevailed and we’re through,” Hynes said at Sharks training on Monday.
“I’m very relieved. It was a hard 24 hours, not much sleep happened last night. But very happy and excited.”
Hynes was shocked when told on Sunday morning he was facing a ban, after not even realising he had been accused of a hip-drop when placed on report late in the win over Canterbury.
The 29-year-old said he initially thought Billy Burns may have erred in the tackle, when Montoya initially stayed down before leaving the field shortly after.
“I thought that when Bill came over to help the tackle he might have hit him in the head and that’s why he was down,” Hynes said.
“I had no idea what was happening, it didn’t feel like a hip-drop tackle or dangerous contact.
“I have been involved in tackles before where you are close to one, and you go I better hold off because it might be a hip-drop.
“I just felt like I was making a cover tackle around the legs and obviously the momentum of me maybe swung me around a little bit.
“After the game I didn’t think I had anything to worry about … I’m just very relieved and excited to play now.”
Montoya was spotted on crutches at Bulldogs training on Monday, and while he won’t face Melbourne on Friday the winger is still a chance to play again this season.
Hynes’ clearance came on a day good news for Cronulla, with Braydon Trindall hitting the training field and certain to come back from his rolled ankle for the Roosters clash.
Cronulla had faced a difficult task to have Hynes’ ban overturned, had the downgrade not come from the NRL.
Of the 249 charges handed down over the first 26 rounds of the season, only 12 were challenged.
Three players were found not guilty, one had their charge downgraded to avoid a ban and eight others were found guilty by the panel.
AAP
