League icon Andrew Johns has put the pressure on Sharks star Nicho Hynes to turn up in big games after a dazzling display against the lowly Wests Tigers.
Hynes was at his destructive best against the Tigers, racking up a try, three try assists and four goals in the Sharks’ 36-12 win at CommBank Stadium on Thursday.
The win put the Sharks equal on points with the Panthers in top spot, but Johns wanted to see both Hynes and his side do it against a big team, with the Sharks having beaten just one top-eight opponent so far this season.
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The eighth Immortal pointed to upcoming fixtures against the Panthers and Rabbitohs as two opportunities for the Sharks and Hynes to prove their credentials.
”I want to see Nicho do it in a big game, own a big game, because I haven’t seen it consistently,” he said on Nine’s NRL coverage.
“Last year in the semis they got beaten in the first week by the Cowboys and Souths put 38 on them.
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“The big test for Nicho, we know the talent is there, is the Panthers away and the Souths away.
“We’ll know if they’re premiership contenders on those two games, but also Nicho, if he’s that truly elite player, because for me, he’s showing great signs as a club player, but he hasn’t elevated himself to that really elite halfback (status).
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“I think we can really judge it after round 22 and 23.”
The Sharks ran in seven tries against a much-improved Tigers side who showed some spirit after their 74-0 drubbing at the hands of the Cowboys last weekend.
Sione Katoa led the way with a hat-trick, while Siosifa Talakai scored a double, with Jesse Ramien also hitting the scoreboard alongside Hynes.
Cronulla scored the first two tries of the match before tries to Tommy Talau and Shawn Blore drew the Tigers level heading into the half-time interval.
The Sharks face a stiff task in round 20 when they head to New Zealand to take on the Warriors, while the Tigers will travel to Newcastle to take on the Knights.
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