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Nicho Hynes says Cronulla will get a real picture of where they stand after their NRL clash with Melbourne, as the half expects to be targeted by old teammates.
Nicho Hynes expects to be targeted by his old Melbourne teammates as the Cronulla recruit prepares for his greatest test so far as an NRL halfback.
Hynes will play his first game at AAMI Park since last April on Saturday night, treating the match as a Melbourne farewell after COVID-19 denied him one last year.
But he is also well aware the Storm will be making a point to crash his party.
A self-confessed football nerd, Hynes is adamant his three years in the Melbourne system can offer him some advantage in the blockbuster.
But for every bit the 25-year-old knows about Melbourne's game, he accepts they know him just as well.
"I'm 100 per cent expecting the Storm to come for me," Hynes said.
"They will be sending a lot of traffic my way so I might have to wear some shoulder pads.
"I'm expecting a tough reception from fans ... if you have an opposition jersey on in a different team, you're just going to cop it.
"But it is what it is, I prepare myself to be up for the challenge."
In Hynes' last match at AAMI Park he was tearing Cronulla apart on the way to proving he was the real deal as an NRL superstar.
Come Saturday night, he is well aware the Sharks themselves can go a long way towards proving they are genuine premiership contenders in 2022.
With Hynes at the helm in attack, the Sharks have had their best start to a year with the ball since 2005.
Their 4-1 record is also their best since 2008, with a win over Parramatta marking their biggest scalp so far.
But with the Storm having won eight of their past 10 games in Melbourne, Hynes knows what awaits.
"I have been on the other end of teams travelling down to play. It's never an easy game," Hynes said.
"Melbourne have been the benchmark for so long, it would be good to go down and challenge them.
"We'll see where we're really at."
Since letting in three early tries in the opening 40 minutes against Canberra in round one, the Sharks have not lost any of the nine halves of football they have played since.
Hynes and five-eighth Matt Moylan are humming, with the two fullbacks in previous lives regularly linking up and playing both sides of the ruck.
"We just want to play (attacking) footy, that's what we go out to do," Hynes said.
"Moyza was always a great football player. He's just had an unfortunate few years with injuries.
"We knew if we could get him back to where he could be, I could help him along the way.
"We are combining really well. He's a footy head and so am I. There's a lot of improvement to come there too."