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Hynes moves to back after Sharks take bans

3 minute read

Nicho Hynes will move to fullback for Cronulla after Will Kennedy and Jesse Ramien both accepted their NRL bans for high tackles.

NICHO HYNES.
NICHO HYNES. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

Cronulla have broken up their all-conquering halves combination and moved Nicho Hynes to fullback to cover for the bans of Will Kennedy and Jesse Ramien.

With the Sharks blitzing the competition in the first nine rounds to sit inside the top four, coach Craig Fitzgibbon was forced to separate Hynes and Matt Moylan on Tuesday.

Hynes will now wear the No.1 jersey with Kennedy suspended for the next two weeks, while Braydon Trindall comes from reserve grade and into the halves against Canberra.

Fitzgibbon would normally have had Connor Tracey as an option at the back, but he is now playing in the centres to cover for Ramien.

Both Kennedy and Ramien accepted their two and three-match bans on Tuesday, after the former was sent off and latter sin-binned in their win over the Warriors.

The Sharks have rugby sevens convert Lachlan Miller lurking in the reserves, and he would be the other option to go to fullback if Fitzgibbon wanted Hynes in his halves.

The shake-up is one of several across the NRL for Magic Round.

Melbourne have been forced into moving Nick Meaney to fullback to cover Ryan Papenhuyzen's injuries, with Dean Ieremia taking the vacant wing spot and Marion Seve granted an exemption to come in at centre.

Gold Coast have welcomed Jayden Campbell back at fullback for their clash with an unchanged St George Illawarra, pushing AJ Brimson to five-eighth among four other changes.

The desperately out-of-form Newcastle have Adam Clune back in the halves for their clash with Canterbury, but Dane Gagai (cheekbone), Jake Clifford (personal) and Tyson Frizell (illness) are all still out.

Brisbane have got Payne Haas and Kurt Capewell back to face Manly on Friday night, with the Sea Eagles also boosted by the return of Haumole Olakau'atu from sickness.

Tohu Harris is finally back from his serious knee injury suffered last July as the Warriors take on a South Sydney side reeling from the loss of Cameron Murray to a neck and shoulder injury.

Jai Arrow will play lock in his place, with Cody Walker to take the captaincy after days of questions over his on and off-field temper.

Coach Jason Demetriou has also opted to go without rookie centre Isaiah Tass, bringing in Jaxson Paulo.

Elsewhere, the Sydney Roosters will play Connor Watson at hooker on his return from a throat injury, with Sam Verrills facing another stint on the sideline with a shoulder problem.

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