- Nicho Hynes dedicates try celebration to Cameron Munster
- Cronulla halfback praised his ex-teammate after tough week
Sharks star Nicho Hynes has revealed that his post-try celebration on Friday night was dedicated to his good friend Cameron Munster, who recently lost his father, Steven.
Four days after the sudden death of his father, Munster played an inspirational role in the Maroons’ series-deciding 24-12 win in Sydney.
The new Queensland captain said he never considered sitting out the game, believing his father would have told him to return to camp and play the decider.
Hynes, who wrote ‘Steven’ on his wristband on Saturday, forged a close friendship with Munster while the pair played together in Melbourne.
Hynes revealed his post-try celebration for the first four-pointer was a tribute to Munster, performing a dance the pair used to do together while at the Storm.
‘I’ve just been thinking about him a lot,’ Hynes said afterwards.
Nicho Hynes has revealed that his try celebration on Friday night was dedicated to his good friend Cameron Munster
‘I’ve been talking to my girlfriend about it. It’s like, that could have been me. That could be anyone waking up without their dad or a parent.
‘I’m sending lots of love to his family. I just remember after games at Melbourne, seeing his old man and old lady in the sheds. Always smiling and happy.
‘It touched me a lot, big time.’
Munster sat out Melbourne’s trip to Newcastle on Saturday after returning to his family in Rockhampton following his inspirational effort in State of Origin III.
Hynes said he had watched Munster’s game-three performance with pride, after the 30-year-old took him under his wing from the moment he arrived at Melbourne in late 2018.
‘In my first pre-season there I was a nobody. I was literally there on a train-and-trial deal and he didn’t have to give me any time of day,’ Hynes said.
‘But he ended up having me at his house for a couple of weeks and whenever he wanted to go for a feed, he’d ask me to go for a feed.
‘He was just someone who was so nice and caring and wanted to help out and make me better.
The Maroons skipper’s 58-year-old father passed away four days before decider
‘I looked up to him. I’ve looked up to him ever since I met him. He’s just someone I idolise.
‘Even now, seeing the way he’s handled it and went out and performed the other night, I don’t think I’ve seen and played with a better rugby league player live.’
