'Slight risk' pays off as Hynes closes in on Blues spot

BRISBANE: Sharks halfback Nicho Hynes has revealed there was "risk" involved in his decision to play in his side's Magic Round win over the Roosters.

The 27-year-old missed last weekend due to a calf injury but managed to pass a late fitness test and don the No.7 jumper in a high-scoring affair on Saturday night.

Hynes produced two try assists and nailed seven goals in the 38-30 victory in front of a packed Suncorp Stadium - but told media post-game there was a chance he was ruled out, which would have opened the door for Braydon Trindall to return.

"I was in doubt for sure," he said.

Nicho Hynes celebrates after Cronulla's Magic Round win.

"I didn't know how I was gonna pull up after last week. I didn't train earlier in the week ... I haven't trained much over the past couple of weeks ... it's pulled up fine.

"When you get a little calf strain, it's always a risk when you push it too early. The physios had to weigh up if they were gonna risk pushing me or not.

"I felt like the team needed me tonight, the club needed me to pull through so we could put in a good performance and I feel like we did."

The fan-favourite is continuing to push for a spot in the NSW Blues lineup for the State of Origin and inched closer with a clinical display against one of the NRL's heavyweight clubs in the Roosters.

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Head coach Craig Fitzgibbon also conceded the club gambled with the playmaker, which could have dashed his hopes of an Origin spot if the move backfired.

"He's okay, he got through," Fitzgibbon said.

Cronulla cemented themselves at the top of the NRL ladder.

"He did really well, he put the Sharks [first] with a really selfless attitude to play. It was a slight risk, but the medical guys did a good job with him.

"He didn't get much training don, but he backed himself in."

Cronulla's past seven days have seen them topple both the Roosters and Storm, but the challenge doesn't get any easier in round 12 against the Panthers.

But according to Hynes, the outside noise about their perceived inability to match it with the big guns in the competition hasn't worried the Sharks.

"The funny thing is, we've had two big wins but the Raiders were in the top-eight, Cowboys were in the top-eight, Bulldogs have been in the top-eight," he said.

"We've had big wins all year, so that narrative is going to a place where you want it to go and we're not worried about it."