Queensland captain Daly Cherry-Evans hopes battling Blues halfback Nicho Hynes doesn’t become an Origin scapegoat as Mitchell Moses stakes his claim for a NSW recall. Hynes’ second Origin outing played out in similar fashion to a lamentable debut last year when he was exposed defending out of position, with Joseph Suaalii’s send-off making the Sharks No.7 a right-edge target in Queensland’s 38-10 triumph on Wednesday night.
The 27-year-old’s kicking and game management – albeit with NSW reduced to 12 men – is also under the microscope as Michael Maguire bids to keep the series alive at the MCG on June 26. Cherry-Evans was dubbed man of the match for his own sparkling effort – highlighted by a long break and chipped try assist for Xavier Coates – but said he felt for his opposite number following a difficult night at the office. The Maroons skipper mentored Hynes during their time together in Kangaroos camp last year , to the point they were described as “inseparable” by Australian staff, with Cherry-Evans seeking Hynes out after full-time at Accor Stadium.
“Nicho was extremely competitive and he worked so hard out there,” Cherry-Evans told this masthead. Daly Cherry-Evans and Nicho Hynes after fulltime in Origin I. Credit: Channel Nine “He took his opportunities with the ball, and he obviously got put in some really unfamiliar positions as well as a defender and that’s not easy.
“I’m a big fan of Nicho and I hope to see him back there doing h.
