Sharks star Nicho Hynes might just be the most popular player in the entire NRL - but he has divided fans after two ugly incidents marred his side's heartbreaking 30-26 loss to Manly.
The reigning Dally M medallist escaped a ban but was fined by the league's match review committee for illegally tripping Sea Eagles flyer Tolu Koula, who looked destined for the try line before Hynes brought him down.
The 27-year-old also found himself in hot water for confronting female touch judge Belinda Sharpe after she called one of his passes forward, walking up to her and holding up three fingers in her face, presumably a reference to how many she had called on him for the game.
After listening to on-field audio of the confrontation in the 63rd minute of the game, NRL officials opted not to punish the Cronulla half.
But that didn't mean he wasn't hauled over the coals by referee Peter Gough, who slammed the frustrated Sharks star.
Footy golden boy Nicho Hynes has divided fans for two ugly acts in Cronulla's loss to Manly
Hynes has escaped a ban for confronting female touch judge Belinda Sharpe during the Sharks loss
'Come here, Nicho,' the fuming Gough yelled at Hynes as he confronted Sharpe.
'Don't say another word,' he warned, before Hynes tried to walk away from the referee, which enraged him further.
'Do it again and you're going to find yourself off the field . Don't walk away from me, you don't have the right to speak to me or my team in any manner,' said Gough, which was applauded by footy legend turned commentator, Cooper Cronk.
'Well handled by the referee. They are under pressure and Nicho Hynes absolutely gave the touch judge a gob-full,' he said on the Fox Sports broadcast.
'The touch judge was right there... that doesn't give Nicho Hynes the right.'
It was a very out-of-character response by the normally placid Hynes, and fans linked his implosion and recent poor form to being controversially axed by Brad Fittler after his State of Origin debut, where he conceded a try after being put on in the very unfamiliar position of centre.
A disconsolate Nicho Hynes looks in after his nightmare State of Origin debut for NSW
The reigning Dally M medallist has been in poor form since his State of Origin axing
Some also insisted there was nothing in the tirade, and was merely a media beat-up, while others slammed the footy golden boy's actions.
'For any other player… that’s a suspension… but for darling Nicho Hynes, he’s allowed to challenge and question the integrity and decision making of an official. Rules for some and not others,' said one fan.
'If he doesn’t get a suspension for that I will be so upset since Walsh got done for the same thing,' another said, though Reece Walsh's tirade at a referee was full of expletives, unlike Hynes'.
'It’s Nicho Hynes - Freddie Fittler deliberately took his confidence - he probs should stand down for the season now - it’s over,' said a disappointed Sharks fan, who blamed Fittler for the Sharks star's woes.
'Brad Fittler has completely destroyed Nicho Hynes,' commented another supporter, with a third writing: 'Freddie Fittler has broken Nicho Hynes', combined with three angry face emojis.
Nicho Hynes should be sent off for the way he went at Belinda Sharpe then
— Nick Lonergan (@lono89) July 23, 2023I'm seeing Sharks fans blaming Brad Fittler for Nicho Hynes 's form slump. If Origin has affected him this badly then maybe he isn't as good as people think he is. FFS even Tedesco bounced back from Origin and performed for his club this weekend.
— Rewster (@Rewster7) July 23, 2023If Nicho Hynes just said what I think he did, he can book another photo shoot for anytime this week because he won’t be needed at training #NRLSharksEagles
— Sam Bush (@SamB7504) July 23, 2023Nicho Hynes’ image has been built up so much and so well over the last two years that it isn’t surprising as soon as one origin blunder took place he’s got the media and others trying to tear him down as quickly as possible
— Tom (@tomhay18) July 24, 2023You genuinely think a captain is entitled to do this?
— Ryan Nixon (@NewYorkNixon) July 24, 2023It was another tough loss for Hynes (centre) against the Sea Eagles
Hynes escaped suspension but has been fined for tripping Tolu Koula as he raced away to score
The referee incident was of course not the only moment in the game Hynes found himself in hot water for.
After reaching out with his leg to trip a flying Koula, Hynes escaped a ban or sinbin for an act many believe stopped a certain try, illegally.
Even Sharks legend Paul Gallen admitted Hynes was lucky not to be punished.
'I thought the game could've been stopped there maybe ... Koula would've been away, I think he would've scored off the back of it, he's lightning fast as we know, there was no one in front of him,' he said on Channel 9's broadcast of the game.
'Nicho will probably end up with a fine out of that one.'
With the Sharks now falling to sixth on the ladder, a huge match against the Panthers awaits Hynes and his side in Penrith next Saturday night as they look to bounce back from two disappointing losses in a row, and sew up a finals spot.
