NRL: Sharks thrash Raiders despite Hynes injury scare

The Cronulla Sharks fired a warning shot on Thursday evening in the NRL Pre-Season Challenge, thrashing the Canberra Raiders 40-10 at GIO Stadium.

All eyes were on Sharks playmaker Nicho Hynes, however, who was seen icing his hamstring after he came off the field in the second half.

“Just a bit of a tight abductor,” explained Hynes, who is integral to Cronulla’s campaign this year after having an injury-riddled season in 2024.

“Think it was the plan for me to just play that long anyway.

“Glad I got through that.”

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Outside of the Hynes scare, Cronulla were imperious, with Addin Fonua-Blake making an impressive debut for the club.

The former Sea Eagles and Warriors prop scored one of the Sharks’ seven tries, crossing over early in the second half with a typically barnstorming run up the middle of the park.

Cronulla overcame a sluggish start on the smaller-than-usual field, bouncing back from 10-0 down after 12 minutes to score 40 unanswered points.

Hynes himself was first to score for the Sharks, followed by Samuel Stonestreet in the 36th minute to make it 12-10 in Cronulla’s favour at halftime.

The second 40 was one-way traffic, with Braydon Trindall, Jesse Ramien, Tuku Hau Tapuha and Chris Vea’ila adding to Fonua-Blake’s try.

It was a perfect warm-up for the Sharks, who now head to Las Vegas to take on the Penrith Panthers at Allegiant Stadium on Saturday, March 1.

NRL betting sites price them as $2.30 underdogs against the four-time defending champions, who are paying $1.62 to prevail in round one.

Cronulla sit on the fourth line of 2025 NRL Premiership betting at $11 with BetOnline, behind the Storm ($3.75), Panthers ($4.50) and Broncos ($8).

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