Cronulla coach Craig Fitzgibbon has lauded the way Nicho Hynes handled a week of scrutiny, suggesting most other players could not have responded in the impressive way the Sharks star did.
Hynes silenced at least some of his critics, playing his hand nicely to help lead the Sharks to a 26-18 semifinal win over North Queensland on Friday night.
Hynes's halves partner Braydon Trindall was the star of the show, having a hand in all four of the Sharks' tries and taking on the bulk of the kicking.
But what was equally striking was the way in which Hynes did not attempt to overplay his hand, after a week of questions over his ability to perform in big games.
The No.7 finished with fewer touches than Trindall, but kept the ball alive in the lead-up to one try, put a bomb up before another and helped set up a Sione Katoa line break in the second half.
The win marked Hynes's first as a halfback in finals football, as well as the Sharks' first victory in a finals match from seven attempts since 2018.
"We would try to block all [the Hynes criticism] out, but it was impossible," Fitzgibbon said.
"The phones were going off everywhere you go. How he dealt with it, walked in and then just didn't shy away from anything at all this week.
"I've not seen too many to be able to deal with that and just turn up and play like that.
"That's why we believe in him. He's a developing player who's got some elite skills and is getting more control."
With the Sharks usually frustrated by the scrutiny on Hynes throughout this season, Fitzgibbon cheekily shone a light on the No.7 when asked in the post-match press conference about Trindall's performance.
"Yeah, he had the highlight moments. Are we going to talk about his halves partner [Hynes]? I thought that were pretty good too," Fitzgibbon quipped.
"I thought the balance of the combination with him and Nicho worked really well. They just didn't get in each other's road, they used each other really, really well.
"Sometimes on-ball, off-ball, who was kicking. Tricky did the lion's share of kicking tonight."
Fitzgibbon insisted the Sharks' losing run in finals had not become an issue in recent weeks, given he believes the bulk of the squad have taken steps forward each year.
Braydon Trindall was the star of Cronulla's semifinal win over North Queensland. (Getty Images: Jason McCawley)
But he was happy to play the underdog card ahead of next Saturday's preliminary final against three-time defending premiers Penrith.
"I wouldn't imagine anyone thinks we're going to win," Fitzgibbon said.
"And that's fair enough. Look at their record. They're playing for plenty at the moment. They'd want to finish that off before some players leave.
"We understand what's coming, but we're also excited for the opportunity to take that on."
"I wanted to take a bit of pressure off Nicho [Hynes], I thought I did that tonight," Trindall added on ABC Sport.
"He plays well off the back, that's his best asset, his running game."
AAP/ABC
Relive the action as it unfolded on the live blog.
That is where we will leave tonight's blog.
The Cronulla Sharks are through to the preliminary finals after defeating the North Queensland Cowboys.
The Sharks will face Penrith next Saturday.
The Cowboys have their season end now.
ABC Sport will be back tomorrow for the second semifinal of the weekend between the Sydney Roosters and Manly Sea Eagles.
We hope you join us then.
Goodnight.
North Queensland never gave up — but a 24-point deficit at half-time always looked like an insurmountable task.
Cowboy hooker Reece Robson spoke to ABC Sport's John Gibbs at full-time.
“Quality side like that, you can’t give them too much of a head start… especially in these games, they’re too fast, and too hard to catch back up.”
Bradyon Trindall was outstanding tonight.
It was a man-of-the-match performance in this blogger's view.
The Cronulla five-eighth joins ABC Sport.
“I wanted to take a bit of pressure off Nicho [Hynes], I thought I did that tonight," he says.
"He plays well off the back, that's his best asset, his running game.”
After his first NRL finals win, Cronulla's hooker Blayke Brailey joined ABC Sport's John Gibbs.
He praised his team for their first half performance but felt there were learnings to take from their second half.
"The first half was great. That was our blueprint,' he said.
"The second half we were a bit shell-shocked."
The Cronulla Sharks are into a preliminary final, breaking a streak of seven straight finals losses.
They have defeated the North Queensland Cowboys by eight points at the Sydney Football Stadium.
The Sharks held a 24-0 lead at half-time, but the Cowboys threatened a comeback when they got the game back to 24-12, and then 26-18 with 10 minutes to play.
But the mountain was too tall to climb.
The Sharks will face the Penrith Panthers next week.
Valentine Holmes is being carried off the field — in what will be his final game as a Cowboy.
We reported that Holmes was hobbling after his second try in the 70th minute.
Well, his calf is gone now.
Holmes was running downfield, chasing a kick, and fell to the ground like a sniper had taken him out.
There was not a player within 10 metres of him.
It looks like he has popped his calf. A very sad end to Holmes's night.
Valentine Holmes has his second try, after Reuben Cotter produced a one-on-one steal.
That play from Cotter was in the Sharks' half of the field.
It gave the Cowboys a full set on the Sharks' line.
They needed to score and they did through Valentine Holmes.
The Cowboys' centre is hobbling, meaning Scott Drinkwater took the conversion.
The Cowboys trail by eight points with 10 minutes to play.
Cronulla have been awarded a penalty in front of the posts after Cowboys fullback Scott Drinkwater kicked a goal-line drop-out on the full.
That is a penalty. Not making the 10 metres is no longer a penalty (as of this year). I think they need to revisit this rule. Surely either both are a penalty or a restart. But not one or the other.
But for this year, out on the full is a penalty and Cronulla has a 14-point lead.
Bad news for Cowboys' winger Kyle Feldt.
He has strained his calf and will not be back tonight.
Feldt is going to the English Super League at the end of this season.
Reuben Cotter has scored for the Cowboys and the deficit is back to 12 points.
Cronulla winger Sione Katoa dropped a high kick, which was picked up by Tom Dearden who then passed to Cotter who scored.
There is life in the Cowboys.
North Queensland winger Kyle Feldt has come from the field.
He is going to the English Super League at the end of the season.
ABC Sport sideline eye John Gibbs fears Feldt has a leg injury.
The Sharks have been awarded another try — this time for Royce Hunt.
But the bunker has correctly found a small knock-on from Sharks winger Ronaldo Mulitalo, who tapped a ball back which led to what Cronulla thought was their fifth try.
Regardless of the result, the Cowboys back three looks lost when it comes to defending the high kicks.
It has directly cost them two tries, while another led to a drop-out which preceded a try.
Cronulla winger Sione Katoa has been awarded a try, but the bunker has taken it away.
Katoa is wrestling four Cowboys, and he has a slight bobble before he grounds the ball.
A massive sigh of relief for Cowboys fans.
North Queensland are the first to score in the second half, through centre Valentine Holmes.
The Cowboys marched down the field with their first set of six of the second half.
They men from Townsville elect to run on the final tackle.
Tom Dearden fires a pass to Holmes who steps past Jesse Raimen, then Will Kennedy, and scores.
Sharks lead 24-6.
Cowboys being killed by the offload. How can they get a handle on that? Be stronger in the tackle?
- Offloaded
The second half begins at the Sydney Football Stadium.
The Sharks hold a 24-0 lead.
The Cowboys are struggling to contain Cronulla's offloads. How do they stop this? Probably trying to get the Cronulla ball carriers to the ground. Easier said than done.
The Cowboys are running to the left of your screen.
Oh dear! Cowboys doing everything right to lose this.
- Drew
Hello Drew.
That was a bad haf for North Queensland.
On the bright side, it cannot get much worse than that.
It will take something special to bring this match back to a contest.
They must be the next to score.
Not necessarily the ones I wanted but, I guess, fins up!
- DDS
Hello DDS.
I suppose you can draw similarities between Redcliffe and Cronulla.
Both are near water and both have a footy team with a fin.
Thanks for joining the ABC Sport live blog.
