Nicho Hynes has been dubbed the best player in rugby league by the man many good judges believe is the best player in rugby league, Cameron Munster.

“He’s the game’s best player at the moment with what he is producing and how he is playing and how much time he has got,” Munster said of Hynes. “It’s crazy to think how fast the game is, yet someone like that has so much time.

“He works so hard on his game, and he reminds me of ‘Slattsy’ [Billy Slater]: he’s always working on his game and trying to find ways to pick apart the defence. He knows what kind of person he is, what kind of player he is, and he sticks to his strengths.

“He is the best right now. I don’t want to put too much pressure on him, and I’m sure he’d try to dial that down, but the confidence and playing with that carefree attitude ... the way he’s going about it all, he’s still got a long time in the game, which is exciting for him and the Sharks. I’m so happy for him.”

It’s exciting for the Sharks – but it’s also set to prove costly.

In all likelihood, Cronulla will need to make Hynes the NRL’s next $1 million-a-year player to keep their man when his current deal expires at the end of next season.

Hynes was brilliant in his comeback game against St George Illawarra on Sunday, just as he was in his man-of-the-match performance for the Indigenous All Stars in February, his only other outing this season.

The form of the Sharks No.7 is good enough reason alone to feel confident they can get the job done against rejuvenated former Shark Shaun Johnson and his New Zealand Warriors on Sunday.