Brad Fittler has used 47 players in his five-year tenure in charge of the NSW State of Origin side.
But the Blues coach can’t quite remember feeling the same level of clamour that has willed Cronulla playmaker Nicho Hynes into his 17-man squad.
“The media play tricks on you like that, they pick someone who is topical,” Fittler told AAP ahead of Wednesday’s series opener at Adelaide Oval.
“But what Nicho has been doing is, he has been backing it up every week.
“He’s done it every round now for two years so at some stage you go well (you have to pick him).”
Hynes is expected to come off the bench in his Origin debut, the latest step in a rapid rise which has been heavily influenced by Maroons coach Billy Slater.
Hynes, who won last year’s Dally M award in his maiden season as a halfback at the Sharks, began his NRL career as a would-be fullback at Melbourne.
“He always sat down with Billy and Craig (Bellamy) and said how he wanted to be better,” said former Melbourne teammate and NSW winger Josh Addo-Carr.
“That’s why he’s where he is.”
Hynes was one of a long list of candidates identified as a potential replacement for Slater when he retired in 2018 but has found his truly calling as a running halfback under Craig Fitzgibbon at the Sharks.
But those sessions in Melbourne with Slater have left an indelible mark on Hynes’ vision, one which he hopes can help give the Blues a 1-0 advantage in the series.
“Billy is a great coach and he knows every minor detail of the game and how to get players up,” Hynes told AAP.
“I can’t speak highly enough of Billy … people will ask why I’m talking him up so much when I’m meant to hate him. But I love Billy.
“But I’ll do anything to beat him right now and it’s the same for him, he’s the most competitive person I’ve ever met.
“He’s a massive reason why I’ve got to where I am in my career. Hopefully we can do something to surprise him because he did so well coaching against us last year.”
Hynes has left no stone unturned in his pursuit to get to this level and as well as crediting Slater and Fitzgibbon, he pinpoints a decision to hire a mindset coach for his calm on-field approach.
It’s why the 26-year-old, whose NRL career is only 69 games old, isn’t fussed about the prospect of having to see game-time out of position at hooker on Wednesday if it means an instant impact in his Origin debut.
“I played a bit when I was younger but I feel my footy smarts are enough to know how to play the role and do a job if needed,” Hynes said.
“I’ll get the shoulder pads on and even though I’m a bit taller and the back will be sore, if I get thrown there I’ll be prepared.”
© AAP 2023
