The Cronulla Sharks have suffered a major blow on the eve of finals, with star halfback Nicho Hynes set to miss his side’s elimination final against the Sydney Roosters next weekend.
Hynes was charged with Dangerous Contact – Grade 2 for a hip drop tackle on Warriors winger Marcelo Montoya in the 75th minute of Saturday night’s Round 27 clash. As a first offence, he faces a one-match suspension with an early plea, or two matches if he fights and loses at the judiciary.
The suspension rules Hynes out of the Sharks’ cut-throat final, leaving Craig Fitzgibbon’s side without their key playmaker in a do-or-die clash.
Earlier in the night, teammate Teig Wilton was also cited for a Careless High Tackle – Grade 1 on Lachlan Galvin in the 69th minute. Wilton will escape with a $1,000 fine with an early plea ($1,500 if found guilty at panel).
These charges add to a busy Round 27 judiciary sheet, which already includes Nelson Asofa-Solomona’s suspension, Jamie Humphreys’ hip drop ban, and fines for Victor Radley, Sean Keppie, and Josiah Karapani.
| Player | Date of Offence | Club | Minute | Charge / Incident | Grade | Record | Early Plea | Guilty at Panel | Misconduct On Whom |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nelson Asofa-Solomona | 4/09/2025 | Storm | 37th | High Tackle – Careless | 2 | 3rd & Subsequent Offence | 3 matches | 4 matches | Talty, Ben |
| Josiah Karapani | 4/09/2025 | Broncos | 79th | High Tackle – Careless | 1 | 1st Offence | $1,000 | $1,500 | Papenhuyzen, Ryan |
| Victor Radley | 5/09/2025 | Roosters | 24th | High Tackle – Careless | 1 | 1st Offence | $1,000 | $1,500 | Wighton, Jack |
| Jamie Humphreys | 5/09/2025 | Rabbitohs | 41st | Dangerous Contact (hip drop) | 2 | 2nd Offence | 2 matches | 3 matches | Wong, Siua |
| Sean Keppie | 5/09/2025 | Rabbitohs | 75th | High Tackle – Careless | 1 | 1st Offence | $1,000 | $1,500 | Toia, Robert |
| Teig Wilton | 6/09/2025 | Sharks | 69th | High Tackle – Careless | 1 | 1st Offence | $1,000 | $1,500 | Galvin, Lachlan |
| Nicho Hynes | 6/09/2025 | Sharks | 75th | Dangerous Contact (hip drop) | 2 | 1st Offence | 1 match | 2 matches | Montoya, Marcelo |
