Hynes embraces Origin silence as boost for Sharks

Nicho Hynes has admitted he is happy not to be in the State of Origin selection conversation.

Not because he doesn't want to play for NSW, but because he can finally power through the middle of an NRL season without distraction.

The Blues' halfback for Origin I last year, Hynes has not been mentioned in recent debates as Mitch Moses and Jarome Luai battle to partner Nathan Cleary.

"I love it," Hynes said.

"It's just so good not to be spoken about being in contention.

"It's a bittersweet pill because you want to be spoken about ... but that's been too much of a focus for me over the last two years here."

Hynes rates his form this season as a "six-out-of-10", where 10 is impossible perfection.

But his situation reflects that of Cronulla, with the fifth-placed Sharks a genuine chance to have no Origin representatives.

"I'm not worrying about external stuff. I'm not worrying about my (representative) goals," Hynes said.

"I couldn't care less if I didn't go anywhere near Origin this year. All I want is for the Sharks to be in contention to win a premiership.

"The rest will come at a later date.

"I don't want people to think that I'm s***ting on playing for NSW, I would love to, but right now I just don't care.

"All I care about is the (game against the) Melbourne Storm (on Saturday) - or more to the point, training this week and being the best version of myself for the Sharks."

This week's clash holds extra significance for Hynes, with Cronulla marking it as 'mental fitness round'.

Hynes has become a go-to person for mental health awareness, having repeatedly spoken about his own journey.

It is a role that now comes naturally to him.

"Without giving myself a rap, I just have a high care factor," Hynes said.

"I really care about things and people in my life. When I went through some struggles, I would've loved to have had someone like me in my corner.

"I still had a couple of people, but I was too scared to speak about it.

"Nine people die every single day from mental health (issues) or suicide (in Australia). Those numbers are just too much.

"If I can use my platform and my profile to drive and advocate for speaking your struggles, then why not?

"I don't think I'd be doing people justice if I didn't."

Hynes says handling the pressure of big moments in football should not be conflated with real-life mental health issues.

"If you don't have your mental space in a good capacity off the field then you won't be able to perform on the field ... You're not superman," Hynes said.

"But game pressure and life pressure are completely different.

"I was in Bali riding a scooter home after getting dinner at midnight and there was a young kid who was asking us for money, she was about 10 years old.

"That's real-life pressure. They don't even know when they're going to eat next.

"Game pressure and life pressure are so different. I'm not waiting to kick a field goal thinking about mental health."

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