The Cronulla Sharks will be without halfback Nicho Hynes for Friday night’s clash with the Manly Sea Eagles after he suffered a minor calf strain at training earlier this week. Hynes underwent scans following the incident, which confirmed the injury, and the club says further testing will determine how long he is expected to be sidelined. The setback is a blow for the Sharks, with Hynes having played in all 10 matches so far this season after appearing in every one of the club’s 27 games in 2025.
The Sharks have also confirmed that winger Sione Katoa remains unavailable because of an ankle injury. However, the club is hopeful Katoa will be in contention to return in round 14, depending on his recovery progress over the coming week.
There is better news for Cronulla’s representative players, with Origin trio Blayke Brailey, Addin Fonua-Blake and Briton Nikora expected to be named in the side to face Manly on Friday night. Their final availability will be determined after Wednesday night’s State of Origin match, which will shape the Sharks’ team selection ahead of the round’s NRL fixture.
Hynes’ injury comes at a key point in the Sharks’ season, as the club looks to maintain momentum during a busy stretch of the competition. His absence will force a reshuffle in the halves and place added responsibility on the team’s other playmakers as they prepare for a challenging matchup against the Sea Eagles.
Katoa’s continued absence also affects Cronulla’s backline depth, though the anticipated round 14 return offers some optimism for the weeks ahead. The club will continue monitoring his ankle issue as part of its weekly medical update.
The Sharks’ latest injury report comes as part of a broader update on player availability heading into the weekend. With several squad members carrying different concerns, team selection will remain closely watched in the lead-up to Friday’s game.
The medical update was presented in partnership with Pilot, an Australian men’s healthcare startup focused on telehealth services. Since launching in February 2019, Pilot says its platform has been used by more than 100,000 Australians. The company provides online access to healthcare support for men across areas including erectile dysfunction, weight loss, sexual health and mental health, aiming to make care easier to access and reduce stigma around these issues.
