Back to touch footy days for Blues halves

Westpac NSW Blues halfback Nicho Hynes says he’s confident his calf will recover in time for the Ampol State of Origin Game One at Sydney’s Accor Stadium next week as he looks to rekindle his touch football partnership with teammate Jarome Luai.

The pair played together as teenagers and will be reunited as the halves for the Blues next Wednesday (5 June).

“Jarome and I played touch footy for NSW back in the day, when we were in high school,” Hynes told media at NSWRL’s Centre of Excellence today.

“We’ve known each other for a long time and it’s good to rekindle that relationship. We haven’t combined on the field for a long time.

“I look forward to that so we can keep building on that relationship … he’s a great person. He’s got plenty of energy and I’ve got a fair bit of energy too. So we’ll take that onto the field.

“We actually beat Queensland in the grand final that touch game. Hopefully we can do the same thing.”

Hynes first has to overcome some tightness in his calf muscle, which he says is feeling better each day.

“All the tech boots, the tight calf-skins, doing the physio, all the ice – every sort of recovery I can, I'm doing.”

He knows many will think he wants some Origin redemption after playing just 12 minutes off the interchange bench in the opening match at Adelaide Oval.

“You can use all those sorts of words but right now I just want to repair the best I possibly can for this team and don’t leave any stones unturned,” Hynes said.

“Look I don’t have any scars about that (Game One 2023). I haven’t even thought about it.

“Right now I’m just going to get my calf right and train with the boys.”