A year in which he helped guide the Sharks into the second week of the Finals and was recognised individually with a call-up to the extended NSW Blues and Kangaroos train-on squads, has culminated in Nicho Hynes being named the Porter Gallen Medalist as the Sharks Player of the Year.
In his first year at the Cronulla Club and also as a half back in the NRL, Hynes was instrumental to the success of the Sharks in a season which saw them become a premiership contender in finishing second on the ladder at the completion of the 25 rounds.
Displaying resilience and durability to go with his undoubted skill, Hynes missed just one game in 2022, with his efforts in the number seven jersey stamping him as a superstar of the game and a player capable of driving the Sharks to further success in the years to come.
Hynes was presented with Porter Gallen Medal and Pontifex Player of the Year trophy at the Sharks annual presentation event, held at Doltone House, Sylvania, earlier tonight.
In addition to the major award, Hynes was chosen by the members as the Sharks Members Player of the Year, while also taking away the Sharks Have Heart Community award for his selfless work in engaging with and participating in a range of community initiatives.
In the other major award on the night, Briton Nikora was named the Tommy Bishop Players Player for 2022, a significant honour for the Kiwi backrower who enjoyed arguably his best season in the NRL.
Like Hynes, Nikora missed just one game during the season, with his stringing defense and the combination forged with Hynes on his inside and Jesse Ramien on his outside, a major reason for the Sharks registering a club record 18 wins throughout the year.
Nikora was also one of the five nominees for the Porter Gallen Medal, alongside Hynes, Toby Rudolf, Blayke Brailey and Cameron McInnes.
Lochie Miller, the Australian rugby sevens convert who made a seamless transition to the NRL with the Sharks in 2022, was named the Steve Rogers Rookie of the Year, ahead of Kade Dykes, Jesse Colquhoun, Kayal Iro and Tom Hazelton who would also make their NRL debuts this season.
Miller played seven NRL games during the year, scoring three tries, with his fast feet and evasive attacking ability a feature of his game.
After playing all 26 Sharks matches Blakye Brailey was the Sharks Ironman for 2022, NRL Assistant coach Daniel Holdsworth was named the Andrew Ettingshausen Clubman of the Year and Andrew Fifita for the NRL squad, Toby Boothroyd from the Jersey Flegg team, the Wellbeing and Education Excellence Award winners.
Blake Hosking scooped the pool in claiming both Jersey Flegg accolades, his outstanding season recognised with the Greg Pierce Players Player and Gavin Miller Player of the Year awards.
On a night attended by players and staff from both the NRL and Jersey Flegg squads, management, board and staff from the leagues and football clubs, as well as major sponsors and corporate partners, departing players Andrew Fifita, Aiden Tolman, Luke Metcalf and Franklin Pele were farewelled, player milestones from throughout the year were acknowledged and 2022 representative players congratulated.
See following the full list of award winners from the 2022 Porter Gallen Medal Night.
Porter-Gallen Awards Night
Porter Gallen Medal and Pontifex Player of the Year
Nicho Hynes
Porter Gallen Nominees
Nicho Hynes, Briton Nikora, Blayke Brailey, Toby Rudolf, Cameron McInnes
Tommy Bishop Players Player
Briton Nikora
Steve Rogers Rookie of the Year
Lachlan Miller
Members Player of the Year
Nicho Hynes
Sharks Have Heart Community Award
Nicho Hynes
Iron Man
Blayke Brailey
Andrew Ettingshausen Club Person of the Year
Daniel Holdsworth
Wellbeing and Education Excellence
Andrew Fifita (NRL)
Toby Boothroyd (Jersey Flegg)
Jersey Flegg - Gavin Miller Player of the Year
Blake Hosking
Jersey Flegg - Greg Piece Players Player
Blake Hosking
Departing players
Andrew Fifita, Aiden Tolman, Luke Metcalf, Franklin Pele
Representative Players
Briton Nikora, Ronaldo Mulitalo (New Zealand)
Sione Katoa, Andrew Fifita (Tonga)
Kayal Iro (Cook Islands)
Siosifa Talakai, Nicho Hynes (NSW Origin)
Milestones
Matt Moylan (150 NRL games, round 3)
Aiden Tolman (300 NRL Games, round 4)
Andrew Fifita (200 Sharks NRL games, round 12)
Cameron McInnes (150 NRL games, round 22)
Andrew Fifita (250 NRL games, Finals week 1)
