When it comes to getting bang for your buck, would you rather fork out $1 million a season for Nicho Hynes, or less than half of that for Kyle Flanagan?
It’s a legitimate debate ahead of Thursday night’s showdown between the Sharks and the Dragons, when the game’s two most polarising playmakers go head-to-head.
In Hynes’s case, the former Dally M Medal winner has gone from the game’s golden boy to the NRL’s most heavily scrutinised and criticised player in the last two seasons.
It doesn’t matter that the Sharks are still sitting fifth on the ladder going into round 15, albeit on the back of two very disappointing defeats to the Warriors (40-10) and Roosters (42-16).
The issue as always for Hynes is that he is not judged solely on his performances, but how his performances stack up against his marquee salary.
Yet Flanagan is more often than not the scapegoat at the Dragons regardless of what he is being paid.
In fairness to Flanagan, it’s not only because he wears the No 7 jumper, but the fact he’s the coach’s son.
Even though Flanagan has been one of the team’s most consistent performers this season, every time the Dragons lose he is the first player with a target on his head.
I put my hand up here because I wrote after last round’s loss to the Dolphins that the performance of young Isaiya Katoa showed exactly what the Dragons are missing.
But on what we’ve seen so far this year, the majority would probably still think Flanagan is giving better value for money than what the Sharks are getting out of Hynes.
Flanagan is said to be on about $400,000.
Around the NRL the salaries of playmakers vary significantly.
Up the top of the food chain is Mitchell Moses on a reported $1.3 million ahead of Nathan Cleary and Jarome Luai both on $1.2m, Daly Cherry-Evans is on $1m, while Jahrome Hughes is on 900k.
Meanwhile, there are still some serious bargains out there.
For instance, Dally M leader Luke Metcalf is only on around $500,000, Jamal Fogarty on $600,000, Jamie Humphreys is only on $150,000, Hugo Savala $180,000, and Katoa $275,000.
Going through the stats of Hynes and Flanagan this season, Hynes does have the advantage.
From 13 games he has one try but 14 try assists, 17 linebreak assists, two linebreaks and 16 tackle busts.
From 12 games Flanagan has four tries, five try assists, one linebreak assist and eight tackle busts.
But, again, Flanagan is on less than half of Hynes’ salary.
There is also no question the Sharks have a far superior roster for Hynes to work with.
It’s not as if Hynes has been terrible this season.
But he’s still nowhere near the player he was back in 2022 when he claimed the NRL’s most prestigious individual honour.
And there is no hiding from the fact his form that season also set the benchmark of what the expectations would be going forward, given he was rewarded with a whopping $7 million deal through until the end of 2029.
As for Flanagan, he busts his gut every week but there is still no denying the fact that he is limited in his ability at this level.
Don’t forget the Dragons have been smashed by injuries and go into Thursday night’s game minus Jaydn Su’A, Dylan Egan and Christian Tuipulotu, while Val Holmes is on Origin duties.
On paper you wouldn’t give the Dragons much hope of taking home the two competition points in this one.
But given the upsets we’ve seen so far this season, nothing would shock you.
If Flanagan can somehow inspire a win against the club his dad led to a premiership back in 2016, you can imagine who’ll wear the result for the Sharks.
Although if the Sharks walk away with the points, you won’t have to look hard for the Dragons’ fall guy.
NRL’S BIGGEST PEST JUST PUT A BULLSEYE ON HIMSELF
Did the hunter just become the hunted?
In the wake of Reed Mahoney’s emotional dressing room blow up, the game’s biggest pest just put a bullseye on himself.
Given how Mahoney has treated rivals in the past, you’d expect he won’t get too much sympathy from the opposition, starting when he runs out against South Sydney this Sunday.
While the rest of the team was celebrating Lachlan Galvin’s arrival on Monday, Mahoney couldn’t hide his frustrations after getting hooked.
And while everyone from within the club continue to deny Galvin’s arrival has caused any unrest, Mahoney’s actions were the ultimate proof not everyone is happy, despite what his teammates are saying publicly.
Where to next for Mahoney is the obvious question.
Already this week there has been talk not just about where Mahoney could end up next year, but if in fact he’ll even see out the season.
No doubt Mahoney has a right to be filthy given he was one of the first big name signings that kicked off Canterbury’s new era.
But in saying that there has never been a more important time for him to keep a lid on his emotions, and his discipline, because you can guarantee rivals will be out to bait him.
WALKER’S CHANCE TO PUT DCE IN HIS PLACE
With Daly Cherry-Evans expected to end up at the Roosters next season, Sam Walker returns to the NRL against the Knights on Saturday with a massive point to prove.
Most expect if DCE does announce a move to the Chooks he won’t be going there to play second fiddle to young Walker.
Yet there is no disputing Walker is also an out-and-out No 7, and he’ll want to be in control of the team as well.
This is where Walker needs to show he has the game management to match his freakish skills, because the Roosters’ inability to close out games this year has been their Achilles heel.
Of their seven defeats so far the Roosters have led at the 60 minute mark in five of those games.
Yet in the final 20 minutes only the Knights have scored less points, while the Roosters have also conceded the most points.
If they are going to make a charge for this year’s premiership, Walker must lead the way.
And if he does that, he’d be entitled to question why the Roosters also need DCE.
