Sharks mull NRL plans for dynamic Hynes, Trindall duo

Nicho Hynes can only envision a lethal partnership with Braydon Trindall as Cronulla set their sights on NRL finals revenge against Penrith.

Inching closer to their Las Vegas season opener against the reigning premiers, all eyes will be on how Hynes and breakout star Trindall configure in the Sharks halves.

Trindall shook off his status as second fiddle to Hynes when his scintillating performance launched Cronulla to a semi-final victory over North Queensland last year.

The five-eight had scored twice and set up a try to see off the Sharks' seven-game finals drought and give coach Craig Fitzgibbon much to think about.

So impressed were they with the emerging talent, the club rewarded Trindall with a three-year contract extension until the end of the 2028 season.

Trindall's post-season form may have placed his halves partner under the spotlight, but Hynes remains confident of his role in the Sharks squad.

"We probably play a unique game style where we don't take control, we just go with the flow and play," Hynes said on Friday.

"'Tricky' is a great kicker of the ball. He has some game style that he probably does better than me, and I might have some that's better than him.

"I could only see us building our combination even better.

"We'll discuss that more over the next few weeks, come up with a plan and I guess you'll see that plan in round one."

The Sharks will fly to the Nevada desert having moved on from the heartache of their disastrous 26-6 preliminary final loss to the Panthers.

Bolstered by the addition of highly-rated prop Addin Fonua-Blake, Hynes insists the opening-round clash will simply be a finals rematch, not a repeat.

"I don't know about unfinished business, but we're going to have to play them at some stage," Hynes said.

"It's nice to get them in the first game and see if we can take down the premiers.

"It's on everyone's to-do list at every NRL club.

"We just know what we're going to do now and that's focus on what we have to do every single day to be a better version of ourselves.

"All the past has been forgotten about."