NRL

Sharks halfback Nicho Hynes is closing in on a piece of rugby league history, and he knows it.

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The Cronulla star is on an active streak of 32 consecutive successful goals placing him level with Nathan Cleary for the second-best streak in NRL history.

He’s now just three shy of Hazem El Masri’s all-time record of 35 goals set for the Bulldogs back in 2003, and based on the Sharks’ current point-scoring trajectory Hynes could set a new mark this Sunday during NRL Round 23.

The 30-year-old’s sharp-shooting run began in the Round 18 win over the Broncos at Suncorp Stadium, a night that actually began with two early misses.

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Since then he hasn’t erred, headlined by a stunning 11-from-11 display in the 66-0 drubbing of the Dolphins.

Last weekend he went 6-from-6 in the win over South Sydney to push his streak to 32.

Next up comes arch rivals St George Illawarra on Sunday afternoon at Kogarah with the record firmly in sight.

Speaking to Fox League after last weekend’s Rabbitohs win, Hynes admitted the milestone is impossible to ignore.

“To be honest, I am (thinking about it),” he said, revealing the numbers even follow him to the kicking tee.

“Each time I’m lined up I’m like, ‘all right, here we go, 27, 28…’ It’s just nice to be kicking them over.”

The attention follows him off the field too.

“You walk down the street and everybody’s talking about it, so it’s there… bit it’s nice to have.”

Hynes says much of his consistency comes down to work with veteran Kiwi goal-kicking guru Daryl Halligan.

“(Daryl) has taught me to trust my process and my routine and stick at it,” he said.

“When you do have a couple of misses just brush it off, move on.”

Not that he’s needed to worry about that lately, of course.

Four more successful kicks against the Dragons would see Hynes overtake El Masri outright.

If it happens the Bulldogs legend will likely be among the first to salute him.

One of the NRL’s greatest ever point scorers, El Masri has shown before he can lose a record with grace, once hilariously responding to Cameron Smith breaking his career points tally in 2019 with a good-natured video congratulating Smith… before mock-smashing his TV in jest.

The Sharks face the Dragons St George Venues Jubilee Stadium on Sunday afternoon in NRL Round 23. Kickoff at 4:05pm.

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