Fiancée of Cronulla Sharks Star Nicho Hynes Admits She Initially Brushed Off His Advances
The fiancée of Cronulla Sharks star Nicho Hynes has opened up about why she initially ignored the NRL player when he first tried to start a romance with her. Piper Wallis, 25, and Hynes, 29, became engaged in December last year after the 2022 Dally M Medallist proposed on Sydney Harbour in a romantic gesture.
Intimidated by the Spotlight
Wallis has now confessed that she was scared of Hynes' notoriety when he began messaging her to signal his interest. 'The amount of spotlight he has was a bit intimidating,' Wallis told Stellar magazine. 'So I was brushing off his messages.' She works in the city and commutes by train, and it was during these daily journeys that her perspective shifted dramatically.
A pivotal moment occurred when a large Kayo Sports billboard featuring Hynes' face appeared at her train platform. 'Every single morning for about a month, I would get off the train, see his face, and be reminded that I was being really rude to that guy,' she admitted. This constant visual reminder made her reconsider her dismissive behavior.
From Ignoring to Impressed
Hynes is no stranger to public attention, having been one of the NRL's marquee players since 2021. However, Wallis, who works as a social media content creator and make-up artist, had never experienced life under such scrutiny. 'I was very impressed when I actually spoke to him and felt even worse that I was so mean to him,' she said. 'He seemed like a nice guy and booked me in for our first date that night.'
The couple made their relationship public at the 2024 Dally M Medal ceremony, marking a significant step into the limelight together. Despite warnings from Hynes' roommate and mother about the fanfare, Wallis was still stunned by the attention. 'I thought, there's no way. But after the Dally Ms, a few stories came out and I was a bit surprised to realise people do actually care,' she reflected.
Hynes Responds to Critics Amidst Season Opener
Despite leading Cronulla to a preliminary final last year, Hynes and his halves partner Braydon Trindall are facing scrutiny from critics before the 2026 season has even begun. Hynes expressed his frustration, stating, 'People want to say we're the most under-pressure pairing, but I don't know how that's so.' He pointed out that many halves partnerships have not achieved similar success, highlighting that only the Panthers or Broncos have won a competition in the last five years.
Hynes emphasized, 'So realistically we're doing a pretty good job, and now it's just about taking it to the next level.' The Cronulla Sharks are set to open their season against the Gold Coast Titans on Saturday night, with Hynes aiming to prove his critics wrong on the field.
This personal revelation from Wallis adds a humanizing layer to one of the NRL's most popular couples, showcasing the challenges of navigating fame and romance in the public eye.
