Rugby league Immortal Andrew Johns says the return of Nicho Hynes has immediately turned their fortunes around after a patchy start to the season without the defending Dally M Medalist.

Hynes came back from a calf injury last week and ripped St George Illawarra to pieces – leading the Sharks to a 40-8 win at Kogarah.

“What makes him so good?” Johns wrote for The Sydney Morning Herald.

“I think his maturity is a large part of why he’s been excellent on the field in the last couple of years. He knows what plays suit him, but more importantly he also knows what plays suit the players around him.

“He plays to the strengths of his edge back-rower Briton Nikora, he knows what lines Jesse Ramien likes to run, he can see when Sione Katoa is drifting into space.”