Brisbane need to be wary of buying Nicho Hynes from Melbourne given the track record of players who've left the Storm, Broncos legend Darren Lockyer says.
Hynes has become one of the NRL's hottest off-contract players and is currently in talks to either join Brisbane or remain with the Storm, where superstars Ryan Papenhuyzen and Cameron Munster are blocking him from being a regular starting player.
Hynes, who grew up playing five-eighth before becoming a fullback, looks the goods in Craig Bellamy's premiership-winning team.
How he might look elsewhere is less certain. Few players – Greg Inglis being the obvious exception – have replicated their form for Melbourne at other clubs. Brisbane signed halfback Brodie Croft from the Storm before last season and he has failed to fire.
"I think it's always a little bit of a risk buying someone from the Melbourne Storm," Lockyer, a Broncos director, said on Wide World of Sports' QLDER.
"They've been coached by Craig and Craig gets the best out of every individual. So if you're buying someone from the Melbourne Storm, sometimes they go to another club and it's very rarely that they do as well as they did [at the Storm] at that new club.
"There's no doubt he (Hynes) has got some talent. And I think being in the Storm system, he's learnt how to be disciplined, so there's some good things to like about him."
Inaugural Broncos captain and rugby league Immortal Wally Lewis is a Hynes fan, having first spotted him playing on the wing with the Storm's Sunshine Coast feeder team.
"It's been good to watch the way that he's developed and started to play strong each and every week. I think he has an outstanding future in the game," Lewis said on QLDER.
Lockyer, who mastered both fullback and five-eighth during his stellar career for Brisbane, said that Hynes looked best suited at No.1.
"I'm just speaking from a commentator's perspective (not as a club director) – I think he's a good fullback," Lockyer said.
"I'm not saying he would be a bad five-eighth but I just think [he suits No.1]. He reads the game well and what I like about his skill set is he can pass and he can kick.
"I think that's important in an NRL team. If you want to be one of the good ones, I think having a pass and a kick out the back is important."
The Broncos will try to rebuild their team around premiership-winning halfback Adam Reynolds next season, after his arrival from South Sydney. Incumbent hooker Jake Turpin remains well regarded and Hynes would be a strong addition at No.1.
Tom Dearden is headed to the Cowboys, while Croft and Anthony Milford are both fighting for their futures at Brisbane. Veteran stars Albert Kelly and Karmichael Hunt are in the mix at No.6 this season. Gun centre Kotoni Staggs, just re-signed by the Broncos on a four-year deal, has been touted as Brisbane's long-term five-eighth. Tyson Gamble has impressed with his enthusiasm at No.7.
"I think Adam Reynolds makes a huge difference because he's in the most key position on the field at halfback," Lockyer said.
"He's got experience, he's got a great kicking game, he knows how to manage a game. I think regardless of who's six, nine and one, ideally you'd get some good players to support him but I think Reynolds makes a huge difference just off his own name being there.
"We were disappointed to lose Reece Walsh but that happened and we had to move on. Obviously disappointed to lose Xavier [Coates]. But to get Kotoni re-signed, to get Jordan Riki done, Brendan Piakura, who isn't far away from a debut, he's going to be a good kid; so to get those guys done and then throw Adam in there, I think it just puts a bit of stability back in the place and I think with Adam coming, it allows you to show the future of the team and the club. It looks brighter with Adam coming."
Lewis added: "I'm really looking forward to Reynolds, just to see how he will improve the talents and skills of the players around him."
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