Boom or bust: Hynes says critics aren't right on halves

Former Origin teammates Nicho Hynes and Nathan Cleary have both endured criticism in Blues colours. (Bianca De Marchi/AAP PHOTOS)

Nicho Hynes has hit out at armchair critics of NRL halves, sympathising with Nathan Cleary in the fallout from NSW's State of Origin series loss.

Cleary rebounded from the Blues' series loss with a starring role for Penrith over Parramatta on Sunday, after conceding he was yet to own an Origin series for NSW.