Nicho Hynes steps out with new love interest just days after it was announced that the footy superstar is officially off the market

Nicho Hynes has been spotted enjoying a brunch date with new love interest Piper Wallis after it was revealed that the Cronulla star is officially off the market.

Last week reports emerged that the 28-year-old is seeing advertising specialist Piper Wallis, with the 23-year-old spotted at Sharks games alongside Hynes’s mother, Julie. 

The star halfback is notoriously protective of his private life, but was spotted strolling around Sydney with Wallis and friends on Sunday afternoon.

Wallis has recently returned from a trip to Europe and posted a picture of Hynes tucking into his meal on her Instagram story.

Hynes has been single for much of his playing career, although he has previously been linked with beauty entrepreneur Morgan Belier and television presenter Marlee Silva.

The only women that Hynes has shown off in his life are his mother and his niece Bobbie. 

Hynes’s early career was hit by mental obstacles and he has spoken openly about his depression as a young up and coming star as he struggled to process the tragic death of his stepfather as a child and his mother’s legal issues which saw her in and out of jail during his childhood. 

‘I would never wanna put anyone through or put myself through it again,’ he said.

Nicho Hynes has been spotted with his new love interest Piper Wallis

The Cronulla Sharks superstar wore a casual white t shirt with cargo green shorts on Sunday

The pair were all smiles as they went for brunch with friends in Sydney

Hynes, who was born in Gosford, said he didn’t leave the Central Coast until he was about 20 years old.

‘My mum and my dad split up when I was very young, I think I was about two years old,’ he said.

His mother began dating Brendan, a truck driver, and the family moved to Maitland – before tragedy struck.

Brendan fell asleep behind the wheel and died.

‘Obviously mum was pretty distraught and I had to go back and live with the father and my step-mum,’ Hynes said.

‘My mum was in and out of jail from when I was about five to 12 years old, pretty much my whole primary school life I had to live without a mum.’

Hynes said he was ‘very fortunate’ to have someone to live with as he ‘easily could have gone down the wrong path’.

‘I wouldn’t be sitting here today,’ he said during the interview three years ago.

Hynes and halves partner Braydon Trindall helped send Cronulla through to the preliminary final following the Sharks’ victory over the Cowboys this weekend.

The Sharks halfback admitted that Friday’s win feels as if the monkey is off both his and Cronulla’s backs, after failing to land a win in either of the 2022 or 2023 finals.

Cleary also knows how it feels to have his performances in big games questioned.

Wallis is a 23-year-old advertising specialist and has regularly attended Sharks games

She has recently returned from a European trip and was back with Hynes on Sunday

While he is now a two-time Clive Churchill Medallist and the best half in the NRL, Cleary had his State of Origin output questioned along with his ability to lay on tries in big games.

Something Hynes can relate to.

‘My ego is not too big that I can’t ask my peers for help,’ Hynes said. 

‘It’s just what you’ve got to do in life, in this sort of game and this sort of arena.

‘When you go through challenges, you try and get the help of someone who’s been through something similar. 

‘Early in his career he went through a few challenges. I’d be silly not to try and build a relationship with someone like that. 

‘Maybe I’ll message this week to see if he has any advice.’