They might be nearly 1000 kilometers apart nowadays, but nothing has broken the bond between Aaron Booth and Nicho Hynes.
Initially teammates when starting out with the Mackay Cutters, the pair lived together at the Melbourne Storm and even though they are now both in different states chasing their rugby league dream, that magical bond of having each others’ backs still hasn’t been lost.
Especially when the Cronulla halfback went through some tough times… his best mate Boothy was there to help him through it and saved his life.
It’s why the playmaker now wants to repay the favor anyway he can, after a devastating knee injury crippled the 26-year-old hooker in Friday’s clash against his former club.
Dedicating his Round 21 match-winning performance to the Titans rake, Hynes wore the initials AB on his wrist against the Dragons on Saturday night and plans to play the rest of the season for his old teammate and best friend.
“I’ll try and dedicate the rest of this year to him. He’s my best mate and he pretty much saved my life,” he told Fox League after the match.
“He’s had a terrible run with injuries and it just breaks my heart to see.
“He’s worked so hard to get back to where he is each time to play NRL and unfortunately just had no luck with injuries.
“I love him to death and I can’t wait to see him.”
While the extent of Booth’s injury is still yet to be fully determined given its severity, one thing that is clear is that it will likely keep the crafty hooker out of the game for a fair while.
An emotional Justin Holbrook confirmed that to be the case after the initial assessment on Friday night, gutted for his No. 9, with the Titans coach seeing first hand the hard work and dedication he’s put in to get to where he is today.
“I feel for Boothy. He’s fought really hard to get his shot this year and it’s going to be really nasty for him. I hope he’s ok,” Holbrook said in his post-match press conference.
“He’s done everything he could do to it unfortunately.”
In good hands with Gold Coast doctors spending the weekend alongside the Titans No. 9, the wider rugby league community has also rallied behind him to show their support.
The Titans will provide a further update to Booth’s injury when it comes to hand.