Sports

The Untold Story: The Mum of Nicho Hynes: Prison to Pride

Published

4 days ago

October 10, 2025

Julie Hynes is a name that will not be known by the average rugby league fan, but her story is one of the best redemption stories in Australian sport. Julie, the mother of Cronulla Sharks star and 2022 Dally M Medal winner Nicho Hynes, has been a story of a prisoner turned to pride and has formed one of the most inspiring stories in the history of the NRL.

Whatever became of the Mum of Nicho Hynes?

The misfortunes of Julie Hynes started after a heart-rending accident that would never leave the family on the same path ever again. Her partner was involved in an accident where he died in a truck, which made her plunge into drug addiction. When she had lost him, she simply went downhill, as Nicho explained with a frank interview on how this heart-shattering loss led to a cycle of incarceration that would become his childhood.

Nicho had his mother spending most of her days in and out of prison since he was about five, until the age of twelve. I do not really recall Mum being at home. It is likely that I would see her only during a few weeks, and then she would come indoors again, the NRL star said. The sight of police officers putting his mother into the back of a paddy wagon is forever impressed in his mind.

Why did the Mum of Nicho Hynes go to Jail?

The latest and most important legal issues faced by Julie Hynes concerned a heroin supply charge that led to the death of one of her family friends. In this case, Luke Murphy, 29, died after an overdose of heroin in her living room covered with white powder in 2021. The 50-year-old was later accused of being in possession of 180.7 grams of heroin.

Evidence that she had been engaged in drug processing operations was found during her trial when a red hydraulic press with her fingerprints was found in her bathroom. In refusing the evidence at first, Julie later admitted to being aware of the hydraulic press and ignoring the fact that drugs were being pressed in her bathroom. You stick your head in the sand and allow it to happen? Her lawyer asked. “Yes,” she replied.

The Road to Redemption

Julie Hynes was convicted and put into custody in February 2023. But a fantastic twist in her tale came in May 2023 when Judge David Wilson ruled to release her on very strict terms, including the requirement that she reside in the granny flat of Nichofor at least two years.

The NRL star left an incredible promise to the judge, informing Judge Wilson: “\She is going to remain with me forever now. This was not mere legal oratory; this was a son, determined at all costs, to restore his mother to health and bring his family back together.

How Prison Transformed Julie Hynes.

Ironically, her imprisonment could have given Julie the clue to the heritage of her family. At work, she was imprisoned; she mingled with Aboriginal senior women who taught her about her Indigenous history. This cultural awakening would be of great importance to the self-identity development of Nicho.

The only thing worthwhile that her visit to prison produced was that she had been introduced to some Elder Aboriginal ladies, explained Nicho. These relationships allowed Julie to learn more about her father, Nicho’s grandfather, who was the representative of the Indigenous branch of their family. She started to draw and show her son their cultural heritage.

The Effect of this on the Childhood of Nicho.

The experience of having a mother who was an inmate had its own challenges for young Nicho. The hardest question he ever had to answer as a boy was a simple question, but one that broke his heart, and that was: Nicho, where is your mum? To avoid the harsh reality, he would invent tales of her being busy taking care of Nan in Maitland.

Nicho hoped and managed to view the world in a new light, where he lived with his father and stepmother in the Central Coast despite these hardships. After Julie had been out of the house longer during and after Year 7, she was referred to as the “cool mum” – the place that all the boys wanted to hang out. Mum was a cool mum, and she would certainly have made up the time lost, said Nicho.

Dally M Moment That Moved Australia.

Their relationship was the most publicly recognised when Nicho gave his historic acceptance of the 2022 Dally M Medal. The emotional halfback was celebrating the woman who formed his strength with Julie beside him as his date to the ceremony.

I can not thank her enough as she means the world to me. Without my dad, I would not be standing where I am now either; he kept me together,” Hynes said in his acceptance speech. This was further enhanced by the fact that Julie had experienced some legal problems recently, thus demonstrating how the family was keen on forging ahead.

Discovery Aboriginal Tourism.

The unintentional consequences of his imprisonment saw Julie make one of the most crucial findings in the life of Nicho: his Indigenous background. She was able to hear Aboriginal women in prison discussing their Wiradjuri ties. This is what would come to give Nicho a later opportunity of becoming a proud Indigenous rugby league leader.

Nicho did not awaken to cultural awakening. Some of his classmates also doubted his authenticity, as he had fair skin, when he first attempted to engage in Indigenous activities at school after his mother told him about their heritage. Nicho did not properly identify himself as an Indigenous person until his time at the Melbourne Storm, when he was reminded by teammate Joshua Addo-Carr that if you were black, you were black, and you had to represent, no matter what.

Present and Future Collaboratively.

Julie has been staying in the granny flat of the Nicho as one of the conditions of her conditional release, which happened in May 2023. The arrangement is not just some legal conformity – it is a family that decides to heal rather than to resent.

Being very glad to be past with this now, I am able to take my mum home and take care of her, and place her into a community that takes care of me and will take care of her, Nicho said outside of court. This promise shows the principles that have not only turned him into a great footballer, but also a mental health and family resilience role model.

The Bigger Picture

The story of Julie Hynes intersects with the larger problems of Indigenous communities, such as the effects of the stolen generation, substance abuse, and the cycle of incarceration. Her life shows the impact of trauma down the generations, but it can be interrupted by love, support, and connection to the culture.

The way that Nicho manages his family situation has inspired young Indigenous Australians struggling with the same issues. There are lots of young Indigenous kids who are likely to be living the same life as parents in prison, or not, and they are struggling. I hope that one kid will be inspired by me and play my best, I explained hopefully.

The case of the Hynes family reveals that there is always a chance of redemption, no matter how bad the situation is. Drug supply charges to Dally M ceremonies, prison cells to granny flats, the family ties that Julie and Nicho Hynes have demonstrated are the ones that can survive and grow stronger despite a difficult situation.

Their story is still inspiring Australian viewers as it shows that, beyond the success story in sport, there are usually silent stories behind it, which are full of perseverance, forgiveness, and unconditional love that can save lives amidst the most difficult times in life.

Sports

Peter Badel: Sports Journalist in charge and NRL Authority, Brisbane

Published

1 month ago

September 2, 2025

Australian Post

Peter Badel is one of the most influential sports journalists in Australia, who is a Chief Rugby League Writer in The Courier-Mail and a boxing commentator on Fox Sports Main Event. Badel, who has over 20 years of experience in the game that encompasses the sporting landscape of Queensland, has come to be attached to leaking major stories in the NRL and offering knowledgeable commentary on the most significant developments in the rugby league game.

Professional History and Work

Badel has become the senior sports writer at The Courier-Mail and has covered rugby league with special expertise in the Brisbane Broncos, State of Origin, and NRL expansion. His media involvement involves more than mere traditional reporting and also appears regularly on television and as multimedia sports analysis in the vast News Corp network.

His work experience also extends to boxing commentary, where he is a Fox Sports Main Event commentator, which brings his expertise to major boxing matches such as international title bouts involving Australian boxers such as Tim Tszyu, Brock Jarvis, and George Kambosos Jr.

Breaking news and Exclusive Reporting

Badel has developed a reputation for breaking the monotony of stories that influence the rugby league discourse. Major exclusives of his recent work have been:

Selwyn Cobbo Transfer Saga: Making the announcement that the Queensland Origin star had “left the Broncos and would not be playing in Brisbane in 2026 “, with 14 NRL clubs registering their interest in the much-in-demand player.

Kevin Walters Coaching Review: Reporting on the external investigation of coach Kevin Walters of 30 Brisbane Broncos players being questioned on the performance of the coach as part of an overall review of the club.

NRL Expansion Coverage: This is the initiative of providing exclusive coverage of the news of NRL expansion, such as the news of the NRL expansion moving forward in 2023, after the code had reported substantial financial profits.

Social Media Impact and Online Presence

Having more than 320,000 searches on the name of Peter Badel on Twitter, his social network platform, the @badel_cmail, is one of the main sources of news on the breaking rugby league news. His Twitter bio includes the personal character that helps him establish a connection with readers outside professional reporting, as it talks of him being a 2.45 marathoner and a broken father of four.

His impact digitally reaches various channels, including Instagram content in which he offers backstage access to big sporting events, like exclusive tours of the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, and international expansion of the NRL.

Community Connection and Fans

The strategy of sports journalism by Badel focuses on direct engagement with the fans via social media and real-time reporting. He reports on the scandalous time, e.g., recording angry fans throwing jerseys in the Brisbane Broncos’ difficult times.

His emotional reporting of the sport appeals to fans of the Queensland rugby league who depend on his reports as a source of breaking news as well as an analytical criterion of the performances of their teams.

Boxing Commentary Expertise

In addition to rugby league, Badel has been credited with being a learned commentator in the sport of boxing, appearing on Fox Sports Main Event numerous times to commentate on numerous major fight cards. In boxing, he has been involved in coverage of:

Australian Boxing Scene: This will give an analysis of fighters such as Tim Tszyu, Nikita Tszyu, Jai Opetaia, and George Kambosos Jr, with special attention to their international campaigns and local growth.

International Fight Coverage: Reporting on big fights in the world like Keith Thurman vs Brock Jarvis and doing post-fight analysis that involves not only technical skill, but storytelling skill.

The style of his boxing commentary provides a balance of technical analysis and the presentation accessible to viewers with less advanced understanding of the sport, but higher in depth than would be best suited to the less experienced fan of the sport.

News Corp Multimedia/Integration Strategy

Badel, as one of the sports team in News Corp Australia, works with other employees such as Brent Read to deliver end-to-end coverage of large events such as State of Origin and NRL Grand Finals. This is a teamwork strategy that would cover key sporting events from multiple angles.

He is present in multimedia and has:

On Fox Sports shows.
Rugby league analysis podcasts.
Video materials on the digital sides of The Courier-Mail.
Social media coverage- Live social media coverage is provided during large-scale events.

Brisbane Broncos Expertise

The reporting of the Brisbane Broncos by Badel gives the Queensland locals an inside access to one of the most popular clubs in the NRL. Coverage encompasses the contract negotiations by players, coaching scandals, and performance news.

The association with the club gives him special access to narratives that influence the mass discourse regarding the direction of the team, player development, and team management. This field of expertise qualifies him to be one of the main sources of news about the Broncos in the sports media in Australia.

Professional Certification and accolades in the industry

Badel is a contributor to a publication that has been known to have been instrumental in assisting Queensland Treasurer Cameron Dick to identify that mental health services have been boosted by $425 million in funding annually by the publication that he works with, The Courier-Mail. This shows the further social effect of quality journalism, not just in sports reporting.

His journalism career is full of journalistic integrity, yet it involves creating sources and relationships that provide access to big stories. Such a trade-off between entertainment and serious reporting is a token of modern sports journalism.

Marathon Running and Personal Life

The discipline and the endurance that are used to define his professional approach are evident in the personal success that Badel thrives as a marathoner with a 2.45. This sporting background offers real insight into the endurance factors of professional sport and athlete training.

The fact that he calls himself a broke father of four gives a relatable humour to his professional image, as the reader can relate to the image of the journalist who does not take himself too seriously, yet is capable of delivering professional excellence.

Future Impact and Legacy

With rugby league still on the dynamic stage of international growth, amendments to the game, and commercialisation, the role of Badel as chief rugby league game writer at the Queensland leading newspaper guarantees his future relevance to the sporting debate. The blend of old skills in journalism and new skills in mastery of the digital platform puts him in the right place in the changing landscape of sports media.

His two-sport background in rugby league and boxing also lends him a rare versatility in the Australian sporting journalism, where specialisation usually curtails career prospects. This has the advantage of providing a broad coverage of sports that meets the interests of a wide range of audience in addition to being a disciplinary expert in both sports.

Peter Badel is a contemporary sports journalist: digitally literate, multimedia ready, and far too close to both professional sources and fan bases. His work on the coverage of rugby league in Australia and commentary on boxing events still informs the coverage and reception of the major sporting stories by Queensland audiences.

Sports

Australia vs England: A rivalry that defines sport

Published

2 months ago

August 9, 2025

Australian Post

The first thought that comes to mind when we think of Australians and the English in sport is rivalry. No matter the stage—cricket, rugby, or football—matches between them are fiercely contested. In the sports arena, whether it’s cricket, rugby, or football, no team can compete with either Australians or English people. Both teams are legendary, equally admired by their fans. For Australians, facing England has always carried an extra edge—an opportunity to prove national pride against the old colonial power.

The history behind the rivalry

Colonial ties: The rivalry between England and Australia started a long time ago and is still growing. Their clash began in the 19th century and flourished on the cricket field.
National identity: Australia’s victories against England are often associated with its significant battle for cultural independence.
Long-standing traditions: From cricket to the battles fought at Twickenham or Sydney, these contests have always thrived through sports, continuing for centuries.

What is the rugby union game?

Rugby Union (Rugby) is a sport that people of all ages, genders, sizes, and backgrounds may play. All Australians enjoy different formats of the game, including non-contact Sevens (7s) and Fifteen-a-side (XVs). It organizes both elite and social competitions and offers several health and social advantages.

The history of Rugby Union includes the rivalry between the Wallabies and England.

The rivalry between England and Australia in rugby began in 1909, when the Wallabies defeated England 9-3. The two sides fought frequently over the years, and the victories alternated. Australia’s 1948 victory at Twickenham, England’s narrow victory in 1958, and Australia’s dominance in the 1960s and 1970s are all significant games. The 1980s were full of drama, with Australia’s Grand Slam tour and World Cup victory in 1987 being two of the most significant occurrences.. The rivalry got even strongerThe Australians did something amazing when they won the World Cup final in 1991. However, England came back strong in 1995 and won with a last-minute drop goal.

Here are a few highlights of the rivalry between England and Australia.

In rugby union, Australia and England have another intense rivalry.

World Cup: In the 1991 final, Australia’s Wallabies beat England, but England got their revenge in 2003 when Jonny Wilkinson’s drop goal in Sydney gave them their first World Cup championship.
Classic contests: Test matches between the Wallabies and England are notoriously dramatic, with crowded stadiums in Sydney, Brisbane, and London demonstrating the intensity.
Modern era: While both sides have encountered hardships recently, fans continue to look forward to their matchups.

Rugby league: Kangaroos v England

The Australian Kangaroos and England will play the Rugby League Ashes in October and November 2025, the first three-Test series between the bitter rivals in 22 years. Matches will be played at Wembley Stadium (October 25th), the new Everton Stadium (November 1st), and AMT Headingley in Leeds (November 8th), with kickoffs at 2:30 PM GMT and live broadcast on BBC TV.

England has always been a formidable power in rugby league, despite Australia’s generally dominant position.

International dominance: The Kangaroos have always been the best at international play, winning most of the games.
Key competitions: Australia and England regularly play in World Cups and Four Nations tournaments.
Rising competition: Recently, England has closed the gap, making matches more fierce and attractive for international spectators.

Football: The Socceroos and England

The Socceroos (Australia’s men’s national football team) and the Three Lions (England’s men’s national football team) have played each other seven times. England has won four times, drawn twice, and Australia has won once. Their last game was on October 14, 2023, at Wembley Stadium, where England won 1-0 thanks to Ollie Watkins’ goal.

Soccer may not have the same level of competition, but games are still interesting.

Historic friendlies: The Socceroos are still happy about their 3-1 win against England at Upton Park in 2003.
Global stage: England has a better reputation in football, but every game gives Australia a chance to show how far it has come on the world stage.

Why Australians love beating England

Australians particularly want to beat England since they have been rivals for a long time, even before Australia became a country. Australians used sports to display their national pride and get back at the British for taking over their country. Australia’s success in sports like cricket and rugby, where they often beat England, makes the rivalry stronger. A lot of Australians also like seeing the “over the top” emotions and media pressure that comes after England loses.

Cultural pride: means breaking free from colonial ties.
Respect for sports: England has long been seen as a standard in many sports; thus, success is important.
Friendly competition: Australians love the thrill and bragging rights that come with beating the British, whether it’s in bars or at work.

After Australia’s success at The Oval in 1882, The Ashes were created.

Key moments in Australia vs England history

The Ashes was established in 1882, following Australia’s triumph at The Oval.
1991: The Wallabies defeat England in the Rugby World Cup final at Twickenham.
2003: England wins the World Cup final in Sydney, breaking Australia’s hearts.
2003 (football): The Socceroos stun England with a 3-1 win.
The 2023 Ashes were a hard-fought series that showcased the two nations’ enduring competitiveness.

Conclusion

For Australians, games against England will always be special. It’s not just about winning trophies in this rivalry; it’s also about history, identity, and national pride. Every Australia vs. England encounter, whether it’s the Ashes in cricket, the rugby finals, or even a casual football game, has a level of excitement that makes people all throughout the country feel something.