NRL Finals: Jahrome Hughes insists he can be the halfback that takes Storm to another premiership

No-one has better planned for the retirement of legends than Melbourne. After all, they’ve had plenty of practice. Some replacements have worked out faultlessly while others have been entirely unexpected.

CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA - JULY 11: Jahrome Hughes of the Storm kicks during the round nine NRL match between the Canberra Raiders and the Melbourne Storm at GIO Stadium on July 11, 2020 in Canberra, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

Jahrome Hughes has heard it all before - clubs don’t win premierships without great halfbacks.

And for all his natural talent, the knock on Hughes is that the makeshift No.7 lacks the classical, game-management ability of an Andrew Johns or Cooper Cronk to pilot the Storm to a premiership.

There was a time when Hughes, who just three years ago feared a back injury could end his NRL career, doubted himself whether he was the No.7 to take Melbourne to the promised land.

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Jahrome Hughes has been a revelation for the Storm this season.

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But on the eve of Saturday night’s semi-final against the Eels at Suncorp Stadium, Hughes says he now has an iron-clad belief he can emulate Storm halfback legend Cronk and win a premiership ring.

“One hundred per cent the doubts are gone,” Hughes said.

“If I didn’t think that (he could steer Melbourne to a premiership) I shouldn’t be here.

“That is big for me, just having the confidence in myself to be that guy.

“I do have confidence in myself to do it.”

It was never Hughes nor Melbourne’s plan for him to be thriving in the No.7 jumper.

When Cronk quit the club to join the Roosters in 2018, the Storm activated their succession plan, handing the reins to Brodie Croft, who played halfback in Melbourne’s grand-final loss to the Bondi club that season.

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But the following year, there was a dramatic shake-up. Storm coach Craig Bellamy axed Croft on the eve of the 2019 finals. Influential Melbourne figures had decided Croft was not the man to deliver another premiership.

Suddenly, Hughes was the future in the No.7 hotseat.

Hughes has become a crucial member of Melbourne’s playmaking spine.

With his zip, footwork and evasion, the New Zealand-born flyer is a natural fullback, having made his NRL debut for the Titans in the backfield in 2013.

But at Melbourne, he has played 26 of his 55 games at first receiver, complementing the brilliance of Cameron Munster and the guile of Cameron Smith with his lethal ability to straighten the attack.

Hughes has since added other weapons to his arsenal, chiefly a handy kicking game which helped drive the Storm to second place after the NRL regular season.

“I just needed to find that confidence to do it myself and be that voice in the team, like most halfbacks are,” he said.

“I did a lot of work in the pre-season. Changing positions you have got to kick more and we have done things with a few AFL teams. There is a kicking coach with the Richmond Tigers called ‘Fly’ (Craig McRae) who has helped a lot.

“We did a session with him once a week in the pre-season. We aren’t able to do that now but he sends us clips of how to do things.

“I have tried to be that guy to organise most things and run when I want to. I am still trying to find that balance of when to be selfish and when to find that voice as well.”

As an 18-year-old at the Titans, Hughes underwent back surgery after suffering bulging discs from heavy squats in the gym.

It almost ended his career - and he has been injury-prone - but the Storm’s medical team have given Hughes confidence in his body again.

Jahrome Hughes has many strings to his bow.

“I have had two back surgeries and they were both from lifting weights in the gym doing back squats,” he said.

“Once that second one came along I talked to the gym guys here and fully brushed back squats.

“That has been the best thing for my back. It has been massive for me.

“After two back surgeries you think you are no chance of coming back and being successful in this tough game. There is other stuff I am doing in the gym and the physios have been awesome and I haven’t had any problems since.”

Originally published as NRL Finals: Jahrome Hughes insists he can be the halfback that takes Storm to another premiership