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Jarome Luai’s act of class to Jahrome Hughes after Storm star’s shoulder injury

If Jahrome Hughes wants any advice on how to survive the rest of the season with a busted shoulder, Jarome Luai is the man to turn to, with the Tigers star extending a classy offer to the fallen Storm halfback.

Jarome is there if Jahrome needs him.

If Jahrome Hughes wants any advice on how to survive the rest of the season with a busted shoulder, Jarome Luai is only a phone call away.

Luai is happy to help out as well.

“I haven’t spoken to him yet, but I’ve got time for Jahrome,’ Luai said.

“He’s a great dude. I haven’t played footy with him, but I’m a big fan of what he does and how he plays his game.

“So if he needs some advice bro, hit me up.”

Jarome Luai has extended a hand to the injured Jahrome Luai. Picture: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images
Jarome Luai has extended a hand to the injured Jahrome Luai. Picture: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images

Luai played the final series two years ago with a shoulder injury, having dislocated it against Parramatta in the penultimate week of the regular season.

He sat out of month and returned for the preliminary final on his way to winning one of his four premierships with the Panthers.

“Even then, I knew it wasn’t 100 per cent, but I think it’s more so the mental barrier you got to break (through),” Luai said.

“I got a lot of confidence out of beating Melbourne on my return in the prelim, and that gave me the confidence I needed to go in the grand final.

“Even then, you know, it didn’t hold up the whole game. So there’s always that risk of future injury. But I think it just all comes down to how bad do you want (it).

“You know, Melbourne’s in a in a box seat to compete for a title. So his circumstance is probably similar to what I was.”

Jahrome Hughes is in doubt for the remainder of the season. Picture: NRL Photos/Gregg Porteous
Jahrome Hughes is in doubt for the remainder of the season. Picture: NRL Photos/Gregg Porteous

Hughes dislocated his shoulder a week ago, sending shockwaves through the high-flying Storm. There was good news through when the scans were taken after they revealed that there was no bone damage, heightening hopes that Hughes could be back for the finals series.

Hughes himself is intent on making it back on the field to help the club’s premiership tilt, although he concedes there is risks associated with his return.

Then again, Luai and Cleary have both done it so there is no reason to suggest Hughes can’t follow suit.

“They ended up coming back and being successful,” Hughes said.

“So hopefully I can do something similar.”

It's a funny game. Art by Boo Bailey
It's a funny game. Art by Boo Bailey

SHARKS ON THE MOVE

Cronulla prop Braden Hamlin-Uele has been given permission to talk with rival clubs with the Sharks considering revamping their roster as they look to balance their playing squad.

Hamlin-Uele might not be alone with Cronulla also open to Siosifa Talakai potentially moving on at the end of this season.

Talakai and Hamlin-Uele have 12 months left on their deals but the Sharks are unlikely to offer either a deal beyond next season.

It has left Hamlin-Uele potentially on the move despite just re-signing with the Sharks last year. Hamlin-Uele has come across the radar of several clubs with the prospect of moving on as soon as the end of this year.

The 30-year-old has been a mainstay since his first full season at the club in 2019. Before that he had played one first grade game at the Cowboys in 2017 and one for Cronulla the following year.

He has also played one Test each for Samoa and the Kiwis.

The Sharks fought hard to keep Hamlin-Uele on a two-year deal after rejecting a long-term and richer deal to link up with the Warriors.

He is on a deal worth about $550,000 a season.

Siosifa Talakai is also on the outer. Picture: Jason McCawley/Getty Images
Siosifa Talakai is also on the outer. Picture: Jason McCawley/Getty Images
Braden Hamlin-Uele has been grant permission to speak to rivals. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images
Braden Hamlin-Uele has been grant permission to speak to rivals. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

The Sharks are in the process of trying to re-sign in-form hooker Blayke Brailey. They also have Will Kennedy and Sam Stonestreet with deals expiring at the end of this season.

The Sharks are open to keeping the pair but remain tight on their salary cap. Kade Dykes is Canterbury bound while regular fill-in back Mawene Hiroti is also off-contract.

Cronulla have already lost Daniel Atkinson (Dragons) and are yet to sign any new players for next year.

FLASHBACK

Benji Marshall sidestepped his way onto the sport pages on this day 20 years ago. The whiz-kid produced one of the most memorable tries in recent times when he sidestepped through a host of Cronulla defenders before giving a no-look pass which resulted in a Daniel Fitzhenry try. The Tigers won the game 46-6.

Flashback Daily Telegraph from 2005
Flashback Daily Telegraph from 2005

SOUTHS SHOW MITCHELL THE DOOR

Shaq Mitchell has been told he won’t be at South Sydney next year joining Josh Schuster and Fletcher Myers who will need to look for different clubs.

It is understood the Rabbitohs have decided to move on from Mitchell who has played 20 first grade games since making his debut at the club in 2022. The 29-year-old – older brother of superstar fullback Latrell – has not played first grade this year with injuries setting him back.

He missed the start of the season after suffering a hamstring injury. Mitchell overcame a raft of personal setbacks to find his passion for the game and get his body in shape to play first grade.

Shaq Mitchell won’t be with the Rabbitohs next year. Picture: NRL Imagery
Shaq Mitchell won’t be with the Rabbitohs next year. Picture: NRL Imagery

Myers has played three games this year but he too has been told there won’t be a deal for him at South Sydney next year. Meanwhile, Schuster remains on leave from the club but he won’t be retained after the club signed him on a 12-month contract.

The Rabbitohs are hopeful Jayden Sullivan will stay for another season with the Tigers close to agreeing to a deal for him to remain at the Rabbitohs.

South Sydney are also in talks about retaining Jye Gray on a two-year contract. Gray’s current deal expires at the end of 2026 but the Rabbitohs are keen to ensure he does not hit the market on November 1.

They have also added Moala Graham-Taufa (Warriors), Bronson Garlick (Storm) and Jonah Glover (Dragons).

MANLY LOCK IN NEW ROLE

Manly have secured the full-time services of high-performance and football executive Craig Walker in the newly role of head of recruitment and elite pathways.

Walker’s appointment, following an internal football department review and external consultation, marks a new direction for the Sea Eagles.

Walker, who has been contributing to the Sea Eagles in a part-time role since the start of this year, will step into the broader and more strategic role – one which will help shape the future of Manly’s playing roster in close alignment with club leadership.

“Craig is an accomplished senior manager with experience in leadership, strategic direction and development of football programs, primarily in elite rugby league,” said Manly boss Tony Mestrov. “We’re thrilled by his appointment into a newly created role – and one that shows Manly is committed to building a sustainable future of excellence by investing in the best people and the best practices.

“Given Craig’s proven track record in managing high-performance teams, recruitment, stakeholder relationships, and program implementation, we believe this will be a cornerstone for years to come.”

Before joining the Sea Eagles Walker worked at the Roosters and Warriors.

His appointment coincides with a broader restructure of the club’s development and recruitment operations, including the departure of David O’Donnell, who was the pathways manager.

Victor Radley gives the camera a good yelling after a try. Picture: Brendon Thorne/Getty Images
Victor Radley gives the camera a good yelling after a try. Picture: Brendon Thorne/Getty Images

TRY JULY A ROARING SUCCESS

The most fun annual fundraiser in Aussie sport, Try July, has just wrapped up, with the $460,000 raised to be shared between the Australian Skin Cancer Foundation and the Player Hardship Fund.

Sportsbet’s month-long initiative, which celebrates creativity in NRL and NRLW try celebrations, producing some hilarious moments.

Our favourite came from Cowboys NRLW players Makenzie Weale and Tallisha Harden, who recreated the viral Coldplay kiss cam scandal.

Makenzie Weale and Tallisha Harden recreate the viral Coldplay kiss cam scandal.
Makenzie Weale and Tallisha Harden recreate the viral Coldplay kiss cam scandal.

Other standouts included Victor Radley grabbing a Fox League camera Happy Gilmore-style, “old man” Daly Cherry-Evans turning the corner post into a walking cane, and Sophie Holyman and Chante Temara mimicking milking a cow. Penrith fullback Dylan Edwards paid tribute to his young daughters by doing a couple of handstands after scoring last Saturday.

Since Sportsbet’s inaugural Try July in 2020 $1.885 million has been raised.

“Thanks to the players’ creativity and passion, we also smashed the all-time Try July record — and had plenty of fun doing it,” RLPA CEO Clint Newton said.

Dylan Edwards with an Erling Haaland-like celebration.
Dylan Edwards with an Erling Haaland-like celebration.
Sophie Holyman’s cow milking celebration.
Sophie Holyman’s cow milking celebration.

PNG WHEELS IN MOTION

PNG’s new team held its first board meeting on Wednesday in Port Moresby. Chairman Ray Dib and chief executive Andrew Hill gathered with the new board.

“This was a truly historic day for the game in this country and marks an important moment as we look towards entry to the NRL in 2028,” Rib said. “An enormous amount of work has already been done and I thank everyone who has contributed to that so far. The collective experience and expertise of our distinguished board will be instrumental in shaping our future vision and strategic roadmap.

“We want to put in place the best governance, structures and environment so that the club we build reflects the pride and the passion of the people in this country and makes them

proud to support their new club.”

Hill added: “This day has been a long time in the making, and a lot of hard work has gone into it over the last three and a half years to bring us to this point.”

PNG board member Wapu Sonk stood-down in July amid corruption allegations.

DRAGONS CIRCLE FOR DOLPHIN

St George Illawarra have made a move for Josh Kerr but they may need to act fast as Super League clubs continue to circle the Dolphins and Queensland forward.

Sports Confidential understands that the Dragons have discussed a move for Kerr as they look to strengthen their middle forward rotation given Jack de Belin and Michael Molo will leave the club at the end of the season.

Josh Kerr is on the Dragons’ radar. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images
Josh Kerr is on the Dragons’ radar. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

David Klemmer is also expected to depart. It leaves the Dragons seriously short in the front row and Kerr has emerged as a potential target, although St George Illawarra may need to act fast given Super League giants Warrington are also eyeing him off.

PASEKA SEEKS EXPERT ADVICE

Manly forward Taniela Paseka has turned to an expert who has worked with English Premier League giants Chelsea, Manchester City and Liverpool – as well as New Zealand rugby and the British army – in a bid to return to the rugby league field this season.

Professor Peter Malliaras, whose website describes him as the world’s top-ranked tendinopathy expert, has been helping Paseka with his attempt to play before the end of the season.

Paseka tore his Achilles tendon in round three and has been working feverishly behind the scenes to come back and help Manly’s premiership campaign.

Sports Confidential understands that he visited Malliaras in Melbourne a fortnight ago as he looks to fast-track his comeback.

Originally published as Jarome Luai’s act of class to Jahrome Hughes after Storm star’s shoulder injury

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Original URL: https://www.themercury.com.au/sport/nrl/cronulla-sharks-roster-revamp-braden-hamlinuele-granted-permission-to-leave-siosifa-talakai-on-outer/news-story/1bf3a38c37e9e45dabd7178ce0834d5b