NRL preliminary final early mail: Jarome Luai, Jahrome Hughes fitness, injury latest, team news

Melbourne and Penrith both face key calls on their playmaking stocks for their NRL preliminary final. Cameron Munster weighs in on Jarome Luai and his hopes of returning from injury.

Cameron Munster. Picture: Kelly Defina/Getty Images

Melbourne superstar Cameron Munster is hoping that Penrith five-eighth and chief antagonist Jarome Luai makes his return in their preliminary final next weekend, boldly declaring: “I love to play against the best.”

Luai hasn’t played since suffering a shoulder injury in the closing rounds of the regular season but it is understood he has stepped up his recovery over the past week as he eyes off a return in the preliminary final.

That would match the ambitious timeline set by the club when he first dislocated his shoulder in the Panthers’ loss to Parramatta in round 26. This masthead understands that Luai trained with the team on Tuesday but took no part in an opposed session later in the week.

Regardless, Penrith officials are optimistic he is on course to return against the Storm at Accor Stadium as Penrith look to qualify for their four successive grand final – and become the first side in the NRL era to win three straight titles.

Cameron Munster is crunched by three Roosters. Picture: Kelly Defina/Getty Images

“He is a good quality player,” Munster said.

“I love to play against the best. If he is playing good on him and hopefully he can get back. Regardless of whether he is playing or not, (Jack) Cogger is playing some decent footy for them as well.

“We know we have a big task on our hands with Nathan Cleary – he loves the big moments and he is playing some outstanding footy.

“We have to go out and play our best against him and Isaah Yeo. If we can do that and take those moments away from them, it is going to help us.”

Luai has had a love-hate relationship with the Storm over the years. Three years ago in the lead-up to the grand final, he spoke openly about his admiration for Munster and the way he plays his football.

Since then, he has been a thorn in their side. The last time the sides met, he was fortunate to escape a ban after attracting the attention of the match review committee for a shoulder charge on Storm forward Nelson Asofa-Solomona.

Penrith have an incredible record when he is in the team but they have acquitted themselves in his absence, securing their place in the preliminary final with a big win over the Warriors on the opening weekend for the finals series.

Jarome Luai is pushing to return from injury for the preliminary final. Picture: NRL Photos

Asked whether he thought Luai would play, Munster shot back: ”I think he will, I think he will. I don’t think they will risk not playing him in a big game like a prelim, to get one game in before the grand final.

“I am not a doctor ... but I am sure he will want to be out there for his team.”

The task gets even more difficult for the Storm if Luai is there. Even without him, Melbourne will need to play out of their skin to knock off the defending premiers.

“They are a good team,” Munster said.

“They have been the benchmark for the last two or three years. It is going to be a big task for us but at the end of the day if you want to win the competition, you have to play and beat the best.

“We probably got them a week earlier than we would have liked, But you have to beat them or we are not going to win the grand final.”

Tyran Wishart stood in for Jahrome Hughes and performed strongly in the semi-final. Picture: NRL Photos

STORM SEMI-FINAL HERO SET TO STEP ASIDE

Tyran Wishart was one of the heroes of Melbourne’s pulsating finals win over the Sydney Roosters but his stint at halfback may be over as soon as this week as the Storm prepare for Jahrome Hughes to return for the preliminary final.

Wishart, with Hughes’ advice to be himself ringing in his ears, bamboozled former Storm star Brandon Smith with an early dumm yas he opened the scoring at AAMI Park on Friday night.

He finished the game as one of Melbourne’s better performers but his place in the side to play the Panthers on Friday night will be contingent on Hughes, who is expected to return at Accor Stadium.

Wishart - the son of former Illawarra and NSW star Rod Wishart - will prepare as if he is starting but also knowing he is likely to be squeezed out.

“Every week you do (prepare to play) - you have to,” Wishart said.

“Otherwise if you do get the call-up late and you are not ready for it, that’s when things can go wrong.

Jahrome Hughes should be ready to return for the Storm. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

“Every week you are a chance. This week was the same and I was able to wrap my head around it nice and early.

“I was pretty lucky I did a lot of training in the halves this year, especially though the pre-season. Obviously I do train and play elsewhere - a lot of hooker - but I find the positions are quite similar in having to be calm and direct the team.”

Wishart did an admirable job in directing the Storm, having been given a pep talk by Hughes before he ran out. The message was essentially not to try to be anyone other than himself.

“He said play my own game,” Wishart said.

“Obviously we are two different players. He has his strengths. He said don’t try to play any other game but my own. That was great advice from him.

“I was glad he said that to me. I sort of knew all week (I would play). I got to train with the team all week which was good.

“Hughesy’s calf was playing up a bit. I knew he was a slim chance to play so I went in with the mindset to attack the week.

“Whatever my role is I will take it full on, whether I am training with the reserve grade opposing the NRL or being with the NRL. I am happy to do it. ”

Of his first half try, Wishart said: “I was just lucky that they took (the dummy). I went into the game knowing that running was a bit of a strength.

“So I tried to attack the game with my running game. It paid off there.”

Hughes’ likely return will be a huge boost for the Storm as they attempt to overcome a poor recent record against Penrith to qualify for the grand final. They are long odds anyway, but without Hughes the task becomes nearly impossible.

Originally published as NRL preliminary final early mail: Jarome Luai, Jahrome Hughes fitness, injury latest, team news