Storm and Panthers own best NRL grand final hangover cures

It’s a curse which has claimed three victims in three years - but two teams seem immune to the grand final hangover. See every grand finalist’s ladder position in the five years that followed defeat.

Jahrome Hughes. Picture: Brendon Thorne/Getty Images

He’s the underrated halfback of a side not only defying a decade-long curse but also has the best shot at ending one of the great rugby league dynasties.

Melbourne were installed as the new premiership favourites on Friday - albeit briefly - after taking down defending champions Penrith in a rare victory at BlueBet Stadium on Thursday night.

And they did so off another classy display from star No. 7 Jahrome Hughes, who is emerging as the clear favourite to take out this year’s Dally M Medal.

Hughes has easily been the Storm’s best player in a campaign hampered by injuries to fellow stars Cameron Munster and Ryan Papenhuyzen.

But their absence has been offset by a career season from their chief playmaker, who has almost certainly steered the Storm to a minor premiership.

“It’s a little bit different because without them I’m more the leader out there,” Hughes said.

“But it doesn’t change too much to be honest – if it’s someone like Sua and Wishy out there, it’s the same. I just have to get them good ball, and they do the rest.”

Bookmakers on Friday reacted to the potential grand final preview by listing Craig Bellamy’s side as favourites to lift the Provan-Summons Trophy.

AVOIDING THE GF HANGOVER

Some clubs are clearly better than others when dealing with the crushing disappointment of grand final defeat.

And in the last 25 years, there have been none better than the Storm and the Panthers.

In the five seasons following teams falling short at the last hurdle, both the Panthers (1.5) and Storm (1.4) are the only two teams that have averaged a ladder position of less than 4.1.

To put this into perspective, since falling to the Penrith dynasty, the Eels and Broncos sit on an average of 13 (ladder position), while the Rabbitohs are a fraction better at 10.3.

While the Panthers last year became the first club in 30 years to achieve a threepeat, no other side have been able to maintain their status as title contenders for as long as the Storm.

And a large part of it has been Hughes.

Since taking over from Billy Slater after their grand final defeat to the Sydney Roosters in 2018, Melbourne bounced back to claim the minor premiership the following season.

SPINAL CHEMISTRY

Friday’s win marked just the seventh time this year the team’s first-choice spine of Papenhuyzen, Munster, Hughes and Harry Grant were in the run-on side.

And given Papenhuyzen and Munster have spent large chunks of the year on the sideline, it is only now that the quartet are beginning to strike the perfect chemistry.

“We knew it would take a little while. That’ll come with training, the more we do that together the better we go on the field,” Hughes said.

“(Thursday) we were better, but there’s still a lot of improvement. I guess that’s a good thing – we’re winning games, but we feel like we can go to another level.

“We just want to play to our strengths. Sometimes over the last few weeks we’ve overthought things, tried to do things we don’t normally do.

“We just want to strip it right back, play to our strengths. I thought the whole spine played really well and the more we can get involved as a spine the better we can be as a team.”

Jahrome Hughes is the short-priced favourite to win Dally M halfback of the year. Picture: Brendon Thorne/Getty Images

LEADERSHIP

This year has been Hughes’s best season.

“It’s playing to my strengths and keeping it simple,” Hughes said.

“I have to keep the team together, kick well – I’m the main kicker at the moment, so as long as I kick well and get the boys outside me some good ball, they can do the rest.

“I’m reaping the rewards, but I’m just trying to play simple footy.”

Hughes credits part of his form to the development of his leadership at the Kiwis, who belted the Kangaroos 30-0 in a record thrashing in the Pacific Cup final last year.

His comments come in the same week Jarome Luai opened up about he and Hughes paving the way for the next crop of Polynesian playmakers.

“I’d never thought of myself as being the leader of a national side, but I embraced it and it helped me play good footy, better footy,” Hughes said.

“I tried to take that back to Storm this year. I wanted to take a bigger role. I felt like it helped my game if I was the leader of the team or took the reins.”

Penrith won three grand finals after their 2020 loss to Melbourne. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

The 29-year-old paid tribute to former New Zealand and now NSW coach Michael Maguire for helping find a new level in his career.

“The boys and Madge gave me that confidence,” Hughes said.

“That’s probably a big reason why I’ve played my best footy this year – if I can take the reins of a national side, that helps my confidence with the Storm side.”

With long-time New Zealand veteran Shaun Johnson retiring at the end of the year, Hughes has embraced the opportunity to step into his role.

“I like that responsibility; it helps me play better footy. If they want me to be that guy, I’m happy to be that guy,” Hughes said.

“Stacey Jones is the coach now. If he wants me to be that guy and the leaders want me to be that guy, then I’m happy to do that.”

Originally published as Storm and Panthers own best NRL grand final hangover cures