Jahrome Hughes seeks greater consistency during the 2024 season

One of the Melbourne Storm’s most important players has made it clear what he’s seeking on a personal level in 2024, revealing the area of his game he’s desperate to improve.

Melbourne Storm star Jahrome Hughes. Photo: Melbourne Storm.

At his best Melbourne Storm star Jahrome Hughes is one of the NRL’s elite playmakers.

But the halfback believes his form in recent years hasn’t reached that level often enough as he chases more consistency in 2024.

The 29-year-old believes one of the keys to finding that desired form has started at a two-week pre-season camp in Geelong.

He described the training block as the “most important time” in the Storm’s year before the season kicks off in March.

“It doesn’t feel like it but I’m probably one of the more experienced and older guys in the team now,” Hughes told this masthead.

“I need to be able to use that to help the boys out.

“I think the last couple of years I’ve been a little bit up and down, my best game has been far from my worst game. I need my worst game to be up there with my best game. Consistency is a big one for me.

“Playing more of a leadership role, especially after losing some pretty experienced members in the last couple of years, I feel like myself and a couple of other boys need to step up in that area.”

Melbourne Storm star Jahrome Hughes. Photo: Melbourne Storm.

The training camp has also given Storm players a closer look at their newest teammate, Shawn Blore, who joined the club from West Tigers earlier this month in a move which saw centre Justin Olam move in the other direction.

And Hughes is already excited by what he has seen.

“You would think it would be a bit daunting coming to a camp like this on your first day but he’s been really good,” he said.

“He seems like a shy kid but he’s been getting out and about, meeting everyone and he’s been talking about in the meetings as well.

“That’s what we want from him. I’m pretty excited to have him here.”

Shawn Blore.

Ryan Papenhuyzen.

Hopes are also growing star fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen could be available for the season opener against the Penrith Panthers on March 8 as they seek revenge for last year’s preliminary final defeat.

Social media footage from the Storm during the Geelong camp has shown Papenhuyzen taking part in sessions and Hughes couldn’t be more excited after his teammate was limited to just three games last year.

After returning from a shattered kneecap, the 25-year-old was then stopped in his tracks by a broken ankle.

“He’s been training the house down,” Hughes said.

“He’s back running with us, it’s always good to get a guy like that back in the team because we know how good he can be.

“It’s just good to see him back out there after the last couple of years have been horrible for him.

“It’s good to see him back out there happy and smiling.”

The Storm will conclude their two-week block in Geelong later this week.

Originally published as Jahrome Hughes seeks greater consistency during the 2024 season