Wellington-born utility Jahrome Hughes enjoyed a breakout 2019 season, becoming a vital cog in the Melbourne Storm machine and earning an international call-up for the Kiwis. Within a couple of years, he would be regarded among the game's top bracket of halfbacks, one of the best players in the NRL and a Test team linchpin.
A junior of the Harbour City Eagles club in the New Zealand capital, Hughes moved to the Gold Coast with his family as a teenager. He had a stint with Sydney Roostersâ SG Ball team but opted to remain in south-east Queensland and played 45 NYC games for the Titans from 2012-14.
Hughes was just 18 when he made his NRL debut at fullback in 2013, but that would be his only appearance for the Titans in the top flight. He headed for Townsville at the end of the following season.
With opportunities at fullback and in the halves scarce at North Queensland â he played one NRL game for the club in 2016 â Hughes was snapped up by Melbourne. He impressed as a back-up to the Stormâs star-studded spine in 2017-18 but was not required for the heavyweightsâ finals campaigns.
Hughes featured at halfback in the MÄori All Starsâ historic clash with the Indigenous All Stars in Melbourne in the 2019 pre-season.
Billy Slaterâs retirement opened the NRL door for the 24-year-old, taking ownership of the Stormâs No.1 jersey and impressing with his incisive running, playmaking instincts and cool-headed play at the back.
Hughesâ versatility earned him a spot on the Kiwisâ bench for the 2019 mid-season Test against Tonga. Entering the fray at hooker, the head-geared utility scored a second-half solo try from dummy-half on debut.
He switched to the halves late in the NRL campaign for the Storm before being selected in the Kiwisâ squad for their end-of-year Test schedule. Hughes played 29 minutes of the loss to Australia in Wollongong at dummy-half, while he was pitched into the five-eighth role in the opening minutes of the first Test against Great Britain at Eden Park after Kieran Foran left the field with a shoulder injury.
Hughes played a steady hand in the tense 12-8 victory â including a 26-tackle contribution â but was replaced on the interchange by Kodi Nikorima for the following encounter with the Lions in Christchurch.
After representing MÄori All Stars again during the 2020 pre-season, Hughes nailed down the Storm No.7 jersey and was one of the NRLâs standout players. The 26-year-old scored seven tries and produced 15 try-assists in 19 games, including the clubâs grand final triumph over Penrith.
Hughes developed into one of the NRLâs best halfbacks and most influential players in 2021. Arguably the minor premiership-winning Stormâs standout performer in another season of team excellence, Hughes finished equal-seventh in the Dally M Medal count. He was an obvious choice for the Kiwis' wider squad for the 2022 World Cup at the end of the year.
Virtually an automatic choice to wear the No.7 jersey in New Zealand's 2022 mid-season Test against Tonga, Hughes scored a try in a superb display as the Kiwis carved out a 26-6 win at Mt Smart Stadium. He passed the 100-game milestone in the NRL later in the year and finished with a career-high 12 tries, before setting off on his maiden World Cup campaign to England as a key member of the Kiwis' title bid.
Injury delayed Hughes' World Cup start, but he returned with a sizzling performance against Ireland - scoring two tries and laying on three more - in New Zealand's last pool match and scored his fifth Test try in the gallant semi-final defeat to Australia.
The brilliant playmaker steered the Storm to a top-four finish and a preliminary final in 2023, crossing for seven tries in 22 games, ahead an integral role in the Kiwis' Pacific Championships success.
Hughes scored a try and set two up in the 50-0 rout of Samoa, laid on two of New Zealand's three tries in the 36-18 loss to Australia in Melbourne, and had a try assist and 117 running metres in a superb No.7 display as the Kiwis pumped the Kangaroos by a record 30-0 in the final in Hamilton.
Taking it up another level in 2024, Hughes was a rapturously received Dally M Medal winner - joining Gary Freeman, Jason Taumalolo and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck as the only Kiwis reps to claim the hallowed award - as he spearheaded Melbourne's minor premiership drive.
Sensational throughout the 2024 finals series, he featured in the Storm's brave 14-6 grand final loss to Penrith before being named in the Kiwis' Pacific Championships squad on his 30th birthday but was subsequently ruled out due to a neck injury.