Jahrome Hughes is a raging hot Dally M Medal favourite thanks to one of the most statistically well-rounded playmaking seasons of the past 15 years.
All from a player who Melbourne’s talent scouts doubted would ever be an NRL halfback.
Hughes is considered a strong front-runner for rugby league’s highest individual honour on Wednesday night ahead of Roosters captain James Tedesco and Manly’s Daly Cherry-Evans.
He will then take on Penrith and their No.7 maestro Nathan Cleary in the NRL decider boasting a 2024 stats line that compares favourably to some of the best individual seasons on record.
Typically, a player dominates either try-assists or line breaks – one or the other, rarely both – because rugby league tends to have ballplayers setting up a side’s plays and runners then breaking the defensive line.
Hughes’ background as a fullback has made him one of the most dangerous running halves in recent memory, with his ball-playing improving year-on-year.
Cameron Munster’s injury impacted season also has the Kiwi No.7 averaging an extra 80 kicking metres each game and leading the NRL for attacking kicks.
Along with Tedesco’s superb efforts for the Roosters this season, the combined attacking threats have him stacking up well next to standout campaigns from the likes of Ben Barba (2012), Reece Walsh (2023), Benji Marshall (2011) and Todd Carney (2010).
A traditional playmaker’s strength of game management and control – where Cleary remains king – is difficult to quantify through numbers, though Hughes has improved significantly in that facet of his game as well.
The six-again’s introduction in 2020 undoubtedly favours running playmakers, with the combined statistics also outlining just how dominant Manly star Tom Trbojevic was at his peak the following season.
But Hughes has also emerged as one of the game’s truly elite halfbacks having originally been signed by Melbourne on a $140,000 deal in mid-2016, with the Tigers and Dragons declining the then-No.1 when he was offered to them.
Happy days: Jahrome Hughes, the accidental halfback.Credit: Getty Images
“Not as a halfback,” is how Storm football manager Frank Ponissi recalled Hughes’ signing eight years ago.
“When we recruited him, we weren’t sure if (Cameron) Munster was going to be a No. 1 [fullback] to replace Billy Slater.
“So Jahrome was looked at as being similar to Munster as either a fullback or a six – we thought one would be the fullback and one would be the six, we just didn’t know who would do what.”
“So I don’t know where the seven [halfback] came from.”
Neither does Hughes, who told this masthead recently that “a couple of my [junior] coaches wanted me to play in the halves and I was like ‘nah, this is not for me’.”
Hughes and Melbourne’s last grand final appearance in 2020 came at the end of his first full season as an NRL half in a spine that featured Ryan Papenhuyzen, Cameron Munster and future Immortal Cameron Smith.
“I had ‘Smithy’ there then so I didn’t have to do too much,” Hughes says. “I’ve grown to be more of a leader as we had some pretty good leaders back then so I just had to jump on the back.
“Not much has changed. I just have a bit more experience and my body is a bit older and bit stronger.”
Hughes has been reluctant to talk up his form all season and still defers to Cleary as “the best player in the game”.
Munster and captain Harry Grant are more than happy to heap praise on their No.7 though, who also leads every notable attacking statistic for the minor premiers this season.
“He’s just taking the team to another level and he’s showing 10-fold how good he is,” Munster says.
“He’s a differently developed half. He’s got a good kicking game and not many other halves, Nathan Cleary is probably the other one, who runs the ball as well as Hughesy.”
“He is such a great runner of the ball,” Grant adds. “Then he’s built his game on his kicking, his direction, his control and his leadership.
“As much as he’s a natural footy player, he’s worked extremely hard over the years to build his game. He’s probably just been overshadowed or unnoticed down here in Melbourne. It’s good to see he is getting some recognition.”
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