NRL fans and commentators have reacted with disbelief after the Melbourne Storm named Jahrome Hughes to return in Friday night’s preliminary final just three weeks after fracturing his arm. Hughes’ season appeared over when he suffered the injury in Round 27 against the Broncos, with coach Craig Bellamy conceding at the time he couldn’t see the halfback playing again this year.
But Bellamy named Hughes at No.7 on Tuesday afternoon for the clash against Cronulla, confirming his return after just three weeks. The Kiwi international has only played one game in the last two months, after dislocating his shoulder before fracturing his arm in his return game.
Jahrome Hughes is back just three weeks after fracturing his arm. Image: Getty
But Bellamy is rolling the dice with a chance to make the grand final on the line. Hughes had his arm in a padded brace on Tuesday as he gave it a searching work-out at training.
According to ‘NRL Physio’ Brien Seeney, the fastest return to play from a fractured arm was Broncos legend Shane Webcke back in 2000, when he played in the preliminary final after a five-week lay-off. Hughes’ return to play would be two weeks earlier than that. Seeney added: “Would be the quickest return we’ve seen for that injury type.”
Jahrome Hughes fractured his arm against the Broncos in Round 27. (AAP Image/Jason O’Brien)
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Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Storm captain Harry Grant said Hughes still has some boxes to tick despite being named. “He’s been training pretty well and getting through what he has to do, but he’s still got a fair bit to get through obviously with the week and how it builds and all that kind of stuff,” Grant said.
Hughes himself had earlier said he wouldn’t jeopardise his team if he wasn’t 100 per cent, with young gun Jonah Pezet waiting in the wings. “I’m confident … it’s the medical team that’s going to have to see where I’m at, but in saying that I’m not someone that’s going to put the team under pressure by coming back early so I’m going to be making sure I’m right to go,” Hughes told AAP.
“If I’m fully fit I’ll definitely put my hand up but I don’t want to be going in at 50 per cent – it’s not worth it, especially with having someone like Jonah there, being able to fill the void.”
NRL world reacts to stunning news about Jahrome Hughes
Speaking on SEN radio after Hughes was named, Bryan Fletcher said he still can’t see the halfback taking his place on Friday night. “This is a massive rick,” Fletcher said. “I just can’t see him playing. With a plate in his arm and a busted shoulder.”
Matty Johns said: “Jahrome is a huge X-factor. If he takes his place in the side then you’re fairly confident he’s going to get through the 80 minutes. From what I hear they’re going to line Nelson (Asofa-Solomona) up against him at training (to test it out). He’ll have some pretty decent fitness tests going on.”
One fan wrote on social media: “That would be insane if he is to play the prelim and potentially grand final in this state… seems a massive risk of a problem in the first 10 minutes popping up?” Another added: “Three weeks is a huge risk. Becomes a massive liability in defence I would imagine a big forward running straight at him off a short ball will be a constant thing. Just no way a break is healed that quick.”
As well as naming Hughes, the Storm have also welcomed back Ryan Papenhuyzen and Shawn Blore. Papenhuyzen missed the first week of the finals with concussion, while Blore has been out with a fractured larynx.