Braith Anasta has declared the Melbourne Storm will “most likely” not win the premiership now that they are set to be without star halfback Jahrome Hughes for the rest of the season.

FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every game of every round in the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership, LIVE with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer >

The Storm confirmed in a statement that Hughes had suffered a fractured forearm in his side’s loss to the Broncos and would undergo scans in Melbourne later on Friday before consulting a surgeon on a recovery plan.

In a further blow, Melbourne also said fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen had failed his head injury assessment in the second half and would enter the NRL’s concussion protocols.

Under those protocols, Papenhuyzen will enter a mandatory 11-day stand-down period, which rules him out of playing in next week’s qualifying final against the Bulldogs.

As for Hughes, he suffered the injury when he attempted a tackle on a rampaging Brendan Piakura before reeling in pain the next time he tried to throw a pass.

He left the field and did not return in a crushing blow to the Storm’s finals chances.

Bellamy later confirmed the worst while making a shock admission over Hughes who was returning for his first match since suffering a shoulder injury.

“I’m not quite sure if it’s his wrist or just halfway up the forearm, but I think it’s a break without a doubt,” Bellamy said.

“He’s in plaster already. That wasn’t a great idea to put him back in this week, but anyway.

“I’d imagine it’s season over, I can’t answer that question directly, but I’d imagine it would be.”

So, is it season over for the Storm as well?

Melbourne’s season in ‘Trouble’ | 01:43

Anasta isn’t quite writing them off entirely, but he said he struggles to see Melbourne going all the way without its influential halfback.

“I would say most likely not, no,” Anasta said on Triple M when asked if the Storm can still win the premiership without Hughes.

“He’s so important to that team. But you’ve got to remember you’ve got Harry Grant coming back in who is really their best player. This year he has been.

“Young Jonah Pezet, who I manage, will now come into the team. Whether they start him or Wishart is a big decision for them to make.

“They’ve got Jack Howarth to come in and they struggled yesterday on the edges as well. They’re a great team. They’ll fight and they’ll fight until the end.

“I just think the X-factor of Jahrome probably does cost them a premiership or a chance (at it). It’s a big loss.”

Storm skipper Cameron Munster admitted Hughes would be a big loss, but backed Tyran Wishart and Jonah Pezet to stand up in his absence.

“I played with them last three or four weeks before Jahrome came back, so we had a really good combination” Munster said.

Bellamy confirms Hughes injury fears | 07:40

“I think we lost one and that was the Roosters together. It’s obviously going to be disappointing not having Hughes, he’s such an integral part to our attack and our defence. “He’s a class player, don’t get me wrong. He won the Dally M for a reason last year. But we’ve got some good depth in our halves.

“We’ve got a lot of belief in those two guys, Paz. I know a lot of people are going to put a lot of speculation, a lot of stuff in the headlines and media about whether we can do it or not.

“But that’s what you sell the papers for. We’ve got to worry about our own four walls.

Munster said the Storm’s defence was of bigger concern.

Walsh HEROICS end in toilet water celly! | 00:41

“Like Craig spoke about, we’ve got to have defence wins games and we’ve leaked 70 points.

“If we can work on our defence, points will come. We’ve got to have a good hard look at ourselves and our defence if we just have an attitude problem. At the moment, the last couple of weeks, our attitude stinks.”