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Four years is a long time to be holding on to one moment. But for Jahrome Hughes, his inability to lead the Kiwis home against the Kangaroos in the 2022 semi-final in England is the driver behind this month\u2019s World Cup revenge.<\/p>\n
While Hughes scored a try and produced a try-saving tackle on Kangaroos flyer Josh Addo-Carr in his side\u2019s 16-14 semi-final loss in Leeds, the NRL premiership winner has been replaying one missed opportunity ever since.<\/p>\n
None was bigger than the 73rd minute when the Kiwis had the Kangaroos on the rack after Jordan Rapana burst through Valentine Holmes\u2019 tackle and helped set up a 60-metre line break.<\/p>\n
With the Kangaroos on the back foot and defending their line 15 metres out, Hughes put the ball on the toe on the second tackle to try to catch Mal Meninga\u2019s men out and send Peta Hiku in to score, but the makeshift winger couldn\u2019t ground the ball inside the field of play.<\/p>\n
The missed chance was the Kiwis\u2019 last great chance.<\/p>\n
Hughes hasn\u2019t forgotten about it. And for four years the now 32-year-old has been sweating on another chance to taste revenge.<\/p>\n
\u201cObviously, getting so close in 2022 in the World Cup and losing to Aussie in the semi-final, I still hold a bit of fire in my belly from that. I take a lot of blame for losing that game,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
![\"New](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/1791725296_646_1f86f1f0eccb81e1cbcfb4df4ed6e57e5761376c.jpeg\")
New Zealand after their loss in Leeds.Getty<\/p>\n
Fortunately, Hughes will get an early chance to put that moment to bed when the Kiwis take on the Kangaroos on Thursday night in Sydney in this year\u2019s World Cup opener.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it\u2019s more not thinking about it as a bad thing,\u201d Hughes said.<\/p>\n
\u201c[It\u2019s] fuelling that fire and making sure that doesn\u2019t happen again. That\u2019s what happened in that last World Cup. I feel like it\u2019s worked for me already. Preparation and my mindset going into this tournament.\u201d<\/p>\n
Having been inspired by Nathan Cayless\u2019s world championship-winning side in 2008, the Melbourne Storm halfback is hoping his 2026 class can build on rugby league\u2019s wave of momentum running through the Shaky Isles by toppling Australia.<\/p>\n
\u201cJust thinking back to 2008 when I was a kid and seeing how that win made me feel. If we were able to lift that trophy at the end of this World Cup, the things it would do for the kids back home in New Zealand and all the supporters back home in New Zealand, it would be truly special,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cEspecially seeing the way our game has grown over there. It\u2019s [a] credit to the Warriors. All the hype they\u2019ve got over there and all the new fans they\u2019ve got. They\u2019re doing a great job.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor us to win it, it would be really special. Not just for us players but for the whole country.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"Jahrome](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/1791725298_88_cbde584d31ebf8ffdcd79b4ac13accb09e3f6c34.jpeg\")
Jahrome Hughes speaks to the media before the 2026 World Cup opener in Sydney.George Chan<\/p>\n
Thursday\u2019s World Cup opener also shapes as Hughes\u2019s first international since 2023, having missed the past two years due to injury.<\/p>\n
\u201cI cherish every time I get to put this jersey on,\u201d said Hughes, who added that he was enjoying playing under New Zealand great Stacey Jones.<\/p>\n
![\"Kayln](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/1791725299_933_a5531fa6730fa16bb34d7103727caf80a3db221c.jpeg\")
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