- Hughes claimed his first Dally M medal on Wednesday
- Could have won it with another team on a huge decision
Jahrome Hughes’ manager has revealed that the newly minted Dally M medalist came very close to playing for the New Zealand Warriors.
Storm playmaker Hughes capped an excellent 2024 NRL season by being crowned rugby league’s best and fairest player on Wednesday evening.
Hughes’ manager Tas Bartlett made the revelation that the Melbourne halfback would now be playing for the Warriors had the Covid pandemic not occurred in 2019.
“Jahrome felt it was time to go home and the Warriors offered him $1 million, which was a lot of money for a halfback four or five years ago,” Bartlett said. Broad sports world.
‘We were all set to go there with his partner, see the accommodation and facilities and almost certainly sign a contract.
“But Covid came in and prevented us from making the trip.
“Basically, the Warriors couldn’t show him the love. We had a few Zoom chats but it wasn’t the same – and he decided to stay in Melbourne.’
Hughes became the first Kiwi half in 32 years to claim the NRL’s top honors after a thrilling finish on Wednesday night.
Jahrome Hughes won the Dally M player of the year award at a glittering ceremony in Sydney on Wednesday evening
Hughes was set to join the New Zealand Warriors until the outbreak of the Covid pandemic changed his plans
Hughes and the Sydney Roosters fullback were one point ahead of James Tedesco heading into the final round, both collecting six votes to end the season by one point.
He was then met by an impromptu haka, led by Storm teammate Will Warbrick alongside Eliesa Katoa and Joseph Tapine.
Manly halfback Daly Cherry-Evans finished third, while his teammate Tom Trbojevic finished fourth despite missing large parts of the season.
Roosters second rower Olivia Kernick won the women’s Dally M and picked up her first major prize by finishing two points ahead of Parramatta fullback Abbi Church and Gold Coast halfback Lauren Brown.
Hughes’ first top gong comes after what has clearly been the best year of his career to date.
The Storm No. 7 hit their stride in Cameron Munster’s absence mid-season and helped Melbourne to the grand final.
Hughes (pictured with wife Molly) became the first Kiwi half in 32 years to claim the NRL’s best and fairest gong
The Storm half (pictured right with teammate Ryan Papenhuyzen) will be a big part of Melbourne’s attack in the grand final against Penrith on Sunday
“I don’t really play the game for individual accolades, I play it for team accolades,” Hughes said.
‘That’s how I saw it coming in.
‘But now that I’ve been lucky enough to win it, I see how special it is. When you see the players who won, it’s pretty crazy.”
His clash with Penrith halfback Nathan Cleary also threatens to be a heavyweight battle in Sunday’s decider.
If Hughes wins in that, he could become just the eighth player in history to win a premiership and Dally M in the same year.
“That’s the next job,” Hughes said.
‘We are in a grand final and now it is time to prepare for it.
“It would be great to do the double, but winning a premiership this year with my Storm teammates is a dream.”
Wednesday night’s coveted honor at Royal Randwick is a fitting reward for Hughes after a fantastic season.
Hughes’ triumph came on a big night for the Storm, with Craig Bellamy named coach of the year.
Harry Grant was named hooker of the year, Katoa one of the second rowers of the year (Angus Crichton is the other) and Xavier Coates presented the try-of-the-year award.
Penrith had two players in the team of the year, while Canterbury’s Stephen Crichton was named captain and in the centres.