Jahrome Hughes reveals 2024 changes that have made him one of the NRL’s best players

Constant reminders from teammate Cameron Munster about his growing Dally M Medal credentials won’t deter Melbourne Storm star Jahrome Hughes from his “team accolades” drive for an NRL premiership ahead of Saturday’s semi-final with Cronulla.

Munster on Wednesday heaped praise on Hughes who he said had taken his game “to another level” to guide the Storm to the minor premiership with so many key teammates missing big chunks of the season due to injury.

The performances have elevated Hughes among the key chances to be crowned the NRL’s best player in 2024 and Munster hasn’t missed the chance to remind him.

“I think Munster makes me hear it and shows me all these different articles and whatever it is,” Hughes said.

“Pretty much everyone in the locker room’s been doing the same, so I don’t know what’s going on, but that’s not really my focus at the moment. I’m looking for the team accolades.”

Hughes revealed he made a pre-season determination to seize more control of the team in 2024, his eighth in Melbourne having risen from speculative fill-in fullback to fully blooded star and international mainstay for the Kiwis.

The 29-year-old conceded his plans were “fast-tracked” when injuries ruled Munster out for 10 weeks and kept star fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen on the sidelines too.

But lessons learnt from previous seasons as a key Storm players have helped steer him through his best season in the NRL and put Melbourne in prime position to secure another premiership.

“I took something out of last year where I probably led the wrong way,” Hughes said on Wednesday.

“I was worried about everyone else and what they were doing instead of focusing on my own job, so I think the best way for myself to lead is getting my job done.

“And, you know, the boys having confidence in what I do, and then I guess it gives me a bit more, you know, a leg to stand when I do want them to do something.

“So that was probably my main focus, worrying about my own job first, and the rest will come off.”

Munster watched from the sidelines as Hughes dominated through the middle of the season and marvelled at his growth.

“We’ve all known how talented Jahrome is. He’s been very quiet, probably coming through when he first started, didn’t want to take over the team,” he said.

“And now you’ve just seen him go ahead in leaps and bounds. And I’m so happy for him to be able to, obviously, have the season he’s had. He’s always had it in him.

“He’s just taken the team to another level and just shown tenfold on how good he is.”

Extreme confidence in Hughes from master coach Craig Bellamy has also been key in his stunning season, which could move to a home preliminary final with a victory over the Sharks.

“I think for this year, probably one of my most consistent years. I feel like the last couple years, I’ve had a couple good games and a couple bad games, so up and down, and that was another thing I wanted to work on,” Hughes said.

“Consistency is a big thing at this club, especially from Craig. He loves driving those standards, and that’s something I’ve sort of taken on-board.

“He’s put a lot of confidence in myself, and he has been trying to do that for the last ever since I’ve been here, I guess. I think if a coach like Craig can’t put confidence in you, then no one can.

“Just to be able to get confidence from him putting his trust in myself to lead the team around. It’s been a massive boost for myself, and it’s sort of made that a little bit easier to want to lead the team.”